Posted on 04/08/2024 6:44:02 PM PDT by Rummyfan
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.
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It’s just too bad Willie Mays played in Candlestick Park or he would still hold that long-ball record.
I watched it live.
Babe Ruth has the record. Aaron had more games to do it.
Loved their retro jerseys, today.
They moved the left field fence in a few times for Aaron, I believe. Also, since that Black WNBA player said that Caitlin Clark “didn’t break my record” because she had more court time, then what about Aaron’s many more ABs?
By that time I never watched pro ball, but for some reason I had the TV on when he hit that homerun.
My son and I were at the Giants game when Barry Bonds broke Aaron’s record. Aug 8, 2007. We just went on a last-minute lark wondering if “tonight’s the night”
Of course, there’s a asterisk by Bonds’ name.
Probably...
Or Ted Williams if he hadn't given four years to The Marines.
Baseball fans love to discuss things such as you have mentioned.
Hank Aaron hit more home runs than Babe Ruth but he had many more at bats to achieve that record.
Babe Ruth never played a night game, but Hank Aaron played in the era of coast to coast travel, and night games followed by Day games.
Babe Ruth played in an era where starters normally finished their games. Aaron played in an era when there were often relief pictures in the late innings, rather than facing a tiring starting pitcher.
Ted Williams lost many years to military service ,and if not for those lost years, he may well have challenged Babe Ruth’s record. He also played in Fenway Park ,which is unfriendly to left-handed home run hitters.
Baseball fans often have these sorts of discussions.
Hank Aaron died 17 days after getting a Moderna vaccine
It is always difficult and very speculative to compare players across the generations of the game. IMHO, Ted Williams is probably the best pure hitter in baseball history. Willie Mays was simply a marvel - power, speed, fielding. Aaron was a model of consistency - he never hit over 50 HRs but he consistently hit in the high 30s and the 40s. Then there’s Willie McCovey, Willie Stargell, Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, Ernie Banks, Yogi Berra, Roy Campanella, Hank Greenberg... well, you get the idea.
86 is too young to die. Had to be a vaccine.
Baseball fans often have these sorts of discussions.
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Yes we do.
As far as Williams, Aaron, and Ruth as players. I like all of them, with maybe “a lean” towards Williams because we share the same surname.😀
My dad said Mays was the best player he ever saw, said he really stood out. Not sure what his criteria was, but this would’ve been 1950’s and early 1960’s Mays.
Hmm.....
Sad….he was so young. /s
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Who was the first to shake his hand after the ball cleared the fence?
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