It was the first inning, one runner aboard, the count at two balls and two strikes, and Tom Lovrich stared down the 19-year-old rookie batter.
USC's junior ace didn't know much about him, except that he more than filled out his gray New York Yankees uniform.
"He was a strong, country kid from Oklahoma," Lovrich said, recalling the legendary at-bat that took place 60 years ago Saturday. "Very strong."
Lovrich figured the rookie would chase something low and away for strike three, so the 6-foot-5 right-hander known as "Tall Tom" began his sidearm windup and fired.
His head sank as soon he heard the devastating crack of the wooden bat.
"My God," said USC second baseman Stan Charnofsky, watching the ball scream over the wire fence in right-center field. "Look at that."
USC's football practice field ran adjacent to Bovard Field. The ball bounced at midfield and rolled into a huddle.
"Who the hell hit that?" one player asked.
And as they walked off the field, their spring practice complete, another football player learned the answer to that question and told the others.
"Some kid named Mickey Mantle."
[...]