"It's Almost Over With"

No. 1974 Date Inn On Base Opp Pitcher 714 April 4 1 2 Cin Billingham

That is the way it will look some day in the record book. Last week it was flesh and blood, bat and ball; it was one man and the memory of another at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati. Barely ten minutes into his 21st major league season, Henry Louis Aaron stood at the plate with two Atlanta Brave teammates on base and a count of three balls and one strike. Around him were 52,000 expectant fans. Behind him were six months of anxiety and anticipation. Hanging over him was Babe Ruth's most celebrated feat--714 lifetime home runs.

Cincinnati Pitcher Jack Billingham threw a fastball--which, he later admitted, got away. An instant later, Aaron's home-run ball No. 714 cleared the 375-ft. marker in left centerfield and bounced into the hands of a startled policeman, Clarence Williams, who was patrolling an alley between the field and the stands. "I'm just glad it's almost over with," Aaron said after the game was stopped so he could be presented with the ball returned by Williams.

After that the Braves went on to lose the game. "That kind of takes the edge off it," Aaron conceded. "Come around after we've won and I'll show you a celebration." No doubt. But he will celebrate after the next home run, even if the Braves lose. Each successive homer now sets a new record. Given the Hammer's opening-day form, he will likely nail the mark so high that it will take at least another 40 years for some other slugger to reach it.

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