46 years ago today..............

[CA-35]

It was 46 years ago, on April 8, 1974, when Ralph Garr was sitting in the Braves' dugout, Dusty Baker was kneeling in the on-deck circle, and Hank Aaron was walking to home plate.“Hey, I’m going to get this over with," Aaron told Baker. “Right now!’’
Two pitches later, Aaron swung, the ball soared over the left-center-field fence at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, and a nation roared in delight, with Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully making the call heard ’round the world.

“What a marvelous moment for baseball," Scully said on the telecast. “What a marvelous moment for Atlanta and the state of Georgia. What a marvelous moment for the country and the world.

"A black man is getting a standing ovation in the Deep South for breaking a record of an all-time baseball idol."

[video]

 

[Stuball48]

I remember listening on the radio. I was a high school, assistant baseball coach, and we were on a spring trip to Florida. We were playing a team (Palatka - spelling). It was between innings and PA system put Braves game on and game stopped each time Aaron came to bat. The fans cheered and hollered when he broke the record -- before we got back to the game. We lost 7--1.

 

[silverfox103]

Hammerin Hank still has record, no cheating there. I don't think he ever hit 50 homers, 40 a few times, maybe. He weighed 165 pounds, the swing was all in his wrist. I can remember watching Home Run Derby on Saturday afternoons as a kid. You'd have guys like, Aaron, Mays, Mantle, Maris, Kaline, Moose Skowron, Ted Kluszewski, Boog Powell, Jackie Jensen, Rocky Colovito....the list could keep on going. Those were the day.

Thanks Hank

Tom

 

[FNG]

I almost got his autograph in the old Busch Stadium. He blew me off! I did get to see him hit two out that day. I did get Bob Gibson though.

Warren Spahn used to manage a Triple A team a long time ago and we were bugging him for an autograph when they came to town. He dropped some serious F bombs on us, the crusty old coot. Needless to say, no autograph.