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Reggie Jackson introduces himself to Dock Ellis in the fourth inning

Today marks the 53rd anniversary for one of the greatest All-Star Games in history as the American League beats the National League 6-4 before a Tuesday night crowd of 53,559 at Detroit's Tiger Stadium.

The game is highlighted by six homers by six future Hall of Famers – Hank Aaron, Johnny Bench, Roberto Clemente, Reggie Jackson, Harmon Killebrew and Frank Robinson.

Jackson’s homer is the most memorable as his fourth-inning drive off Pittsburgh’s Dock Ellis crashes off a power generator atop the right-field roof.

Reggie Jackson with Johnny Bench on a pitch that never reaches Bench

Estimated distance: 520 feet.

The game marks the only time between 1963 and 1983 the American League actually wins the game.

Jackson is among 23 future Hall of Famers selected to play in the game., which is managed by two more future Hall of Famers in Baltimore’s Earl Weaver and Cincinnati’s Sparky Anderson.

Another future Hall of Famer, umpire Doug Harvey, works at third base during the game.

Not that Harvey has much to do as the team’s combine for just 13 hits on seven singles and the aforementioned six homers.

None of those six is hit harder and farther than Jackson’s homer.

“I think it would have gone 600 feet (if not for hitting the power generator),” Washington Senators All-Star Frank Howard later tells The Sporting News. “He crushed it.”

Among the first to agree on Howard’s assessment of Jackson’s prowess, is well, the ever-confident Jackson.

“I think,” Jackson says, “this would have to be the longest one I’ve hit.”

Jackson certainly hits plenty of homers during his 20-year career, totaling 563 of them during the regular season from 1967-87 with another 18 coming in the postseason.

His homer 53 years ago tonight in Detroit comes in Jackson’s second All-Star Game appearance.

Jackson, though, will not hit another homer in any of the ensuing 12 times he is picked for the All-Star Game.

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