Dave Parker claims longest homerun in history

One of my favorite players growing up, Dave Parker, appears on this year's Hall of Fame ballot. West Virginian's often tell a story of Parker's days with the Pirates AAA team the Charleston Charlies. The story sounds like an urban legend but it could actually be true. It's the tale of Dave Parker hitting the longest homerun in baseball history.

The Charlies played at Charleston's Watt-Powell Park. I saw many games there while growing up. One of the most charming things about Watt-Powell was the train tracks that ran just beyond the outfield wall. The story goes that Dave Parker once hit a ball into a passing coal train. The ball was later found by a railroad worker somewhere in southern Ohio. Parker claims this was the longest homerun in baseball history.

This story could be true given Parker's tremendous power and the fact that coal trains did reguarly pass by the park during games. I've heard this story applied to other players too, however, which makes me think this is an urban legend. I have also heard that Carlos Delgado, when playing for the Blue Jays' affiliate in Myrtle Beach (SC) hit a ball into a train at Watt-Powell. I have also heard stories of Babe Ruth and Josh Gibson doing the same thing while barnstorming through southern West Virginia.

For more information on Charleston baseball or Watt-Powell Park, West Virginia public broadcasting has a great documentary that is available in three parts on youtube. The documentary covers the years of the Senators, Charlies, Wheelers, and Alley Cats as well as ballpark personalities "Wheeler Bob," Rod Blackstone (a.k.a. "The Toast Guy") and the group of guys who used to watch games from the train tracks.

You can buy a throwback Dave Parker Charleston Charlies jersey here.