Frame #4: Hank Aaron's Record Breaking Home Run

Hank Aaron's 715th Home Run (April 8, 1974)

The greatest individual act in American sports is hitting a home run.  It comes to no surprise then the most treasured record in American sports is career home runs.  For over five decades Babe Ruth, one of the greatest sports figures of all time, held the record for most career home runs with 714.  The man to eventually break Ruth's record is Hank Aaron, the man swinging for the fences in the picture above.

Though Aaron was on his way to breaking Babe Ruth's home run record, it came at a hard price.  Hank Aaron fell just short of tying Ruth's record by the time the 1973 baseball season came to a close.  This meant Aaron had to wait until the following spring to claim the title as the new home run king.  That winter was certainly a trying time for Hank Aaron as he received hate mail and death threats from anonymous people.  Some people couldn't accept a black man breaking Babe Ruth's record.  Sadly Hank Aaron was no stranger to racism considering his background.   

Born in Mobile, Alabama in the 1930's, Aaron experienced firsthand the racism that existed in the segregated south.  He grew up on a farm picking cotton alongside his seven other siblings.  After attending a segregated school, Aaron showcased his baseball talents in the Negro Baseball League.  Even though Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in 1947, many black ball players had to prove their worth in the Negro Leagues before making it to the Major Leagues.  In 1952 Hank Aaron debuted in the Negro Leagues and led his team, the Indianapolis Clowns, to victory in the Negro League World Series.

Aaron's productivity on the field caught the eye of numerous major league scouts.  He eventually signed with the Milwaukee Braves and played for their minor league team in 1953.  Finally in 1954 Aaron made his major league debut.  Right from the start Hank Aaron showcased his superstar abilities.  He built the reputation as one of the great power hitters in all of baseball.  From 1957 to 1973 Hank Aaron hit thirty or more home runs every year except for two seasons.  Additionally after his rookie year, Aaron was elected to the MLB All-Star game every year up through 1973.

Slowly but surely thanks to a consistent and powerful bat, Hank Aaron eventually grabbed national attention as he approached Babe Ruth's all-time home run record.  Many thought Aaron would break the record during the 1973 season.  He finished the season with 713 career home runs, one shy of Babe Ruth's 714 mark.  Aaron had to wait the following year to set the new home run record.

No one could wait for the 1974 season to start more than Hank Aaron.  The previous winter hundreds of hate mail was sent to Aaron.  The threats got so bad a local Atlanta writer prepared an obituary in the event Aaron was murdered.  It was clear many people didn't want to see a black man hold the most coveted record in American sports.

Despite the outcry Hank Aaron, at the age of forty, was ready to go opening day on the road in Cincinnati.  In his very first at bat Aaron blasted a home run to tie the record.  Many hoped home run number 715 would be in the Braves home park in Atlanta.  After failing to hit another home run in Cincinnati, the Braves returned home to host the Los Angeles Dodgers.  In the home opener Hank Aaron stepped to the plate in the 4th inning and belted a drive to left field.

The picture shows the Aaron's follow through swing after hitting the historic home run.  What makes the frame spectacular is its symmetry.  At the top the stadium lights blare down on the field, giving the moment an even greater spotlight.  The light is literally raining down on the field.  Beneath the lights is a large portion of the record setting crowd to witness the new home run champion.  The spectators perfectly surround the field giving the picture a nice arc.  On the field Hank Aaron is the focal point.  Every Dodger player is focused on the hitter, hoping their team isn't a part of history.

As the ball cleared left field into the Braves bullpen, Hank Aaron slowly trotted around the bases.  As Aaron approached 3rd base, two young white men ran up behind him.  This was a scary moment considering the death threats Aaron received while on his quest to set the home run record.  These men could of attacked Hank Aaron.  It turned they came on the field to give the home run king a congratulatory pat on the back.  That moment showed there were a lot more people rooting for Aaron rather than against him.  The crowd of predominately white people was giving a black man a standing ovation.

Hank Aaron would play two more full seasons in the big leagues.  He retired in 1976 with a career total of 755 home runs.  That mark stood until Barry Bonds clubbed his 756th home run in 2007.  Many still believe Aaron holds the record due to the allegations that Bonds used performing enhancing drugs (PED's).  Even players closing in on Hank Aaron's home run total have been rumored to take PED's. To this day Hank Aaron's 715th home run is considered one of the greatest moments in baseball history.  The picture captures the spotlight Aaron was under before and at the moment of his historic home run.

Frame #3: Joe Montana to Dwight Clark

1981 NFC Championship Game (January 10, 1982)

Some moments signify the changing of the guard.  In a period of time a team can dominate a league, forming a dynasty no other team can rival.  But history shows every dynasty has a life span.  In most cases it ends when a team rises to the occasion and defeats the team on top.  Eventually a new team asserts its dominance and the cycle starts over.  The 1982 NFC Championship Game between the Dallas Cowboys and the San Francisco 49ers signifies this transfer of power.

The two teams could not be more different from a historical perspective.  Throughout the 1970’s the NFC was dominated by the Dallas Cowboys.  The Cowboys appeared in five Super Bowls, winning two in 1971 and 1977.  Due to their success on the field as well as their familiarity with the public, the Cowboys became known as America’s Team.  Since the franchise's inception in 1960, the team was coached by the legendary Tom Landry.  He is credited for transforming a once lousy expansion team to Super Bowl champions.

The San Francisco 49ers entered the contest having never played in the NFC Championship game.  The team was coached by Bill Walsh who had seen success at the college ranks but had not seen the same results at the pro level.  The 49ers compiled a record of 8-24 (eight wins, twenty-four losses) in Walsh’s first two years as coach.  Rumors of Bill Walsh's firing dissipated once the 1981 season got underway as the team went a league best 13-3 in the regular season.  The quarterback was a former 3rd round draft pick by the name of Joe Montana who had exploded on the scene by orchestrating incredible 4th quarter comebacks.

The game was played at Candlestick Park home of the San Francisco 49ers.  Despite having the best record in the NFL and beating the Cowboys in the regular season, the 49ers had lost their previous three playoff meetings against the Cowboys.  It was a classic matchup between an established team and an up and coming powerhouse.

The entire game was a back and forth affair.  The first half saw three lead changes between the two teams.  The 49ers jumped to a 7-0 lead after Joe Montana connected with Freddie Solomon on an eight yard touchdown pass.  The Cowboys came right back to score ten consecutive points to take a 10-7 lead to end the 1st quarter.

After the 49ers retook the lead thanks to Joe Montana's twenty yard touchdown pass to Dwight Clark, the Cowboys caught a huge break.  Dallas had brought the ball into San Francisco territory when it appeared 49er's defensive back Ronnie Lott intercepted a pass.  The play was overruled due to a controversial pass interference penalty which wiped away the turnover and gave the Cowboys possession of the ball on the 49er twelve yard line.  Shortly after the penalty Dallas Cowboy's running back Tony Dorsett scored on a five yard touchdown run to give the Cowboys the lead at the half 17-14.

The 49ers scored the only points of the 3rd quarter when Johnny Davis scored on a two yard touchdown run to give the lead back to the 49ers 21-17.  Early in the 4th quarter a Cowboy's field goal cut San Francisco's lead to one.  Minutes later the 49ers fumbled the ball, giving possession back to the Cowboys. This led to a Danny White touchdown pass to tight end Doug Cosbie which gave the lead back to Dallas 27-21.

The 49ers regained possession of the ball on their own eleven yard line with 4:54 remaining in the game.  San Francisco successfully converted on two 3^rd downs to keep the drive alive.  At the two minute warning the 49ers were barely passed midfield at the Dallas forty-nine yard line.  Shortly after the timeout, Joe Montana exploded for back to back completions to bring the 49ers to the thirteen yard line with the game clock reading 1:15.  The 49ers quickly called timeout to stop the clock and regroup for the next play.

On 1^st down Montana overthrew a potential touchdown pass to Freddie Solomon to bring up 2^nd and 10.  The following play Montana handed the ball off to running back Lenvil Elliot who gained seven yard on the play to the six yard line.  This brought up a critical 3^rd and three with 58 seconds left in the game which prompted San Francisco to use another timeout.  The 49ers decided to run Spring Right Option, a play they successfully scored on in the 1^st quarter.  It involved Montana running to the right sideline and completing a pass to Freddie Solomon who makes a cut to the right corner of the end zone.  If all went according to plan Solomon would come up with the game winning grab to send the 49ers to the Super Bowl.

The 49ers lined up with Freddie Solomon and Dwight Clark as slot receivers to the right.  Montana received the hike and ran to the right sideline looking for Solomon in the corner of the right end zone.  The Cowboys wouldn’t be fooled twice as Solomon was tightly covered on the play.  To make matters worse the 49ers failed to stop Dallas’s pass rush as three Cowboy defensive players, including 6’9” defensive end Ed Jones, quickly pursued the fleeing quarterback.  As Joe Montana approached the sideline he gave one pump fake causing Ed Jones to jump in the air.  This gave Montana just enough time to lob a pass into the end zone as the towering Jones knocked him to the ground.  The ball appeared to sail too high until Dwight Clark came out of no where to make "The Catch". 

Those who claim Joe Montana was throwing the ball away don't realize Dwight Clark was the second option on the designed play.  After making a cut to the left, Clark quickly reversed his route to the right along the back of the end zone.  As Montana’s pass hung in the air, Dwight Clark leaped up and grabbed the ball with his fingertips.  If you look closely at the picture his middle and index finger barely make it up the side of the ball.  49er players and coaches claim they have never seen Clark jump that high. Additionally the picture shows Clark elevated well above Cowboy's defender Everson Walls who led the league in interceptions that year.  Had the throw been an inch higher that very well may have been an incomplete pass.

What makes this picture spectacular is the background.  The contrast between the bay area haze and Clark's fingers on the football produces a captivating snapshot.  The record setting crowd at Candlestick Park that day adds to the backdrop.  The faces in the crowd aren't visible but the thousands of specs are all concentrated on the leaping Dwight Clark.  The players on the field are shown staring up at the airborne Clark with the understanding this play can make or break their season.

After the ensuing field goal, the 49ers took a 28-27 lead with 51 seconds remaining.  The Cowboys obtained possession and quickly drove down the field into 49er territory.  A sack by the San Francisco defense caused Cowboy's quarterback Danny White to fumble the ball.  The 49ers recovered the loose ball with 30 seconds left to seal the win.

The aftermath of this game started one dynasty and ended another.  The Cowboys failed to reach the Super Bowl all through the 1980's.  In that same time span the San Francisco 49ers won four Super Bowls led by Joe Montana who solidified himself as one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time.  Even through all the success, Montana's career defining moment will always be his pass to Dwight Clark that sent the San Francisco 49ers to its first ever Super Bowl.     

Frame #2: Phil Mickelson's Putt to Win the 2004 Masters

72nd Green at the 2004 Masters (April 11, 2004)

Some golfers can never get over the hump.  Most don't have the ability to compete for golf's major championships.  Of the select few with the ability, even less can seize the opportunity to deliver in the most important moments.  For years, a player who many considered to have unlimited ability but couldn't seize the moment is the man pictured above, Phil Mickelson.

Throughout the 90's and early 00's, Phil was one of the elite golfers on the PGA Tour.  He started off his career with a bang while still an amateur when he won a PGA Tour event in 1991 at the age of 20.  He would continue his dominance throughout the years, claiming 21 victories on the PGA Tour from 1991 to 2003.

Despite the success, going into the 2004 Masters Mickelson had yet to capture a major championship.  The most painful thing was how close he came year after year from finally getting the "major monkey" off his back.  Eight times Mickelson finished 2nd or 3rd in a major.  After numerous near misses on golf's biggest stages, golf pundits coined Phil Mickelson as the best golfer to never win a major.

Phil without a doubt is one of the most likable golfers on tour.  He's the guy that tips his hat and gives fist bumps to fans between holes.  Unlike Tiger Woods who is locked in and tunes out the crowd, Phil Mickelson engages the crowd.  He's like that cool uncle you want to spend more time with.  Due to his popularity, many wanted to see Phil Mickelson finally break through and claim a major title.

At the end of the 3rd round at The Masters, Phil Mickelson held a share of the lead with Chris DiMarco.  Both men were six under par (-6) and owned a two stroke co-lead going into Sunday.  This wasn't the first time Phil had the lead or the share of the lead going into the final round of a major championship.  Was Phil going to stumble down the stretch or would there be Sunday magic at Augusta?

Sunday at Augusta National is arguably the biggest day for golf in the calendar year.  Some of the greatest moments in the game's history happen on this day.  Take for example Jack Nicklaus's miraculous come-from-behind victory to capture the 1986 green jacket at the age of 46 or the following year when Larry Mize sunk a 140-foot birdie chip on the second sudden death hole to seal the championship. Augusta National has a special place in every golf fan's heart.  To win a major championship in dramatic fashion would cement any golfer's legacy, something Phil Mickelson desperately needed.

The 4th round began not the way Mickelson had hoped.  Through the first eleven holes, Phil was two over par on the day which dropped his overall score to four under par (-4) for the tournament.  Heading to the 12th tee box, Mickelson found himself down three strokes with only seven holes to play.  It appeared Phil Mickelson would fall short yet again at a major championship.

A terrific birdie on the par three 12th hole got Phil back within two shots of leader Ernie Els.  He then proceeded to birdie the next two holes to trim Els's lead to one stroke with three holes to play.  On the 16th hole, a difficult par three over the water, Mickelson sank a dramatic 20-foot put to pull even with Els.  After a par on the 17th hole, Mickelson remained tied with Els who had finished his round.  If Phil could card a birdie on the 18th hole, he would be champion of the most prestigious tournament in golf.

After a beautiful drive and excellent approach, Phil Mickelson found himself with an 18-foot birdie putt for the championship.  Hundreds of people gathered around the 18th green including Phil's immediate family.  After studying the slope of the putt with longtime caddy Jim Mackay, Mickelson stepped up to the ball and hit it.  As the ball traveled across the green, the entire crowd stood up as people yelled, "get in the hole".  Jim Nantz who was on the call, said as the ball approached the hole, "is it his time.......YES!  AT LONG LAST!"  

What ensued next was sheer jubilation captured perfectly in the picture above.  Phil Mickelson showed the entire world his two inch vertical leap.  In most sports jumping around in celebration is perfectly normal.  Golf is unique in the sense that it's a gentleman's game where emotions must be kept in check.  In this instant it didn't matter what Phil did.  He could have moonwalked across the green and no one would have cared.  All the standing spectators have their hands raised in the air, perfectly mimicking Phil's arms.  It seemed as if everyone in the gallery had won The Masters with that putt.  

It was such an emotionally charged moment not only for Phil Mickelson but also for so many others.  The fans, media, corporate sponsors, you name it- all love Phil Mickelson.  I've heard grown men admit they cried when the putt went in.  Phil's winning putt at The Masters has gone down as one of the most iconic moments in the tournament's history.    

Since the 2004 Masters, Phil has won the 2006 and 2010 Masters, the 2005 PGA Championship, and most recently the 2013 Open Championship.  Tiger Woods is the only active PGA Tour golfer to have more major wins then Phil.  Even with all the success following the '04 Masters, Phil Mickelson will be remembered best for rising to the occasion that Sunday in Augusta, jumping for joy with the whole crowd joining in on the victorious moment.  

Frame #1: Michael Jordan's Last Shot

1998 NBA Finals Game 6 (June 14, 1998)

Michael Jordan is indisputably the greatest basketball player of all time.  What is disputed is the following question, what is Michael Jordan's greatest moment?  This can be very hard to answer since we're talking about a man who has won six NBA titles, six NBA Finals MVP's, five regular season MVP's, a fourteen-time all-star selection, a ten-time scoring champion, and enough other honors satisfy the rest of this post.  In my mind Jordan's finest moment also happens to be his last (if you disregard his playing stint with the Washington Wizards).

The 1998 NBA Finals featured a matchup between Jordan's Chicago Bulls and the Utah Jazz.  The Bulls were on a quest to capture their 6th NBA title in eight years while the Jazz, led by future hall of famers John Stockton and Karl Malone, were looking to deliver the franchise its first championship.  The series looked all but over when the Bulls beat the Jazz in Game 4 to take a 3-1 series lead.  Thanks to Karl Malone's 39 points in Game 5, the Jazz staved off elimination in Chicago.  Suddenly the momentum had shifted in the Jazz's favor as the series moved back to Salt Lake City for Game 6.

The anticipation going into Game 6 was huge.  Michael Jordan in all likelihood was set to retire after the 1998 season.  Not only was his career coming to an end but so was the Chicago Bulls dynasty that dominated the 1990's.  Bull's general manager Jerry Krause showed no signs of keeping the team together after the 1998 season.  Key players including Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman along with head coach Phil Jackson would not be back the following season due to either trades or expiring contracts.  The possibility of Game 6 being Jordan's last game and the end of the Bull's dynasty only added to the hype.

It was clear at the start of Game 6 that the Chicago Bulls were in for a barnburner.  Scottie Pippen aggravated his back in the first few moments of the game.  He'd be limited to just 26 minutes of action which required Jordan to perform at an even higher level.  The Jazz jumped out to a small lead early on and maintained that lead for most the game.  Jazz fans had built the reputation of being the most raucous fans in the NBA.  The Utah fans knew this was their best shot at a title and they were going to make the most of the opportunity.

Through three quarters the Jazz led 71-66.  The Bulls had seemingly survived up to that point in the game.  Michael Jordan looked gassed going into the fourth quarter.  With Pippen's back injury, the added responsibility placed on Jordan appeared to be taking a toll.  Despite Chicago's challenges, Jordan sunk two free throws to tie the game 83-83 with 59 seconds remaining.  The Jazz came right back with a huge three-pointer by John Stockton with 42 seconds left.  The Bulls immediately called a timeout to regroup.

What occurs next will go down as Michael Jordan's greatest sequence.  On the very next play Jordan takes the inbound pass, drives hard to the basket and scores with 37 seconds left.  Less than five seconds came off the game clock which guaranteed the Bulls another possession without fouling.  John Stockton takes the ball down the court looking to feed it to Karl Malone on the right block.  Malone gets the ball in a spot where he'd scored thousands of times throughout his career.  Malone turns his head away from the baseline for a quick moment when Jordan leaves his man and cleanly strips the ball from Malone with 20 seconds remaining.  Suddenly the Jazz were in a position no opposing team wants to be against Jordan's Bulls.  After stealing the ball from Malone, Jordan slowly brings the ball up the court, letting the game clock tick away.  Everyone watching knew Michael wasn't going to give up the ball in this moment.  The man given the task of guarding Jordan throughout the game, Byron Russell, had been waiting years for this moment.

In Michael Jordan's hall of fame induction speech, he mentions some unlikely names.  One of those names happened to be Byron Russell.  Back in 1994 during Jordan's first retirement from the game of basketball, Russell approached Michael with a friendly challenge.  Byron called out Jordan for quitting basketball and threatened that if he ever saw Michael in a pair of shorts he'd guard him and shut him down.  Fast forward four years later and sure enough Byron Russell and Michael Jordan would face off with the game and the championship on the line.

Michael crosses half-court court with 16 seconds left and sets up on the right wing.  Russell doesn't give an inch of space as he rides along Jordan's left hip.  With the clock at just under 9 seconds Jordan makes his move.  He takes one hard dribble to his right to get just inside the 3-point line at the top of the key.  At this point Russell's momentum is headed towards the basket.  In one swift move, Jordan gives Russell a light push with his left hand then crosses over back to his left.  As Russell slips to the ground  and attempts to recover, Michael rises up and let's the ball fly.    

The picture taken is the instant the ball is at it's highest point in the air.  There are so many things to admire about this frame.  The centerpiece is of course Michael Jordan.  He is alone in the air, above all the other players, holding a perfect follow through.  Every basketball player understands the importance of holding his or her follow through after a shot and Michael does it perfectly.  The biggest loser of the frame has to be Byron Russell.  It's a good thing this picture wasn't taken a second earlier when he was practically on the ground.  Even in the picture you can tell Russell doesn't look imposing as he's hunched over with his back turned, failing to contest Jordan's jumper.

The rest of the people in the photo watch with intent except John Stockton to the far right and and Antoine Carr just to Jordan's left looking to box out their men.  Those watching include not only the fans in the stands but also the players on the court and even the referee.  Everyone is focused on the ball.  You can sense the fear of the Jazz fans simply by looking at their faces.  Many have their hands on their heads or faces while others have their mouths open in disbelief.  A select few think screaming will somehow prevent the shot from going in.

Some of the fans have the most telling face of all, one of defeat.  Their faces are stone cold.  These are the people who knew the end result before Michael Jordan even shot the ball.  Basketball fans had seen what Michael was capable of doing time and time again in the last seconds of any basketball game.  The Utah fans guessed this would be no different.  You can even sense Utah's players including Karl Malone (left of John Stockton) and Jeff Hornacek (left of Antoine Carr) knew how the story was going to end.  It is difficult to imagine the feeling Malone must have felt it in that instant.  He worked so hard to deliver the Utah Jazz a championship, and that year was certainly his best shot at it.  As the ball travels through the air, you can see Karl Malone's and the Jazz fans' hopes and dreams hang in the balance.

It turned out the Jazz fans guessed right.  Michael Jordan's shot hit nothing but net.  The once deafening Delta Center fell silent.  The Jazz still had 5.2 seconds left to set up a final desperation shot.  John Stockton had a pretty good look at a 3-pointer at the top of the key that clanged off the rim as time expired.  Final score: Bulls 87 Jazz 86.  The game certainly had historic proportions.  It would be Michael Jordan's last game ever as a Chicago Bull and what a way to go out scoring 45 points with 16 in the 4th quarter.  The Bulls dynasty came to a close as Dennis Rodman (who by the way had some noteworthy hair in the frame) along with Scottie Pippen and coach Phil Jackson would not return the following year.  As for the Jazz, their shot at a championship had come and gone.  The epic duo of Karl Malone and John Stockton was coming to an end.  Without their dominance the Jazz had no shot of getting as close as they did in 1998.  Since that game neither the Jazz or the Bulls has made it back to the NBA Finals.

Although this image shows arguably Michael Jordan's greatest moment, it also indicates the end of an era.  Game 6 of the 1998 Finals was and still is the highest rated NBA game of all time.  This indicates that today's NBA doesn't have the same intrigue as it did in the 80's and 90's.  Current superstars don't have the same worldwide reach Jordan had.  This picture is what inspired me to take on a blog devoted solely to sports images.  Even after all these years we can look at Jordan's last shot, hanging in the air, captivating fans in a moment to be remembered forever.   

Introduction

Welcome to Enduring Frames.  This site provides the back stories to the greatest sports photos ever taken.  Photos can capture a player, a team, a season, a career, or a combination of them all in a single image.  The greatest sports images are the ones that have withstood the test of time.  An entire generation of people can relate to a moment captured within a frame.  In turn these frames carry on the legacy of a moment to engage future generations.

Unfortunately, photos don't have the same relevance as they did fifty years ago.  With the development and availability of moving cameras, people have gravitated towards watching film over studying the art of still images. 

My hope is to rediscover the beauty of sports images.  Every great sports image has an even greater back story.  My goal is to tell these stories, which will bring these photos to life.

I hope you enjoy my blog!  Feel free to post comments as I'm open to opinions and notable details with regards to my work.

Regards,

Devin Mehra