What is the WR for Baseball's Inside-the-park Home Run?

With the baseball season ending, it’s fitting I write a short note about baseball and speed.

Note that sometimes it is scored as a Triple AND an error. But according to the rules, an inside-the-park home run is scored when:

A player must touch all four bases (in the order of first, second and third, ending at home plate) before a fielder on the opposing team tags him out.

What’s the fastest time for an “Inside the Park Home Run” in Baseball?

First, we have to calculate the actual distance.

90 feet between bases, makes 360 feet or 120 yards of linear running. Draw a circle around the base paths, and that makes about 133 yards (using circumference = pi x diameter). 133 yards is about 121.6 meters.

Ideally, you touch the inside of base bag.

To get an idea of 120 meters on a curve, run from Lane 1 starting from the “3rd leg” 4×100 meter acceleration zone using a standing pike start. Or better yet, go to a flat un-banked indoor 200m or 160m track!

For a persective, the curve of a baseball running path is twice as tight at approx. 60 feet 6 inches (20 yards) compared to an IAAF track with a radius measuring 36.80m.

Who the heck is Evar Swanson?

A contest was held on September 15, 1929 between baseball games of a doubleheader. The “World Best” time according to Guinness is 13.3 seconds set by Evar Swanson which still stands today!

This event should be held at the All Star Game next to the home run derby. We all like to show off speed, power, and strength at these events. I guess they don’t hold this event as it might result in a few hamstring pulls or tears. Note that NHL Hockey has a similar speed event in their All-Star Game.

Then again, speed is a skill, and sprinting is a science.