My favorite quote attributed to Hank Aaron is listed on baseball-almanac.com.
“I don’t want them to forget (Babe) Ruth, I just want them to remember me.”
It’s pretty easy to assume that statement was made during Aaron’s date with destiny and 715 career home runs.
It was 45 years ago today that Aaron of the Atlanta Braves resumed his chase of the record, after finishing the 1973 season with 713 homers.
Released before the season began, Aaron’s 1974 Topps baseball card has him crowned as the “Home Run King” as he would pass Babe Ruth on April 8 in Atlanta with his 715th against Al Downing and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Perhaps the lesser known story of No. 714, which is an interesting one, happened on opening day in Cincinnati on April 4.
Obviously, the Braves wanted the historic moment to occur in at home in Fulton County Stadium. There was some controversy as to how much Aaron would play in the three-game series against the Reds.
After the contests in Cincinnati, the Braves would have 11 straight games at home. However, Major League Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn determined that the Braves would play Aaron in at least two of the games.
Fans in Cincinnati, didn’t have to wait very long to see history.
Ralph Garr walked and Mike Lum singled to begin the game. After Darrell Evans was retired by Reds starter Jack Billingham, Aaron blasted a 3-1 pitch to left field to reach the milestone.
“All I really remember about the game was his HR off Billingham,” former Cincinnati infielder Darrell Chaney said in a Facebook conversation with Press Room Pass. “We all gave him a standing ovation. The next day there was a picture of him hitting it in our lockers, autographed.”
Vice President Gerald Ford, Kuhn and Bill Bartholomay, the Braves president, each spoke to the crowd of 52,154. Aaron eventually was able to thank the fans and said he was glad it was almost over.
This one belongs to the Reds!
As with many historic moments, the result of the game often is not something people remember.
Cincinnati Hall of Fame broadcaster Marty Brennaman was behind the microphone for the first time with the Reds, but he didn’t end the game with his signature phrase “And this one belongs to the Reds!” despite the team’s victory.
After falling behind in the first inning, the Reds were able to comeback to win 7-6 in 11 innings.
Trailing 6-2 in the eighth, Tony Perez hit a three-run homer to get the Reds to within a run. Rose’s RBI double in the ninth set the stage for a wild walk-off win.
With two outs in the 11th, Rose doubled and Joe Morgan was intentionally walked. Cesar Geronimo was at the plate when Braves pitcher Buzz Capra threw a wild pitch and Rose made it all the way home for the game-winner.
Brennaman used his famous words in his second broadcast two days later when the Reds beat the Braves 7-5 as Aaron didn’t play. Brennaman is set to retire after 46 years at the end of this season.