{"id":70006,"date":"2024-04-08T07:00:27","date_gmt":"2024-04-08T11:00:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=70006"},"modified":"2024-04-06T16:27:12","modified_gmt":"2024-04-06T20:27:12","slug":"hank-aaron-mlb-home-run-record-715","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/04\/08\/hank-aaron-mlb-home-run-record-715\/","title":{"rendered":"50 Years Ago, Hank Aaron Broke the Unbreakable Record"},"content":{"rendered":"

April 8, 1974. Atlanta Braves icon Henry Aaron<\/a> hit career home run number 715, surpassing the MLB home run record by New York Yankees legend Babe Ruth<\/a>. It was a record thought unbreakable, but Hank Aaron found a way. Baseball\u2019s numbers are important. Mention 714 home runs, a 56-game hitting streak, or seven no-hitters, and even the most casual fan will know what you\u2019re talking about. But do you know the best career quarterback rating? Me neither.<\/p>\n

The Babe<\/h3>\n

Ruth held two home run records: 60 homers in a season in 1927 and, of course, 714 career home runs. Ruth felt that it was possible that somebody would come along and break his single-season record. After all, he noted, Jimmie Foxx<\/a> of the Philadelphia Athletics came close when he hit 58 in 1932. But the Babe thought his career record was untouchable.<\/p>\n

Ruth passed away in 1948, but his widow was still alive in 1974 and couldn\u2019t avoid the media. In the male-dominated world of 1974, the papers referred to her as \u201cMrs. Babe Ruth\u201d as though she had no identity of her own. She had a first name: Claire, and she had been an actress and model.<\/p>\n

Claire told the Associated Press, \u201cThe Babe loved baseball so very much. I know he was pulling for Hank Aaron<\/a> to break his record.\u201d Millions saw the new home run king crowned on TV in addition to the 53,775 at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. Claire didn\u2019t watch. She knew the papers would be on the phone once Aaron hit home run number 715.
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