Hank Aaron ties Babe Ruth in Cincinnati, forced to do so by Commissioner Bowie Kuhn (April 4, 1974)

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1974, April 4, Babe Ruth, Cincinnati Reds, Hank Aaron

On April 4, 1974, in front a crowd of 52,000 at Riverfront Stadium on Opening Day in Cincinnati, Hank Aaron ties Babe Ruth’s all-time home run record of 714 by hitting a first-inning two-run homer off Jack Billingham.

The Atlanta front office had considered keeping ‘Hammerin’ Hank’ on the bench during road games so the slugger could try to equal the mark in front of the hometown fans, but commissioner Bowie Kuhn ordered the Braves to put the outfielder into the lineup for at least two of the three games against the Reds.

And so they did. And Hank tied the record in Cincinnati.

But, he saved the best for Atlanta and broke the record there. 

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Hammerin’ Hank is born to break the Bambino’s record (February 5, 1934)

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1934, Babe Ruth, February 5, Hank Aaron

Hank Aaron

On February 5, 1934, a day before Babe Ruth’s 39th birthday, future all-time home run leader Hammerin’ Hank Aaron is born in Mobile, Alabama.

The slugger, who will finish his career hitting 755 home runs playing for the Braves and Brewers, will surpass the ‘Bambino’s’ all-time record of 714 home runs in 1974, after receiving much hate mail from people who did not want to see a black man break baseball’s hallowed mark.

It was destined to happen.

And with amazing class Hank showed us all how.

 

18 putouts is a record (June 26, 1935)

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1935, Babe Ruth, Boston Braves, June 26, Lloyd Waner

Lloyd Waner (The Poison)

There are some things as a fan you aren’t proud of. There are some records that are set where your team is on the loosing side of things.

On June 26, 1935, Pirates’ center fielder Lloyd Waner (his nickname was the Little Poison) sets the major league mark recording 18 putouts in a doubleheader sweep of the Boston Braves. He would later play for the Braves in 1941.

Not a pretty day for the Boston Braves.

And of course, 1935 wasn’t a great year for the Braves in general. They would finish dead last that year with the worst record in the National League. A 38-115 season is just not pretty.

It was also a year of dreams for Babe Ruth. He really wanted to manage. He came to Braves in February of 1935 as vice president and assistant manager. The Braves would give him a shot. To entice the Babe, the team owner, Emil Fuchs promised Ruth a share of the team profits (assuming there would be some). It just didn’t work out for the Babe.

1973 Hank Aaron finishes one home run short of Babe Ruth

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1973, 714, Babe Ruth, Darrell Evans, Davey Johnson, Eddie Matthews, Hank Aaron, Houston Astros, Leo Durocher, September 29

The highlight of the 1973 Atlanta Braves season was Hank Aaron finishing the season just one home run short of Babe Ruth as baseball’s all-time home run king. The 1973 Atlanta Braves were the first team to boast three 40 home run hitters. They were Aaron, Darrell Evans (41), and Davey Johnson (43).

At the age of 39, Aaron managed to slug 40 home runs in 392 at bats, ending the season with 713, which at that time one home run short of the record. He hit home run number 713 on September 29, 1973, and with one day remaining in the season, many expected him to tie the record. But in his final game that year, playing against the Houston Astros (led by manager Leo Durocher, who had once roomed with Babe Ruth), he was unable to hit one out of the park. After the game, Aaron stated that his only fear was that he might not live to see the 1974 season. That statement was not just about the death threats: one year earlier, September 30, 1972 was the last day that the legendary Roberto Clemente ever played, as he perished in the offseason

Of course, finishing 76-85 has you searching for the light at the end of the tunnel. Hank Aaron was the light in 1973. The Braves were 22 1/2 games out of first place. It was Eddie Matthews second year as manager. He wouldn’t have too many more.

An interesting record that year was that the Braves scored more runs than any other team in the National League. They also gave up more runs than any other team. That accounts for their miserable record.

Hank Aaron and destiny (1974)

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1974, April 4, Atlanta Braves, Babe Ruth, Eddie Matthews, Mike Lum, Ralph Garr

Hank Aaron – 1957

1974 would be Eddie Matthews 3rd and last year as Manager for the Atlanta Braves. On April 4th he made a bold move. It is the National League opener in Cincinnati. He pencils in Hank Aaron into the lineup under the premise that Hank has never hit a home run on opening day. If he does, however, he will tie Babe Ruth‘s home run title but it won’t be at home.

So what were the odds he would do it this time? Hard to know but odds are destined to be broken and of course Hank does. In the first inning with Ralph Garr and Mike Lum on base on his very first swing (there was a 3-1 count), he wacks it out over the left field wall.

And so the record will be broken but will it be in Cincinnati or Atlanta?

“Every strike brings me closer to the next home run.” ~Babe Ruth

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Babe Ruth

It is the optimism of sports, and baseball in particular, that I love. Babe Ruth got it for sure.

Every strike brings me closer to the next home run.

~~Babe Ruth

Boston Braves outfielder Babe Ruth announces his retirement (June 2, 1935)

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1935, Babe Ruth, Boston Braves, Judge Emil Fuchs, June 2, Retirement

Babe Ruth – Boston Brave

Boston Braves outfielder Babe Ruth announces his retirement from baseball on June 2, 1935.

The 40-year old former Yankees slugger wanted to retire three weeks sooner, but team owner Judge Emil Fuchs persuaded him to continue to play because Boston hadn’t played in every National League park.

The Babe at the Baker Bowl (1935)

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1935, Babe Ruth, Baker Bowl, Boston Braves, May 30, Philadelphia Phillies

Babe Ruth – Boston Brave

What an amazing player Babe Ruth was. And it would all end in Boston as a Brave.

On May 30, 1935, at the Baker Bowl, Babe Ruth of the Boston Braves plays his final major league game, going hitless in a first inning at-bat against the Phillies. On June 2, the former Yankees superstar will announce his retirement from baseball.

Dale Murphy calls a home run for a six year old girl (1983)

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1983, Atlanta Braves, Babe Ruth, Dale Murphy, June 12

Dale Murphy – Atlanta Braves

One of Dale Murphy‘s more memorable incidents was reminiscent of a scene from the classic black-and-white baseball film about Babe Ruth,  “The Pride of the Yankees”.

Before a home game against San Francisco on June 12, 1983, Murphy visited in the stands with Elizabeth Smith, a six-year-old girl who had lost both hands and a leg when she stepped on a live power line. After Murphy gave her a cap and a T shirt, her nurse innocently asked if he could hit a home run for Elizabeth. “I didn’t know what to say, so I just sort of mumbled ‘Well, O.K.,’ ” says Murphy.

That day he hit two homers and drove in all the Atlanta Braves‘ runs in a 3-2 victory

The first uniform numbers (1929)

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1929, Babe Ruth, Cleveland Naps, Jack Graney, Lou Gehrig, New York Yankee, Uniform Numbers

Lou Gehrig

Jack Graney was an innovator although it didn’t take hold. In 1916 he was the leadoff batter for the Cleveland Naps. He wore a miniscule number one on his sleeve. This numbering system didn’t catch on and was discontinued the next year. Oh well. That is the way of innovation some times.

Very soon though the Yankees saw a rise in popularity. A whole bunch of new fans started coming to see them play but they didn’t know who the players were by sight. So, in a bold move, they introduced numbers in 1929. They made them very big. And they put them on the back of the uniform.

The original numbering system followed the batting order so Ruth was number 3, Gehrig was 4 and so on. All teams eventually matched this by 1932. In 1952 the next “innovation” occurred with the Dodgers putting them on the front as well but never became universal.

300, 300, 2,000 Club — Chipper Jones joins the club

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Atlanta Braves, Babe Ruth, Chipper Jones, Hank Aaron, Stan Musial, Ted Williams

Chipper Jones

There is a very elite club in baseball: Hitters with 300 home runs who batted .300 for their careers and amassed at least 2,000 hits. Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, Stan Musial and Hank Aaron are in it. Ty Cobb, Al Kaline, Charlie Gehringer and Hank Greenberg are not. Atlanta Braves third baseman Chipper Jones is one of those in the club after retiring in 2012. He has 468 homers, 2,726 hits and batted .303 for his career.

“There are guys spraying the ball around and batting over .300. And there are guys who club the 30 to 40 home runs. But there are not many who can do both. That’s what makes you an elite hitter. It’s difficult, very difficult, for most players to do that.” ~Chipper Jones

The difficulty can be measured by the exclusions from the list. Kaline missed it by finishing at .297, and Pete Rose had only 160 homers. Barry Bonds ended his career batting .298, while Ken Griffey Jr. finished at .284. Hall of Famers Frank Robinson, Carl Yastrzemski, Mickey Mantle and Reggie Jackson also fall short.

The Bambino was a Brave (1935)

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1935, 714, Babe Ruth, Bambino, Boston Braves, Forbes Field, May 25

Babe Ruth – Boston Brave

He was born in Baltimore, Maryland on February 6, 1895. He died on August 16, 1948. He batted left and threw left. He was 6’2″ and sometimes weighed 215. He was the Bambino and yes, for one not so glorious year, he was a Boston Brave.

In 1935, in an interesting scheme with the NY Yankees, Babe Ruth came back to Boston, this time as a Brave. It only lasted 2 months. In a not so memorable 2 months, he did have a shining day on May 25th.

The Braves were playing at Pittsburgh. Forbes Field was fairly spacious. Babe homered in the first inning, the third and seventh. The one in the seventh would be his last, a number that stands out in baseball history as number 714.

That last one was the first homer to ever clear the two-tiered grandstand roof in right field at Forbes. They measured the distance to be about 600 feet. This was only the second time in Babe’s career that he hit three home runs in a game.

The Braves lost 11-7.