By Brian Bohl
MASSAPEQUA— Apartment complexes mark the ground where Willie Mays forever made the Polo Grounds’ centerfield famous. Located near the Harlem River and a short subway ride from Yankee Stadium, only concrete slabs and asphalt comprise the area that once featured the famed clubhouse and deep dimensions forever immortalized in photographs.
Known predominantly as the home of the New York Giants, the Mets called the Polo Grounds home for their first two seasons spanning 1962-63 before Shea Stadium opened.
But while the park no longer stands, one Hall of Fame player still recalls facing intimidating dimensions, completely foreign to modern players.
Lou Brook made it to Cooperstown based on blinding speed (938 stolen bases) and a sweet swing (3,023 hits and a .293 lifetime batting average).
Yet on one scorching summer day in 1962, the outfielder who belted just 149 home runs in 19 major league seasons joined the likes of famed sluggers Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron and Joe Adcock.
It’s June 17, 1962 and the inaugural Mets are in the early stages of one of the worst seasons in MLB history.
Long before expansion teams could acquire talent through free agency, the short-handed Amazings, led by skipper Casey Stengel, are playing a doubleheader against the Chicago Cubs in 90-degree temperatures at the Harlem-based ballpark.
Al Jackson is on the hill for the Mets to start Game 1 when Brock comes up to the plate in the first inning. Two years before Brock was traded to St. Louis in a famously lop-sided deal, the 5-11, 170-pound left-handed hitter smacked a pitch to set some unlikely history.
“I remember it like it was yesterday,” Brock said before an autograph at Last Licks ice cream store. “What happened on that particular play was that (fellow Hall of Famer) Richie Ashburn was playing centerfield for the Mets. I hit a high curveball that was over my head. I swung down on the ball and I knew it was over Ashburn’s head.
“The second base umpire gave me the home run signal because I was running hard simply thinking that I had an-inside-the- park-homer. I was surprised when he gave me the home run signal. I misinterpreted that. I thought he meant if I ran as hard as I could, I had an inside-the-park-homer.”
Up until that point, only Ruth and Adcock ever hit a ball over the centerfield fence to the right of the clubhouse. The New York Times the next day estimated Brock’s shot landed 460 feet. Aaron accomplished a similar feat the same year as Brock, meaning just four players in the Polo Ground’s history ever hit a ball that far. As if the distance, which would be the furthest of any MLB park today, wasn’t difficult enough, the wall extended 20 feet high.
Ironically, Brock never saw his longest home run. It took a chat with future All-Star Ron Santo on the bench before the El Dorado, Ark. native realized his accomplishment. His blast also helped the Cubs sweep the twin-bill, contributing to the Mets’ 40-120 record.
“They all were staring out towards centerfield. No one would talk to me,” Brock, now 68, said with a laugh when asked about the reception from his teammates. “They were in awe. I remember Santo hitting me on the shoulder and saying, ‘did you see that?’ I said, ‘see what?’ And he pointed out to me.
“So I never saw it go out and I never got a handshake from the players. It was one of those odd plays in baseball.”
Brock traveled to the autograph show with Hall of Famer and former Cardinal teammate Bob Gibson, who declined to be interviewed.
Brock was willing to talk about his past glories and his current endeavors, which feature a slew of charity work. Jacqueline Brock joined her husband at his autograph signings and also share in the community services.
Both are ordained ministers and elders at Abundant Life Fellowship Church in St. Louis.
Brock also stays involved with baseball, serving as a spring training advisor to the Cardinals.
Nearly a half-century has passed since Brock made the big leagues, though his base stealing and hitting prowess make him a popular figure among the current players.
“I think they communicate they are happy that players like Bob Gibson, Red Schoendienst and I are in spring training with them. They get a chance to loosen up and know that the Cardinals care about them to some degree because that is one of the reasons we are in the dugout with them.”