On April 8, 1974, Hank Aaron of the Atlanta Braves hit his 715th career home run, surpassing Babe Ruth’s long-standing record. The historic shot came in a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Atlanta. Aaron’s pursuit of the record drew national attention and, sadly, racist threats and hostility as well. When he broke the record, many fans saw it as a triumph of perseverance and talent. The moment was televised and became one of baseball’s most iconic images. Aaron’s achievement still stands as a major milestone in American sports history.
