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.