Los Angeles Dodger's pitcher, Al Downing, challenged Hank Aaron 50 years ago tonight.
Aaron hit his 715th career home run into the Atlanta Braves bullpen to break Babe Ruth's career record that stood for four decades.
Tom House, a Braves, reliever caught the ball on the fly in the bullpen. Former Reds' manager, Dusty Baker, was on deck and was the first to greet Aaron at home plate.
"I was a huge Al Downing fan," said the Brewers first year manager Pat Murphy before Monday's contest with the Reds. "I was a big Dodger fan when I was younger, (15). I don't remember if I saw it on TV live or on the highlights but I was rooting for the Dodgers in that particular game. If you grew up in baseball, you knew that number 714. They talk about the shot heard around the world. That was one of them,"
Murphy met Aaron twice with Brewers broadcaster, Bob Uecker, who was Aaron's teammate with the Milwaukee Braves in 1962 and 63.
Aaron was a native of Mobile, Alabama where the Reds' Bubba Thompson was born and raised.
"They have a stadium in Mobile named after him," Thompson said. "I went a few times. They used to have minor league teams playing there now they have high school games. It is a blessing man to come out of there and to be able to play baseball too. Hank Aaron was "the man", you know. He could do everything on the field. I try to go out there and play the same way. It is a blessing to be from where he's from and keep the tradition going."
Aaron ended the 1973 season with 713 home runs. He received deaths threats from racists, who were upset that a black man would dare to break Babe Ruth's record.
On April 4, the Braves opened the season against the Reds at Riverfront Stadium. There was doubt the game would be played that day because a tornado touched down in Sayler Park along the river across from the airport.
Jack Billingham was on the mound for Cincinnati that day. Ralph Garr walked and Mike Lum singled when Aaron came to the plate with one out. Aaron hit his 714th home run off the facade of the second level of seats for a three-run home run.
The Reds came back to win the game in 11 innings when Pete Rose scored from second base on a wild pitch from Buzz Capra.
Aaron also made his big league debut at Crosley Field in Cincinnati on April 13, 1954. Aaron ended his career with the Milwaukee Brewers in 1976. He hit 10 home runs that season at the age of 42 with 755 career home runs.
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