August 6, 1974: Henry Aaron summons his bat once more to power a Braves win

Henry Aaron’s anger had grown since the Atlanta Braves announced on July 24, 1974, that Clyde King would be the team’s interim manager, replacing the fired Eddie Mathews.1 Braves Vice President Eddie Robinson was clear that the new manager would not be Aaron or his brother Tommie, manager of the Braves’ Double-A Southern League Savannah team: “Hank is definitely out,” Robinson said.2

Aaron was furious not to be asked. “Maybe they were afraid I’d say yes, I’d like the job. And maybe I would have, just so there’d be a breakthrough,” Aaron said at the 1974 All-Star Game festivities.3 Aaron was also incensed that his younger brother was not considered.4 At that time, Organized Baseball had never hired a Black manager, and Aaron was pessimistic about opportunities for his race in baseball. Braves owner William Bartholomay was flummoxed: “It’s a complete surprise to me that he would be interested.”5

Aaron was coming off a productive 40-homer season in 1973. But baseball’s terminal aging process was gaining on him and he knew his play was declining. Yet, he kept to his quiet professional demeanor. “He could have just come back from a funeral and you wouldn’t know,” teammate Ralph Garr said.6 Since breaking the homer record on April 8, Aaron was aware retirement loomed: “I want to go out hitting the ball well. … I want to go out proving I can play.”7 The Braves had shown no interest in renewing Aaron’s high-salaried contract.

The summer evening of August 6 attracted a small gathering at San Diego Stadium for the finale of a two-game series between the Padres and the Braves.8 Atlanta won the first game 9-7. Phil Niekro started the second game for the Braves with a record of 11-9 and riding a 21⅔-inning shutout streak. He was trying to pitch his third straight shutout.9 On the mound for the Padres was right-hander Bill Greif with a 6-12 mark.10

Managed by John McNamara, the Padres had the worst record in the National League, decimated by injuries.11 The offseason acquisitions of aging hitters like Willie McCovey, Matty Alou, Bobby Tolan, and Glenn Beckert failed to improve the team. Padres President Buzzie Bavasi sighed: “You know you’re in trouble when you have more talent sitting in the owner’s box than you have in the dugout.”12

At first pitch, the Braves were 56-53 in fourth place in the NL West, 16½ games behind the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers. The moribund Padres had a firm grip on last place in the West at 45-67, 29 games out.

Garr, leading off the game, bunted toward third baseman Dave Hilton, who threw him out. Mike Lum followed with a single, then was forced out at second on ’ grounder. Aaron singled sharply to left. Dusty Baker failed to give the Braves an early lead, lining out to Dave Winfield in center.

Enzo Hernández singled to left-center to lead off the bottom of the first but was caught stealing by Braves catcher Vic Correll in a rundown and tagged out by Lum at first. Beckert doubled off the left-field wall. Gene Locklear fouled out to Correll and McCovey struck out. Niekro’s scoreless streak endured.

In the third, Greif encountered the power still contained in Aaron’s bat. With one out, Garr hit a high bouncer at short for an infield single and swiped second. With two outs, Evans walked. Aaron slammed a fastball into the night air, 380 feet into the left-field stands for a three-run homer, his 14th homer of the season, the 727th of his career, giving the Braves a 3-0 lead.

Niekro continued his pace of excellent work through the first four innings. With the second out of the inning, Niekro now owned the Atlanta Braves team record for consecutive scoreless innings pitched with 26⅓ innings. He broke the record set by teammate Buzz Capra at 26 innings earlier in the season.13

The Braves added two runs in the top of the sixth. Aaron led off with his second homer, a “tremendous blast to dead center.”14 The Braves then loaded the bases with singles by Baker and Davey Johnson and a bunt hit by Craig Robinson. Correll drove a fastball to Winfield in center deep enough to drive in Baker, but Winfield threw out Johnson attempting to advance to third. Niekro popped to short for the third out. Braves were comfortably ahead, 5-0.

Greif faced two batters in the seventh, allowing a triple to Garr and walking Lum. Bill Laxton came in relief. Evans struck out and Lum was caught stealing second for a double play. Aaron followed by grounding out to second. Ivan Murrell replaced Aaron in the eighth, playing right; Garr moved to left. The Padres bullpen pitched scoreless ball for the rest of the game.15

In the seventh Niekro loaded the bases with two outs, then was gifted a McCovey groundout to first. In the eighth he allowed one hit and Chris Cannizzaro reached on an error by Evans, but Niekro retired the Padres with his directionless knuckleball. Miraculously, Niekro was on the cusp of a third consecutive shutout.

In the bottom of the ninth, the Atlanta bullpen was somnolent. Hernandez led off with a single for San Diego but was forced at second by a Beckert dribbler to short. Locklear struck out. With two outs, McCovey took care of the third-shutout fantasy, liquidating the scoreless streak at 31⅓ innings. Niekro said, “I shook off the fast sign two times (from Correll) before I threw McCovey a knuckleball and he timed it” driving it over the right-field fence.16 Winfield singled, but Nate Colbert ended the Padres’ hopes by flying out. The Braves won, 5-2.

The 9,492 fans in attendance witnessed one of the last power outbursts from Aaron. He blasted two homers in a game for the 62nd time.17 Aaron was careful not to be critical of Greif: “I got a couple of hits off him tonight, but he gives me a lot of trouble usually.”18 Aaron’s homers were off fastballs, “meaning Bad Henry can still get those wrists into the ball.”19

Garr went 3-for-5 with a triple and two stolen bases, raising his average to a NL-leading .366, just two points behind major-league leader Rod Carew of the Minnesota Twins.20 Aaron drove in four of the five Braves runs. He had 50 RBIs to go with his unusually low .258 average.21 He had driven in 2,183 runs in his career. Ruth’s record was waiting at 2,213.22

Niekro went the route, scattering 13 hits with two walks, stranding 13 runners and retiring the side in order just once, in the third.23 “I was pretty lucky to get by, giving that many hits, but it would have been nice to pitch three shutouts in a row,” Niekro said.24 “I didn’t pitch that well, but we did win, and that’s the idea in the first place.”25 Greif pitched six innings, allowing 10 hits and five earned runs in his 13th loss of the season.26 The Padres had lost 10 of their past 12 games.27 Since he became Braves manager, King’s record was 7-4.28

Questioned about his future, Aaron opened the door: “The only way I would come back is if somebody offered me a good contract.”29 He was asked whether a million-dollar deal could keep him playing. Aaron replied: “Well, that’s a lot of television sets,” referring to the contract he signed to be a spokesman for Magnavox televisions.30 Aaron turned serious regarding his statements at the All-Star Game about being the first Black manager: “I am enjoying playing ball. I want to do that but it’s been a little tough with all the controversy about managing.”31

King offered a solution to give Aaron experience in the dugout: “I told [Aaron] that if he is interested in managing, I’ll let him manage the club for a few games late in the season.”32 Aaron declined the opportunity.

Dave Anderson of the New York Times wrote that Aaron “assumed a new role involving his blackness, the willingness to be the major leagues’ first black manager – if the Atlanta Braves management affords him the opportunity.”33 Feeling used, Aaron wanted to keep playing – somewhere. Breaking Ruth’s RBI record and smacking 31 hits to pass Stan Musial on the all-time list mattered deeply to him.34

On November 2, a month after the completion of the major league season, Aaron competed in a home run contest against Japanese home-run king Sadaharu Oh at Korakuen Stadium in Tokyo.35 It was a payday for Aaron. About 50,000 attended, with millions watching on closed-circuit television in theaters throughout the world, and on CBS Sports Spectacular in the U.S.36 His 40-year-old body suffered the rigors of a 17-hour flight as he wore his number-44 Braves uniform unbeknownst to Aaron, for the last time.37 Aaron prevailed, 10-9.38 As Aaron slept in his hotel room early the next morning, the phone rang. Milwaukee Brewers President Bud Selig’s tinny voice echoed in the long-distance call: Aaron had been traded to Milwaukee.39 He was elated: “[A]s long as I’ve got my wrists and my eyes, I’ll be all right.”

SOURCES AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Many thanks to the staff at Java Nation in Kensington, Maryland, where I researched and wrote several iterations of this article.

As always to my wife, Teri.

In addition to the sources cited in the Notes, the author consulted the National Baseball Hall of Fame’s Giamatti Research Center, the Library of Congress, the National Archives and Records Administration, baseball-reference.com, retrosheet.org, YouTube.com, mlb.com, and the Milwaukee Brewers Media Guides.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SDN/SDN197408060.shtml

https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1974/B08060SDN1974.htm

NOTES

1  After being fired by Atlanta on July 21, 1974, Mathews worked as a scout and hitting instructor for several teams. His career managerial record was 149-161-1. When fired, he had managed the Braves to a 50-49 record. King went 38-25-1 in 1974, finishing third in the NL West. The team won 88 games. After the season, King’s interim tag was removed. He was 58-76 in 1974 when he was fired on August 29, 1975, 31½ games out of first place.

2  United Press International, “Mathews Dismissed as Braves’ Manager,” New York Times, July 22, 1974: 35.

3  Frederic Frommer, “50 Years Ago, Hank Aaron Asked for a Shot as MLB’s First Black Manager,” Washington Post, July 15, 2024. Retrieved from https://www.proquest.com/blogs-podcasts-websites/50-years-ago-hank-aaron-asked-shot-as-mlb-s-first/docview/3080875653/se-2 on November 11, 2024.

4  Robinson said, “Tommie is involved in a tight pennant race, and we think it would be unfair to take him out of Savannah at this time.” Aaron responded back: “I’m sure he doesn’t want to stay in the minor leagues the rest of his life and rot away.” See Frommer.

5  Dave Anderson, “From Cellophane to Black Velvet,” New York Times, July 25, 1974: 39.

6  Howard Bryant, The Last Hero: A Life of Henry Aaron (New York: Pantheon Books, 2011), 403.

7  Mitch Chortkoff, “I Want to Go Out Hitting the Ball Well,” San Diego Evening Tribune, August 7, 1974: C1.

8  Three future World Series-winning managers played in the contest. Dusty Baker manned center field and Davey Johnson was at second base for the Braves. Cito Gaston came into the game as a pinch-hitter for San Diego in the eighth inning.

9  Associated Press, “League Honors Brock and Niekro,” Atlanta Constitution, August 6, 1974: 5-4. Niekro shut out both the Los Angeles Dodgers (10-0) on July 27 and the San Francisco Giants (9-0) on July 31. Niekro had been named National League Player of the Week with Lou Brock for the week ending August 4.

10  Greif was acquired from the Houston Astros as part of the Dave Roberts trade on December 3, 1971.

11  Center fielder Bobby Tolan was out for the season with a knee injury. Infielder Derrell Thomas had been out for an extended period. Catcher Bill Barton was out with a broken finger. Outfield prospect Johnny Grubb was also injured.

12  “Injury Siege Frustrating to Padre Management,” San Diego Union, August 7, 1974: C-4.

13  Roberts. The Boston, Milwaukee, and Atlanta franchise record is held by Art Nehf with 41⅔ innings in 1917.

14  Frank Hyland, “Niekro Tough Act to Follow,” Atlanta Journal, August 7, 1974: 1-E.

15  Laxton, Mike Johnson, and Rusty Gerhardt each pitched one scoreless inning, allowing two hits.

16  Associated Press, “Aaron Raps Two Shots,” Macon (Georgia) News, August 7, 1974: 1C

17  Aaron had one three-homer game in his career. He is tied for seventh place on the all-time list for most two-homer games at 62 with Alex Rodríguez.

18  United Press International, “Aaron Swats Two, Hints He May Not Quit,” Long Beach (California) Press-Telegram. August 7, 1974: C-2

19  Chortkoff, “I Want to Go Out Hitting the Ball Well.”

20  Garr ended the season with a National League-best .353 average, second in baseball behind Rod Carew’s .364. He led the NL in hits (214) and triples (17).

21  Aaron ended the season with 20 homers, 69 RBIs, and a .268 average, arguably his worst season as a major leaguer. He hit 24 or more home runs every year from 1955 through 1973.

22  The MLB.com RBI career total for Ruth is 2,213. Baseball-reference.com has Ruth’s total as 2,214.

23  Niekro was now 12-9. For the season, he led the National League with wins with a record of 20-13. He pitched 18 complete games and a league leading 302⅓ innings with a 2.38 ERA. The Padres went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position.

24  Phil Collier, “Aaron Homers Twice as Braves Top Padres,” San Diego Union, August 7, 1974: C-1, C-4.

25  Frank Hyland, “Aaron Is Showing His Old Power, “Atlanta Journal, August 7, 1974: 8-E.

26  Greif ended the season with a 9-19 record. His 19 losses ranked fourth in the National League. After retiring from baseball in 1978, Greif became a realtor in Austin, Texas.

27  The Padres finished last in NL West 42 games out with the worst record in the majors at 60-102.

28  The Braves finished at 88-74, in third place in the NL West, 14 games behind the division champion and pennant-winning Dodgers.

29  United Press International, “Aaron Swats Two, Hints He May Not Quit.”

30  “Aaron Swats Two, Hints He May Not Quit.” Aaron had completed the first year of a five‐year contract with Magnavox for a total compensation of $1 million.

31  Chortkoff, “I Want to Go Out Hitting the Ball Well.”

32  Herald Wire Services, “Dodgers’ Wynn Believes Reds Playing Scared,” Miami Herald, August 7, 1974: 4-E.

33  Anderson. When asked whether Atlanta was ready for a Black manager, Robinson said, “I don’t think I want to comment on that.”

34  Aaron surpassed Ruth in RBIs, ending with a career mark of 2,297. He still holds the career RBI record. Aaron passed Musial in career hits, ending with 3,771, third on the all-time list.

35  Korakuen Stadium was opened in 1937 and was home to the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball’s Central League until end of the 1987 season. It was closed down on November 8, 1987 and razed. The Tokyo Dome Hotel was built on part of the site. The remaining area of the site is a plaza for the Tokyo Dome.

36  To watch the aired CBS promotional ad for the Oh-Aaron contest, see https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=hMV8JX31fJpMfqJq&v=gkLDnXDw-GQ&feature=youtu.be, accessed May 26, 2025.

37  To watch a brief clip of the Oh-Aaron home run contest, see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkGBlIt9En8, accessed May 26, 2025.

38  Associated Press, “Aaron Wins Home Run Match, 10-9,” New York Times, November 2, 1974: 19-20. Aaron hit 10 out of 18 fair balls into the seats. Oh smacked 9 home runs in 20 pitches.

39  Alex Coffey, “The Braves Trade Hank Aaron to the Brewers, Baseball Hall of Fame, https://baseballhall.org/discover-more/stories/inside-pitch/the-braves-trade-henry-aaron, accessed April 24, 2024. Aaron was traded for outfielder Dave May and a player to be named later. Aaron was going to be the Brewers’ designated hitter. Bud Selig promised him a front‐office role when he retired. With the Aaron acquisition, Selig aimed to reinvigorate the Brewers’ fan base with a tie to the Milwaukee Braves era.