Name/Title
BaseballEntry/Object ID
2004.53.01Description
Rawlings Official Baseball for the Pacific Coast League hit out of Cheney Stadium by Tacoma Rainier A.J. Zapp on Sept. 1, 2004. The 26-year-old Zapp led the Rainiers with 29 home runs and 101 runs batted in during the 2004 season, but his 28th homer of the year was special. Down 2-0 in the bottom of the third inning, Zapp crushed a two-out solo home run to center field off Sacramento pitcher – and top Oakland prospect – Joe Blanton (who would go on to win more than 100 MLB games over a 13-year career). While Blanton got the win that night in Tacoma, Zapp’s home run will be remembered forever: his line drive shot soared over the 29-foot wall in center field, becoming the first to clear that wall in the stadium’s history – nearly 45 years at the time. The shot was measured as 505 feet, and it rolled 80 more in the parking lot. Churchill’s story quoted Zapp after game: “I knew I hit it on the screws. It was the only mistake he (Blanton) made all night. He was throwing the ball really well and left one out over the plate, a fastball, and I hit it right on the screws.” Tacoma manager Dan Rohn, who had offered $20 to anyone who successfully cleared the center field wall sarcastically commented, “It was wind-aided. He didn’t get all of it,” before admitting, “I’ve never seen a ball hit that hard.”Lexicon
Search Terms
Baseball, Tacoma Rainiers, Professional/Semi-ProRelationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Zapp, AJPerson or Organization
Tacoma RainiersPerson or Organization
Rohn, Dan
