Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Fri Jun 20 08:05:50 2008

>>> I understand that when Mickey Mantle was a boy and when he was a young teen he would work in a mine and be a screen ape. Somebody that has a sledge hammer and hammers big rocks into smaller rocks. I was told that by doing that it produced a tremendous amount of strength in his shoulders. arms, forearms, and hands. Do you think that is why Mickey Mantle could hit a ball so far and do you think by taking a sledge hammer and hammering a stake or something every once in a while will produce strength that will make you hit a baseball farther? <<<

Hi Anthony

Adding greater force to an efficient mechanic always yields greater results. Therefore developing greater strength from swinging the sledgehammer surely played a role in Mickey’s home run power. But just as important, Mickey acquired the mechanics that swung the sledge on his own. Can you imagine the results if he had an instructor teaching him to drive the handle knob first at the rocks?

Jack Mankin