On this day: April 8th, 1974 Henry 'Hank' Aaron hit his 715th home run in Atlanta, breaking the record previously held by Babe Ruth. This song was released the previous year in anticipation of the milestone. I don't know his actual stats, but Aaron must have only been one or two away at the end of the '73 season since he got it done in what was likely the first week or so of the '74 season.
Bill Slayback, the singer of the song, was a pitcher for the Detroit Tigers in 1974. Ernie Harwell was the legendary long-time Tigers announcer who passed away in 2010.
Check out this site for a little more detailed info.
This one has been on my ever-growing, never-ending mental wish list for quite a while now. I finally found my copy last winter and have been saving it for this very occasion.
Enjoy!
play ball
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3 comments:
Bonus Hammerin Hank Aaron tenuous musical connection: "...[Stanley Kirk] Burrell served as a "batboy" with the team from 1973 to 1980... his job was to take calls and do "play-by-plays" for the A's [horrible] absentee owner during every summer game. The [vile] Finley, who lived in Chicago, used the child as his "eyes and ears." Reggie Jackson, in describing Burrell's role for Finley, took credit for his nickname: "I nicknamed him "Hammer," because he looked like Hank Aaron."..."
That rotten little spy grew up to become rotten harem-pants enthusiast MC Hammer.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mc_hammer
You gotta be shitting me.
It's amazing, it's incredible, but it's no bullshit!
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