Numbers and records are a major part of baseball lore.
Hank Aaron‘s 755 homers is probably the most iconic number of any of the slugger’s accomplishments.
But what if that number isn’t correct?
One can’t really go back and change history, but Aaron did have a homer taken away on Aug. 18, 1965.
The Milwaukee Braves beat the St. Louis Cardinals 5-3 that day in Busch Stadium, which was also known as Sportsman’s Park.
Homer Or Not
There are those of us who believe in the long run that decisions by umpires will eventually even out.
Well, on this day a pair of calls were protested by each team and right or wrong, they evened out.
With the score tied 3-3 in the eighth inning, Aaron hit a homer off Cardinals pitcher Curt Simmons to put the Braves in front.
However, home plate umpire Chris Pelekoudas saw it in a differently.
In an article appearing the Southeast Missourian the next day (Aug. 19), Aaron was a tad grumpy.
“It’s the worst call I’ve ever seen,” Aaron stated in the story. “I did the same thing the time before and popped up and he didn’t say a word. I always hit Simmons that way.”
According to the story, Pelekoudas said Aaron had run out of the batter’s box before he hit the ball.
Braves manager Bobby Bragan was even grumpier than Aaron.
“It was either a grudge call or he wanted his name in the paper,’ Bragan said. “I’ve never seen such a call.”
While it’s doubtful that an umpire would be quoted today in a newspaper article, Pelekoudas took a turn.
“Bragan’s protest was strictly on judgement,” Pelekoudas said. “His only argument was about a grudge and that is stupid. I didn’t hesitate in making the call.”
Pelekoudas ultimately won the war of words as Bragan was ejected.
Same Game, Different Call
One inning later, the home run call was again at the forefront of controversy.
This one appeared to be settled when second base umpire Bill Jackowski ruled a ball hit by Milwaukee pinch-hitter Don Dillard had bounced on top of the fence, so it was a homer.
It’s likely that the Cardinals weren’t happy, but no one was quoted in the newspaper.
Dillard’s two-run homer off Cardinal pitcher Ray Washburn proved to be the game-winner.
Two Homers with Braves
The game-winner that night was Dillard’s only long ball of the 1965 season and last of his career. He hit his other homer for the Braves in 1963.
Dillard hit 14 homers in his career with 12 for the Cleveland Indians from 1959 to 1962.
After the 1962 season, Dillard was traded to the Braves in a deal that sent Joe Adcock to the Indians.
The South Carolina native played with the Braves in 1963 and after a year in the minors, he returned for his final big league season. He eventually retired in 1967 after two minor league seasons.