Last Updated on February 19, 2023 by Matt Musico
It doesn’t matter how long time has passed — there are certain players and moments that will remain in everyone’s mind when a certain topic comes up. That’s definitely what happens with Glenallen Hill when someone asks, “Which players have hit some of the most iconic home runs ever?”
We’ve already mentioned Hill’s memorable homer at Wrigley Field in a prior article. However, it was such a moonshot that we had to single it out and talk about the slugger himself more.
Analyzing Glenallen Hill’s Tank Job
On May 11, 2000, Glenallen Hill stepped up to the plate for the Cubs. Everyone at the Friendly Confines wasn’t ready for what was about to transpire.
5/11/2000: We’re still unsure whether this tank from Glenallen Hill has landed just yet. #Cubs #CubTogether (via MLB) @NBCSChicago @WatchMarquee pic.twitter.com/s0zBSQHiaZ
— MLB Daily Dingers (@MLBDailyDingers) July 22, 2021
The announcers said the ball traveled an estimated 490 feet. They don’t believe that number, though, and neither do I. There’s just no way a tank like this didn’t travel at least 500 feet. ESPN’s Home Run Tracker said it traveled 500 feet with an exit velocity of 116.7 mph (although I don’t know how accurate that second number is).
What really gets me here is Hill’s swing. Obviously, there was plenty of power behind it. But what if he followed all the way through? He earned every right to flip his bat and admire his work. It appears that Hill also went to the Bo Jackson School of Intimidating Home Run Trots. He wasn’t running full speed, but I still wouldn’t want to be within a five-mile radius of him.
More About Hill’s Career
Hill played for seven different teams during his 13-year MLB career. Outside of the Cubs, he also suited up for Cleveland, the San Francisco Giants, the Toronto Blue Jays, the Anaheim Angels, the New York Yankees, and the Seattle Mariners. He spent more than one year with four of these teams. Hill had two different stints with the Cubs, the team he played for the most during his career.
When he hit this blast, though, his days in the big leagues were almost complete. He’d hang up his spikes after the 2001 season. His days in the Windy City were even more numbered. Just over two months later Hill was dealt to the Yankees prior to the non-waiver trade deadline. Before that happened, the slugger had to get hot at the plate, which is exactly what happened during the month of May.
The Hot Streak Before (and After) the Trade
By the end of April, Hill had struggled to a .191/.209/.452 triple slash in 43 plate appearances. This included six RBI, and the real saving grace was his ability to rack up extra-base hits. Out of eight total knocks, five went for extra bases (two doubles, three homers).
The above moonshot was his first in May, but it was part of a month-long tear. In just 47 plate appearances, he racked up four homers and eight RBI to go along with a .342/.426/.659 line. When he arrived in the Bronx, Hill proved to be an asset to manager Joe Torre. In 143 plate appearances down the stretch, the right-handed slugger hit .333/.378/.735 with 16 home runs and 29 RBI.
The 27 total homers he collected in 2000 were a single-season career-high mark.
How Things Ended for Glenallen Hill
Hill won a World Series ring with New York that year. Unfortunately for him, that regular-season success with the Yankees didn’t translate to the postseason. He produced a .237 OPS in 13 trips to the plate in the ALDS, which was followed by just five more plate appearances the rest of the playoffs.
As mentioned before, his career was over the following season. He appeared in 16 games for the Angels before his final game on May 31st that year. Hill struggled to a .318 OPS in 66 plate appearances.
His legacy will also unfortunately be tied to performance-enhancing drugs. He was named in the infamous Mitchell Report, which was released in December 2007. Even with that putting a damper on things, it’s hard to look at this blast and not be in awe of exactly how he obliterated that baseball.
Looking for more Cubs content? Check out our single-season and all-time home run leaderboards, as well as the single-season HR king at each position. Get your daily dose of homers on social media by following us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
