Who remembers Hank Aaron's 715th home run when it happened and where were you?

Question

I was -8 months old so I don't remember

Answer 1

I was over at Frizzer's place watching the game with him. ;-)

It looked like Downing grooved the pitch but it didn't matter.

Here's how I recall it. The scoreboard lit up... flashing 715 715. Fans going wild. Henry, though, was circling the bases with his head down, showing no emotion. No jumping up and down, no hands in the air, no waving to the crowd ... nothing. At first i thought "He's just being professional. Doesn't want to show up the pitcher."

Half way between 2nd and 3rd, he turned his head toward the outfield. Two over-exited guys had jumped onto the field and were running to him. When they reached him, he tried to push them away with his right arm. They patted him on the back and ran off. As he rounded third he stretched out a hand to his 3rd base coach who shook it and gave him a pat on the back as he went by.

What i recall so vividly as he stepped on home plate was the expression on his face -- total exhaustion. Honestly, he looked like a 60-year old man. Henry had received many many racial threats if he dare break The Babe's hallowed record . . . and it wore on him.

Surrounded by teammates and media, It took about 10 minutes, or so it seemed, before a smile appeared on his face. It was surreal.

Answer 2

I watched it on television -- my age, not quite double digits. It was a great moment, Atlanta (not where I lived) went nuts, and the network (I'm thinking it was ABC Monday Night Baseball) replayed it several times during the game. It was the lead on the 11:00 news later that night, and again on the morning shows. I must have seen the replay 12, 15 times -- and remember, this was years before ESPN, CNN, and the other 24/7 news nets and sports-specific nets. To see a replay that many times was rare, possibly unprecedented. It was that big a deal.

Tom House got to be a trivia answer thanks to Aaron. An Atlanta relief pitcher, he caught the ball in the bullpen.

SI had an easy choice for the cover of the next issue: http://dynamic.si.cnn.com/si_online/covers/issues/1974/0415.html

Answer 3

I have always been a big Dodger fan and I was at home in the LA area watching the game on TV with Vin Scully calling the game for the Dodgers. It was the first at bat of the game, for Aaron, and he hit it over the left field fence off Al Downing. It was a very exciting moment for me and I am sure all baseball fans. Aaron was a great ballplayer and a great guy and I was really happy for him.

Answer 4

yes, april 1974, I was 18 yrs old. The Braves were playing the LA Dodgers and Al Downing was the pitcher for LA. Downing threw Aaron his 715th homer to tie the Babe..

Answer 5

I was 7 years from being born. At that point my parents hadn't shagged yet. So I basically didn't exist at the time. I'm sort of jealous seeing some of the posts. I wish I had been able to witness history like this twice.

Answer 6

I was 13 and in my room listening to Led Zeppelin when I heard Ma and Pa shouting excitedly while the game was on television.

Answer 7

I was 6 years old, I barely remember it but I do. I was at home in our den watching with my dad.

Answer 8

followers that weren't stopped with the aid of risk-free practices until eventually now they have been waiting to get on the sphere. with the aid of the way, you will not see that repeated while Bonds gets there, you could have 50 situations the kind of risk-free practices guards conserving Bonds.

Answer 9

I watched it on tv! Quite a moment!

Answer 10

rtysera