MOOSE HIT

By John B Holway

Only four men I know of ever hit a ball out of Fenway Park to the right of the flag pole. I saw one - Johnny Lindell, a pitcher for the Yankees, about 1945. The others were Hank Greenberg, maybe Jimmie Foxx, and Bill "Moose" Skowron, who died last week at the ago of 82.

I once cornered Bill at a hotel bar during an old-timers' weekend. "I saw the longest home run you ever hit," I said.

He began guessing. " Boston?"

"No."

" Detroit?"

"No."

" Washington?

"No. 1950. Iowa City, Iowa ."

His eyes got as big as saucers. "You saw that one?!"

In fact, I can still see it. It was a raw March day. Bill was a 19 year-old fullback for Purdue and, I think, was catching for the Boilermakers against the Hawkeyes that day. He whipped one up into the jet stream. It streaked over the wire fence in left, over the street, over a row of houses, and out of sight.

Next time you get to Iowa City, look up. It may still be orbiting overhead.