In April 1964, Athletics owner Charlie Finley built the “K.C. Pennant Porch” in right field at Municipal Stadium, bringing the fence in to match Yankee Stadium’s dimensions exactly.
The “K.C. Pennant Porch”
After supposedly being told by manager Ed Lopat about the Yankees’ success being attributable to the dimensions of Yankee Stadium, Finley built the “K.C. Pennant Porch” in right field in April 1964, which brought the right field fence in Municipal Stadium to match Yankee Stadium’s dimensions exactly, just 296 feet (90 m) from home plate. However, a rule passed in 1958 held that no (new or renovated) major-league fence could be closer than 325 feet (99 m), so league officials forced Finley to move the fences back after two exhibition games.
The A’s owner then ordered a white line to be painted on the field at the original “Pennant Porch” distance, and told the public address announcer to announce “That would have been a home run in Yankee Stadium” whenever a fly ball was hit past that line but short of the fence. The practice was quickly abandoned after it turned out that the announcer was calling more “would-be” home runs for the opposition than the A’s.
This was some good Yankee trolling that would still play well now with their short porch. I wish this one had a more satisfying result. Stadium dimensions quirks are part of the game and now covered by statcast “how many parks would it have been a homer in?” stat. Prescient.