It was 50 years in the past, April 8, 1974 when slugger Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth’s residence run report. It is some of the well-known moments in baseball historical past. The pitcher that day, Al Downing, displays on it.
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Fifty years in the past, the eye of a lot of the nation was on Atlanta, Ga. Henry “Hank” Aaron of the Atlanta Braves was on the verge of surpassing Babe Ruth’s legendary residence run report of 714. In that night time’s recreation towards the LA Dodgers, Aaron hit the ball over the left discipline fence for his record-breaking residence run. Reporter Steve Futterman takes us again to that night time.
STEVE FUTTERMAN, BYLINE: It was the night of April 8, 1974.
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UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: The next NBC sports activities program is dropped at you in dwelling coloration.
FUTTERMAN: Thirty-five million People sat in entrance of their TVs. By no means earlier than had so many individuals watched an everyday season baseball recreation. On the Atlanta Braves Radio Community…
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ERNIE JOHNSON SR: Right here to explain it, Milo Hamilton.
MILO HAMILTON: I thanks, Ernie, very a lot. And howdy once more, all people. We’re set to go.
FUTTERMAN: …For these tuning in, there was only one query. Would Henry Aaron break Babe Ruth’s all-time residence run report? The person attempting to forestall that from taking place was LA Dodger pitcher Al Downing.
AL DOWNING: I used to be a historian. I used to be a historian. And I like Henry Aaron. I like Willie Mays. These guys have been pioneers. And so if you acquired an opportunity to play towards these guys, it is such as you’re taking part in towards the creme de la creme, ?
FUTTERMAN: Initially, Downing was imagined to pitch the day earlier than towards the San Diego Padres. However a change within the Dodgers’ rotation put Downing on the mound that night time. Talking not too long ago, he recalled an electrical environment on the stadium.
DOWNING: I used to be pondering, boy, that is going to be a giant night time. I ponder what it will be like. And once I acquired there, I noticed all these buses (laughter). They will need to have had 11 marching bands.
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HAMILTON: And this crowd is up. Henry Aaron is coming to bat for the primary time at residence.
FUTTERMAN: Aaron’s first at bat resulted in a stroll and boos from the Atlanta followers.
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HAMILTON: Downing might be booed if he does and booed if he would not. There isn’t any manner Downing can win on this battle.
FUTTERMAN: Within the fourth inning, Aaron got here up once more and, this time, historical past.
Would you thoughts watching the house run with me?
DOWNING: By no means. The place is it?
FUTTERMAN: I’ll put it on the – discover it right here.
DOWNING: Oh, OK.
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HAMILTON: Here is the pitch by Downing – swinging. There is a drive into left middle discipline. That ball goes to be out of right here. It is gone. It is 715. There is a new residence run champion of all time. And it is Henry Aaron. The fireworks are going. Henry Aaron is coming round third. His teammates are at residence plate. And hearken to this crowd.
FUTTERMAN: What’s it like watching it?
DOWNING: I liked watching that.
FUTTERMAN: Downing remembers the precise pitch ordered up by his catcher, Joe Ferguson.
DOWNING: He calls a fastball inside, which I did not get far sufficient inside. And that is the ball he hit over the fence. Now, that occurs to pitchers on a regular basis. Generally they pop that pitch up. Generally they hit a line drive to the middle discipline. It simply so occurred this ball went over the fence. And it simply occurred to be the best residence run most likely in that the final a part of the century. However the level is you do not dwell on it.
FRED CLAIRE: Al was the right man to ship that pitch, as unusual as that will sound.
FUTTERMAN: In 1974, Fred Claire was the Dodgers’ vice chairman of communications. Reflecting now, he says if that had occurred to different pitchers, it could have crushed them.
CLAIRE: The pitcher crying out, this isn’t my profession; this isn’t the one factor I’ve ever completed, and changing into very defensive about it. With Al, it was merely an acceptance of what had occurred.
FUTTERMAN: How have you ever handled the truth that you gave up this well-known residence run?
DOWNING: A part of life. You need to embrace it. I imply, how else can it’s?
FUTTERMAN: By no means any despair after it.
DOWNING: I could not afford to be depressed.
FUTTERMAN: However that night time, going to sleep.
DOWNING: No.
FUTTERMAN: The day after the house run, the Braves and Dodgers performed once more. Beforehand, Aaron and Downing acquired collectively for a quick chat.
DOWNING: Proper after we might gotten within the clubhouse – possibly half an hour later – one of many clubhouse youngsters got here to me and stated, Mr. Aaron desires to speak with you, and he desires to fulfill with you behind the batting cage at residence plate. I stated, good. So I went on the market. Henry was on the market. And he says to me – he says, Al, do not feel badly. He says, I needed to get that over with. You are still a beautiful pitcher. And you do not let this have an effect on, , your standing as a pitcher.
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HAMILTON: Henry Aaron has completed it on the age of 40, April the 8, 1974.
FUTTERMAN: Now, 50 years later, Al Downing is essentially unknown to a brand new technology of baseball followers. Nonetheless, he appreciates his function in that historic second and accepts being remembered as the person who threw the pitch. For NPR Information, I am Steve Futterman in Los Angeles.
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