I missed this yesterday…
I used to be a dyed in the wool baseball fan, until the strike in 1994. I’ve watched ONE game since then.
This was a piece of history I got to watch on TV back in the day. If I remember correctly, we watched this at the EM Club at Barbers Point. My grandfather followed Milwaukee for years, then Atlanta when Aaron moved over there, which got me started following them. He had been a Dodgers fan until they left Brooklyn, and never watched/listened to another Dodgers game after that…
As the crowd gathered at Fulton County Stadium 50 years ago tonight, the fans anticipated that history would take place. For one night, Atlanta was the center of the baseball universe, and Atlanta Braves star Henry “Hank” Aaron didn’t disappoint.
The media anticipated the night’s excitement, too. NBC covered the game live, and entertainer Pearl Bailey sang the national anthem. Aaron’s parents were there, as were luminaries like Sammy Davis Jr.
The fateful moment came in the bottom of the fourth inning as Aaron faced off against Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Al Downing. The first pitch was a ball, but Aaron smashed the second pitch into the bullpen in left-center field, where Braves pitcher Tom House caught it.
Full article, HERE from PJ Media.
Here is the video from Atlanta last night.
He and his family were threatened a lot, but they preserved, and he did break the record, as noted. It also prompted him to become a proponent of civil rights for the rest of his life.
May he rest in peace.
Hey Old NFO;
Our buddy “Mack” as well as my son were at the 50th commerative anniversary game for that event. Yes it was a big deal And yep Hank was a class act, he was soft spoken and humble the rest of his life when ever he did media appearances. He was loved here in the ATL. You are correct, may he Rest In Peace and the chances of that record being broken is pretty slip especially because this was during the age before “performance enhancing drugs” made it even more remarkable.
Wow. 50 years? Hank made the hit 40 years or so after the Babe “retired”. I saw that game…. ye gads.
Baseball® was very different 100 years ago. I remember reading about how soft baseballs in Babe Ruth’s time soaked up energy. I always figured the Babe held/holds the record. Hank Aaron broke the number, but he was a professional player, different than the Babe. Just like the comment about the drug enhanced players of today being different than Hank’s physical ability.
Time waits for no man…..
Yeah the 94 strike ended baseball for me too. I’d always been a Yankee fan, even though most of my friends were Met fans.
Bob- Agreed
STxAR- No it doesn’t…and changes in the game, any game, changes the records for better or worse.
John- Yep.