A version of this story in the foundation ran in February 2022.
When Babe Ruth hit his 714th and final residence urge on Might well maybe also unbiased 25, 1935, many in the baseball world belief his extra special profession stamp would by no attain be broken. For 39 years, the Babe stood on my own as baseball’s all-time residence urge king. Then, on April 8, 1974, Ruth passed the torch to a brand new legend holder, Hank Aaron, who capped his valuable profession by toppling belief to be one of many most legendary files in the sports activities canon.
Aaron had been working in opposition to this moment for two decades. His first residence urge got right here in his rookie season, on April 23, 1954, with the Milwaukee Braves. Two decades later, the panorama of the game had dramatically changed. The Braves had moved to Atlanta, the Dodgers and Giants had prolonged since headed west, all 30 MLB teams had been integrated and Aaron’s profession stats had surpassed these of nearly every baseball memoir. Except one.
On April 8, 1974, Aaron’s Braves confronted off in opposition to the Dodgers at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. The opposing starter was as soon as Al Downing, a gentle who, love Aaron, was as soon as nearing the high of his profession and, furthermore love Aaron, wore No. 44. It had been a prolonged iciness for Aaron, who ended the 1973 season on the cusp of the legend with 713 profession residence runs. He started off the next twelve months with a bang by tying Ruth’s stamp on Opening Day in opposition to the Reds.
Four days later, on a warm Georgia evening, history was as soon as placing in the steadiness.
Atlanta jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 2d inning on an RBI double from center fielder (and future MLB supervisor) Dusty Baker, which scored Aaron after a leadoff depart. Los Angeles straight away responded with three runs in the third, in conjunction with an RBI single from Downing (belief to be one of two RBIs he had all season) and a two-urge double off the bat of center fielder Jim Wynn. The bottom of the fourth soon rolled around, with the Braves trailing, 3-1.
Main off the physique, third baseman Darrell Evans reached on an error, bringing Aaron up to the plate because the possible tying urge with a man on. The home crowd of 53,775 — the greatest crowd in the stadium’s history — roared with anticipation as Hammerin’ Hank stepped into the box.
Aaron took a ball in the grime to work a 1-0 depend because the ballpark buzz intensified.
“And that horny adds to the rigidity,” stated longtime Dodgers announcer Vin Scully, who was as soon as on the away mic that evening. “The crowd booing. Downing has to push aside the sound results and stay a talented, and pitch his game.”
On the next pitch, Downing reared abet and left one lawful over the center of the plate. Aaron linked, drove the pitch over the left-center-discipline wall, and etched his name in baseball lore.
Braves announcer Milo Hamilton had the home call: “He’s sitting on 714. Right here’s the pitch by Downing. Swinging. There’s a drive into left center discipline. That ball is gonna be … outta right here! It’s gone! It’s 715! There’s a brand new residence urge champion of all time, and it’s Henry Aaron!
“The fireworks are going! Henry Aaron is coming around third, his teammates are at residence plate, and listen to this crowd!”
As Aaron circled the bases, two fans ran onto the discipline to congratulate him, creating belief to be one of many most indelible photos in MLB history. These fans had been Britt Gaston and Cliff Courtenay, who had been ultimate 17 years oldschool after they witnessed the historic prolonged ball. They had been escorted out of the park by police soon after their moment with Aaron and spent the evening in penal complex. On the other hand, every later received to reunite with Aaron, as soon as in 1994 on the Twentieth anniversary of the home urge and all over again in 2010.
After the hubbub surrounding Aaron’s accomplishment — which included fireworks and an 11-minute ceremony — died down and play resumed, Downing walked the next two batters and was as soon as ensuing from this truth some distance from the game. The Braves scored two more runs in the inning to take a 5-3 lead en route to an eventual 7-4 victory. Aaron had two more at-bats, every ending in groundouts, ahead of he was as soon as removed for a pinch-hitter in the eighth.
“The article that I take into accout most about that evening was as soon as my mother,” Aaron stated in a 2020 interview with Dan Patrick. “She was as soon as so enthused, she was as soon as so chuffed. After I hit the home urge and received across the bases to residence plate, she grabbed me, and I had by no attain been hugged ahead of in my existence love that.”
After his momentous residence urge, Aaron hit 40 more dingers ahead of retiring in 1976, with 755 profession homers and his Hall of Popularity candidacy sealed continually over. Downing outlasted him by one twelve months, retiring on the high of the 1977 season. He and Aaron are with out slay linked in the annals of baseball, though Downing was as soon as on the short end of history that April evening.
“Hank had a nice humorousness,” Downing stated after Aaron’s passing in 2021. “We talked and he told me, ‘I are searching out for to divulge you, don’t you’re feeling embarrassed by the indisputable truth that you gave up the home urge. You have gotten been a proper pitcher your whole profession and also you don’t want to maneuver around along with your head down.’ … Then he stated he is delighted it’s over with.”
Of the total impressive residence runs that Hammerin’ Hank hit in his storied profession, none had been as notorious and immortalized as No. 715.
