Alexander Ovechkin isn't the only one to break legendary scoring records this time of year! On this day in 1974, Hank Aaron toppled Babe Ruth's career home run record in a game where Aaron's Atlanta Braves played the Los Angeles Dodgers at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. Aaron hit the record-breaking home run—his 715th—in the fourth inning. You can read all about it courtesy of MLB.com.
Aaron spent his career in the big leagues with two organizations—the Braves from 1954 to 1974 (in Milwaukee and then in Atlanta, after it relocated in 1966) and then back in Milwaukee with the Brewers for a couple of seasons. He retired in 1976 after a 23-year career in the majors, and with 755 career home runs. That record lasted until 2007 when it was broken by (the controversial) Barry Bonds. Aaron was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982 with 97.8 percent of the vote. He died in 2021.
