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Your comment about Jesse Owens is interesting. A while back I read an article that compared his achievements to the best track athletes of our day. The analysis included a detail study of what the hard composite material tracks and shoes had added to the performances seen in our day. Jesse Owen's achievements when adjusted for these differences would still be world class. Similarly some of the longest recorded home runs were hit by Mickey Mantle in the 1950s and 1960s.
On March 26, 1951 the Yankees played an exhibition game with the USC baseball team at Bovard Field, USC. Mantle, batting left-handed hit a homer that traveled 656-feet, crossing a football field adjacent to the ballpark. On May 22, 1963 at Yankee Stadium Mantle hit a home run that would have left the ballpark had it not hit a facade on the front side of the roof above the third deck in right-field. Estimates by observers are that the ball would have traveled 734' if it had not been impeded (I think they are being a bit generous here).
On March 26, 1951 the Yankees played an exhibition game with the USC baseball team at Bovard Field, USC. Mantle, batting left-handed hit a homer that traveled 656-feet, crossing a football field adjacent to the ballpark. On May 22, 1963 at Yankee Stadium Mantle hit a home run that would have left the ballpark had it not hit a facade on the front side of the roof above the third deck in right-field. Estimates by observers are that the ball would have traveled 734' if it had not been impeded (I think they are being a bit generous here).
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