Hi, this is Fred Wallace with ” Off the Wire “.
Yesterday we were talking about April 8, 1974, the night Hank Aaron hit his 715th career home run to bypass Babe Ruth for the Major League record.
I noted there were things I remembered about that day, but keep in mind, I was 13 and like most 13 year olds, somewhat oblivious to the world around me.
Hank Aaron came into the 1974 season 1 home run back of Babe Ruth. I think I remembered that, but what I didn’t know, or certainly didn’t remember, was that Aaron & the Braves started the season at Cincinnati.
Because the Braves of that era had precious little going for them, naturally they wanted Aaron to set the record at Fulton County Stadium and not in Cincinnati, so the plan was hatched to have him sit out the opening series.
Major League Commissioner Bowie Kuhn stepped in and decreed that Aaron has to play in 2 of the 3 games at Riverfront Stadium.
Aaron tied Babe Ruth’s record on the first pitch he saw in 1974, but as luck, fate or whatever would have it he didn’t homer again until April 8th in Atlanta.
What I also didn’t know was the nasty racial undertones associated with Aaron, a black man, pursuing Ruth, a white man, for a place in baseball history.
The ratio of Fan Mail to Hate Mail for Hank Aaron was said to be equal.
A newspaper journalist admitted he pre-wrote Aaron’s obituary, just in case
And the aforementioned Bowie Kuhn, the somewhat pompous defender of all things good in baseball, was not in Atlanta for Aaron’s historic home run, an absence noted by Aaron himself who was quoted as stating, ‘ I believe he ( Kuhn ) would have showed more interest if a white player were involved’.
In fairness to Bowie Kuhn, he was booked for a speaking engagement when Hank Aaron hit # 715.
Where was he ?
In Cleveland, speaking to the Fan Club, also known as ” The Wahoo Club “.
I missed all of this as a 13 year old in April of 1974.
I’m Fred Wallace