Eddie Murray Hits His 500th Home Run September 6, 1996

On this day in Baseball History September 6, 1996: Eddie Murray of the Baltimore Orioles hits home run number 500 against Detroit Tigers starter Felipe Lira over the right-field wall at Orioles Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore. In doing so, Murray became the 15th player to reach the 500 home run plateau and joined Hank Aaron and Willie Mays as the only players to get 3,000 hits (Murray got his 3,000th hit on June 30, 1995) and 500 home runs. Rafael Palmeiro would later join them on this list. Murray is the only switch hitter in the 3000/500 club. Here is the boxscore for the September 6, 1996 game between the Detroit Tigers and Baltimore Orioles.

Here is the 500 home run club at the time Murray hit his 500th:

1. Babe Ruth August 11, 1929
2. Jimmie Foxx September 24, 1940
3. Mel Ott August 1, 1945
4. Ted Williams June 17, 1960
5. Willie Mays September 13, 1965
6. Mickey Mantle May 14, 1967
7. Eddie Mathews July 14, 1967
8. Hank Aaron July 14, 1968
9. Ernie Banks May 12, 1970
10. Harmon Killebrew August 10, 1971
11. Frank Robinson September 13, 1971
12. Willie McCovey June 30, 1978
13. Reggie Jackson September 17, 1984
14. Mike Schmidt April 18, 1987
15. Eddie Murray September 6, 1996

Murray would retire in 1997 with 3,255 hits and 504 home runs. His 504 homers was second best for a switch-hitter, Mickey Mantle is at the top of the switch-hitter home run list with 536 homers. Murray would be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in in 2003 with 85.3% of the vote (423/496 ballots).

Murray's milestone came a year to the day of Cal Ripken's 2,131st consecutive game played, passing Lou Gehrig as MLB's Iron Man. 

Until Then Keep Playing Ball,

Baseball Sisco

#baseballsisco

#baseballsiscokidstyle

For Further Reading
- Click here to access Eddie Murray's career statistics from Baseball Reference.com
- Click here to access the article Murray Collects 500th Hr, But Orioles Fall In 12 Innings by Stephen Nidetz from the Chicago Tribune website dated September 07, 1996
- Click Here to access the article Homeric Odyssey: Eddie Murray’s biggest ball has gone from milestone to afterthought by Dave McKenna from the Washington City Paper website dated January 26, 2007

Sadaharu Oh Passes Hank Aaron With HR 756 September 3, 1977

Courtesy of
Japanese Baseball Cards

On this day in Baseball History September 3, 1977: With no outs and one runner on in the bottom of the third inning, Sadaharu Oh belts 3-2 pitch over the right field fence by starting pitcher Yasumiro Suzuki of the Yakult Swallows for career home run 756 passing Hank Aaron's record of 755 home runs at Tokyo's Korakuen Stadium.

According to the article Oh Passes Aaron's Homer Mark from the Ocala Star-Banner of September 4, 1977 on Google News, Oh was quoted as saying:

I was relieved when I hit the home run." Oh said "I knew it was a home run the moment I connected. It was a sinker

Hank Aaron, ever the classy gentleman had a video message recorded for Oh that was broadcast on Japanese television:

I would have loved to have been there tonight to put a crown on top of his head because he his quite a gentleman and the people of Japan have a lot to be proud of...I want to wish (Oh) the best luck in the world." said Aaron "I know he's capable of hitting a lot more home runs."

Aaron and Oh were quite familiar with each other from the home run derby against each other during the 1974 Goodwill Series between the New York Mets and the Yomiuri Giants. Aaron won that matchup 10-9.

Oh would retire at the end of the 1980 baseball season with a total of 868 home runs. Here is an interesting infographic on Sadaharu Oh's home runs milestones, compared to major league home run hitters:

For Further Reading:
- Click here for the article Oh Passes Aaron's Homer Mark from the Ocala Star-Banner dated September 4, 1977 from Google News
- Click here for the article Oh Surpasses Aaron With 756th Home Run by Andrew Malcolm of the New York Times dated September 4, 1977
- Click here for the article Hank Aaron swings away again in Japan by Dave Omauer from Stars and Stripes dated July 23, 1984
- Click here for the article Sadaharu Oh by Peter C. Bjarkman from the SABR Baseball Biography Project

Mathews and Aaron hit the 500 HR Plateau on the Same Day One Year Apart

On this day in Baseball history July 14, a year apart (1967 and 1968), against the same opponents, former teammates Eddie Mathews and Hank Aaron hit their 500th homeruns against the San Francisco Giants.

On July 14, 1967, as a member of the Houston Astros Mathews hit his 500th homerun against future Hall of Famer Juan Marichal at the Houston Astrodome. Mathews became the seventh player to reach the 500 homerun plateau, doing so two months after Mickey Mantle of the New York Yankees hit his 500th.

On July 14, 1968, the 500th homerun plateau was once again reached against the San Francisco Giants. This time it was Hank Aaron who hit his 500th against Mike McCormick at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. Aaron became the eight player to reach the 500 homerun plateau.

At the time of Aaron's reaching 500 homeruns, here is how the list looked like (with date of reaching the 500 homerun plateau):

1. Babe Ruth August 11, 1929
2. Jimmie Foxx September 24, 1940
3. Mel Ott August 1, 1945
4. Ted Williams June 17, 1960
5. Willie Mays September 13, 1965
6. Mickey Mantle May 14, 1967
7. Eddie Mathews July 14, 1967
8. Hank Aaron July 14, 1968

Aaron and Mathews would combine for a total of 863 homeruns as teammates from 1953-1965. An amazing accomplishment by teammates who often are overlooked when talking about the best one-two combinations in a major league lineup.

Until Then Keep Playing Ball,
Baseball Sisco
#baseballsisco
#baseballsiscokidstyle

For Further Reading:
- Click here for the box score from July 14, 1967 between the San Francisco Giants and the Houston Astros from BaseballAlmanac.com
- Click here for the box score from July 14, 1968 bewteen the San Francisco Giants and the Atlanta Braves from BaseballAlmanac.com

Hank Aaron Passes The Babe April 8, 1974

"I have never gone out on a ballfield and given less than my personal best. When I hit it tonight, all I thought about was that I wanted to touch all the bases." - Hank Aaron

Amid the stress of trying to pass eternal fan favorite Babe Ruth on the All-Time Home Run List, Henry Louis "Hank" Aaron was finally able to connect for his 715th home run in front of the Hometown crowd at Atlanta Fulton County Stadium, 40 years ago today. Under the cover of a light misty rain and facing a 1-0 count in the fourth inning against Los Angeles Dodgers starter Al Downing, Aaron was able to hit a 400-foot homer over the left-center field fence to step alone onto the main pedestal for the record that many had claimed would never be broken.

For video footage with interviews with Hank Aaron and Al Downing, watch the following video:


Aaron faced many obstacles on his road to 715. His path was littered by hate mail, threats to his family and life and the resistance by many people who refused to believe that a man of color could or should eclipse the Babe's hallowed record. But as the fastball that Downing offered to Aaron sailed over the fence, we saw a change in the game that started with World War II veteran and fellow Negro Leaguer Jack Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson and continued with Arron rounding the bases with two white fans running side-by-side with him, not to harm him but to pat him on the back. To congratulate him on his achievement. To bask with Aaron not in a black or white thing but as fans, as people, as decent human beings.

Writing that just gave me goosebumps. The game of Baseball has not always been perfect when it came to race relations but Aaron reaching 715 was indeed a new step not only for Baseball but for many in this country who were still living with hatred and racism on a daily basis. But enough with the waxing poetically and being overly sentimental. :)

With Aaron's fourth inning homer, the game would be tied 3-3 and would eventually be won by the Braves 7-4. Here is the box score from the Los Angeles Dodgers vs. The Atlanta Braves, April 8, 1974:

Aaron would play for two more seasons, making the move to the American League with the Milwaukee Brewers. He would retire with 755 homers. Happy Anniversary Hammering Hank!!!!!

Until Then Play Ball

Hank Aaron Ties The Babe April 4, 1974

From the NYTimes Front Page
April 5, 1974

On April 4, 1974, 40 years ago at Riverfront Stadium in the National League city of Cincinnati, Ohio Henry "Hammering Hank" Aaron launched a pitch by Reds starter Jack Billingham during the first inning over the left-center field fence that would tie him with the man who simply went by the nickname of: The Babe.

The 400-foot line drive, 3-run home run tied Aaron at 714 career home runs with Ruth in front of a sellout crowd of 52,154 spectators. Aaron's 714th home run came in his 11,289th major league at-bat compared to Ruth reaching 714 in 8,399 major league at-bats.

What I never knew until reading the Dave Anderson article (whose PDF you can access on the link below) is that this was Opening Day, 1974.

Here is video footage of Aaron's home run from MLB's Youtube Channel:


The Braves would end up losing the game 7-6 in extra innings. Aaron would eventually pass Ruth three days later against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Atlanta's Fulton County Stadium.

Here is the box score for the April 4th game from the New York Times, April 5, 1974:

On April 8th, I will honor Aaron with a post on his passing Babe Ruth on the All-Time career Home Run List with his 715th career home run.

Until Then Play Ball,

Baseball Sisco

For Further Reading
- Click Here to access the PDF of April 5, 1974 NYTimes article by Dave Anderson entitled Aaron Ties Babe Ruth With 714th Homer: 

The Only Player to Play For The Boston Milwaukee AND Atlanta Braves

This question from Pete proved to be quite the tricky question to answer. For those of you who don't know, the Atlanta Braves started out in the city of Boston. After a number of monikers, the name of the team settled on The Braves from 1912-1935 and 1941-1952. They were called the Boston Bees from 1936-1940. Why? I haven't been able to find out as of yet. But for an interesting history on the Boston Braves check out Home of the Braves? 50 years after the Boston Braves' departure, it’s worth asking: did the wrong team leave town? by Mike Miliard. Back to the trivia question. So the Braves left Boston for Milwaukee for a period of 12 years before moving to Atlanta for the 1966 season. The player would have had to have played for the team for a window of at least 14 years from 1952 to 1966 to have played for the team in all three cities.

At first my mind gravitated to Hall of Famer Warren Spahn, which was the incorrect answer. Spahn played for Boston in 1942 before losing three seasons to military service. Spahn rejoined the team in 1946 and continued with the franchise through their move to Milwaukee. His contract was purchased by the New York Mets in 1964 and would become a free agent after being released during the 1965. Spahn would sign with the San Francisco Giants during the same season and be released at season's end.

Though Hall of Famer Hank Aaron signed as a free agent with the Boston Braves in 1952, he never played in Boston coming up with the Milwaukee Braves in 1954. He would play with the Braves in Atlanta until 1974. Aaron would play for two more seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers. After Aaron, the next logical choice for me was Hall of Famer Eddie Mathews which was indeed the correct answer.

Eddie Mathews' rookie season was 1952 with the Boston Braves and came into his own with the Milwaukee Braves as a potent tandem with Hank Aaron. While in Milwaukee, Mathews hit 452 of his 512 home runs. He would combine with Aaron to hit a total of 850 home runs while playing in Milwaukee. That is one crazy number considering that in 12 years, Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig would combine for a total of 859 home runs.

Mathews would play the 1966 season in Atlanta before he was traded to the Houston Astros on December 31, 1966 with a player to be named later and Arnold Umbach for Bob Bruce and Dave Nicholson. Sandy Alomar Sr. was the player to be named later. He would later be traded to the Detroit Tigers during the 1967 season and play with them until the end of the 1968 season. He would be released and retire after the 1968 season.

Thanks to Pete for that one.

For Further Reading
- Click Here to read Guest Article: Looking Back at Aaron and Mathews by Andrew Godfrey from the Los Angeles Times blog page Bleacher Report: Los Angeles dated October 7, 2009
- Click Here to Access Eddie Mathews' Career Statistics from Baseball Reference.com
- Click Here to Access Hank Aaron's Career Statistics from Baseball Reference.com
- Click Here to Access Warren Spahn's Career Statistics from Baseball Reference.com

Sisco Kid