Aaron alone at the top

Hank Aaron hitting against Al Downing on April 8, 1974

Four days after tying Babe Ruth with his 714th home run in the season opener in Cincinnati, Hank Aaron 50 years ago tonight puts himself alone at the top of the list for baseball’s all-time home run hitters.

In a nationally televised game from Atlanta, the Braves’ All-Star outfielder breaks Ruth’s record in the fourth inning with a two-run homer off Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Al Downing.

Darrell Evans starts the bottom of the fourth inning by reaching base on a fielding error by Dodgers shortstop Bill Russell.

Then, with a crowd of 53,775 watching the Monday night game at Fulton County Stadium, Aaron lifts Downing’s 1-0 pitch to him over the wall in left-center field and into the glove of Braves relief pitcher Tom House, who is waiting on the other side of the fence near the Atlanta bullpen.

Aaron bats twice more in the game – grounding out both times – before leaving after the seventh inning with Atlanta ahead 7-4, which will remain the final score.

Aaron hits another 19 homers in 1974 for the Braves.

Atlanta after the season trades Aaron to Milwaukee, where Aaron’s Hall of Fame career begins in 1954.

Aaron plays two more seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers, totaling 22 more homers to reach 755 for his career before retiring.

Aaron, who endures countless acts of racism as he approaches Ruth’s record, handles his passing of Ruth with the class and dignity that defines both his career and life.

“I don’t want them to forget Ruth,” Aaron says. “I just want them to remember me.”