You can’t help but me mesmerized by watching the video of Hank Aaron breaking Babe Ruth’s home run record. Even to this day it gives me goosebumps and who better to call one of the most historic moments in the game of baseball then the sweet voice of legendary sportscaster, Vin Scully. On this date in 1974, Hank Aaron would hit his 715th career home run passing Babe Ruth for the most home runs in MLB history, a record that was held by Ruth ever since he laid down his bat in 1935.
Although one of the biggest milestones in Aaron’s career, the months and years leading up to his legendary home run had been some of the most stressful days of his life. Aaron had received millions of letters in the early 70’s leading up to his record breaking home run. Unfortunately many letters he received were filled with nasty and hateful death threats, because people didn’t want to see a man of color break one of the most prestigious records in baseball history, especially since the record was held by one of baseball’s most iconic players. Even during the 1961 season when Maris passed Ruth’s single season home run record, he received many death threats because no one wanted a kid who grew up in North Dakota to break Ruth’s sacred record. Emory University presented an exhibit a few years ago with many of those letters titled, “He Had a Hammer: The Legacy of Hank Aaron in Baseball and American Culture.” Just from the the letters you could see just how ugly some people’s souls really were and the type of mentality Aaron would have to have to stand above hate and overcome such an incredible feat.
Aaron had finished the 1973 season just one home run shy of the Great Bambino’s record. For the upcoming 1974 season the Braves were scheduled to open up with a 3-game set in Cincinnati. As the season approached the team announced that they wouldn’t be playing Aaron in any of those games because they wanted him to break the record in their own home park in front of their fans. The media was very negative towards the Braves management for not playing Aaron, and the commissioner at the time, Bowie Kuhn, told the Braves that he expected Aaron to play at least two of the three games. Aaron would start the first game and in his first at bat he tied the Babe’s record, both standing side by side at the top with 714 home runs.
Braves manager and former teammate to Aaron, Eddie Matthews, did not start Aaron for the second game of the series. Worried that Matthews would do the same for game three commissioner Kuhn personally called the Braves manager and told him that if Aaron didn’t start the last game, they would face serious penalties. Aaron would ultimately start the third game of the series, but struck out twice and grounded out in his final at bat, allowing him to break the record home in Atlanta. Then on April 8th, in front of 53,775 fans at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium Aaron would break Ruth’s record in the fourth inning off of pitcher Al Downing of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Interesting to note that one of the people not in attendance was the commissioner himself, who had said that he had a previous engagement and wouldn’t be there to witness one of the most defining moments in baseball history.
One of the more eerie scenes from Aaron’s home run was after he rounded second base, two fans came to greet and congratulate him. Yes you heard that right, two random fans ran onto the field and would forever be connected to this amazing moment. It’s crazy to think that fans would have been able to just run on the field during a game without being tackled or tasered within the first ten seconds of stepping foot on the field. One of the most impressive parts of this video is the poise Aaron showed as the fans came up to him, casually shrugging them off in one of the biggest and stressful moments of his life. The two 17-year old boys were arrested trying to leave the field, but were later released a few hours later after the father of the one of the boys bailed them out. The trespassing charges were dropped the next day.
Braves reliever Tom House was the lucky person who was able catch Aaron’s home run as all the pitchers lined up in the bullpen hoping at the chance to be the one to catch the historic ball. After he caught the ball he ran the ball to home plate and handed the ball to Aaron. As he handed him the ball he could see tears streaming from Aaron’s face, he had never seen him cry. The pressure was finally off and hopefully Aaron would stop being at the center of so much hate. Aaron would finish the season with Atlanta, and the next two years become the DH for the Milwaukee Brewers. He would end his career with 755 home runs and stand atop the all time home run leaderboard, until 2007 when Barry Bonds would pass him. Even though Hank Aaron will forever be known as the home run king, there were so many other aspects of his game that have him in considerations for one of baseball’s greatest players.
The Washed Up Athlete 