Babe Ruth Sultan of Swat Home Run Derby held at Kirby Park

WILKES-BARRE — On Oct. 12, the inaugural “Babe Ruth Sultan of Swat Home Run Derby” was held at Kirby Park in Wilkes-Barre.

The event, which was presented by Visit Luzerne County and the City of Wilkes-Barre, was held on the 98th anniversary of the day that Babe Ruth, while playing in a barnstorming game at nearby Artillery Park, hit a ball that was estimated to travel 650 feet.

The ball landed near what is now the Kirby Park main softball field, and it is considered the longest home run in baseball history.

The County vs. City home run derby was won by the City of Wilkes-Barre, with Mayor George Brown taking the winner’s trophy back to City Hall.

Both trophies for the men’s derby were won by Kegan Laman of Dickson City, who took home both the “Sultan of Swat” trophy for the longest home run and the “Bambino” trophy for the most home runs.

Both trophies for the women’s derby went Rose Morgans, a native of Wilkes-Barre and resident of Hanover Township, who took home the “Sultan of Swat” and “Bambino” trophies.

Both the men’s and women’s derbies were open to the public.

The distance for the home runs was measured using Rapsodo 2.0 technology, which was donated by Russ Canzler Sports of Hazleton.

Proceeds benefited the Geisinger Children’s Miracle Network/Janet Weis Children’s Hospital.