Atlanta Braves History: Hank Aaron and Destiny (1974)

1974 would be Eddie Matthews 3rd and last year as Manager for the Atlanta Braves. On April 4th he made a bold move. It is the National League opener in Cincinnati. He pencils in Hank Aaron into the lineup under the premise that Hank has never hit a home run on opening day. If he does, however, he will tie Babe Ruth‘s home run title but it won’t be at home.

So what were the odds he would do it this time? Hard to know but odds are destined to be broken and of course Hank does. In the first inning with Ralph Garr and Mike Lum on base on his very first swing (there was a 3-1 count), he wacks it out over the left field wall.

And so the record will be broken but will it be in Cincinnati or Atlanta?

Atlanta Braves History: 1959 is a year of great expectations with 3 future Hall of Famers on the roster

There were great expectations of the Braves in 1959. The 2 years before, they had brought Division championships home. The team had 3 great future hall of famers; Hank Aaron, Warren Spahn and Eddie Matthews. They had a lot of talented veterans. Fred Haney was returning as the manager for the fourth year.

And yet, they finished in second place in the Division 2 games behind. They had an 86-70 record. Pretty good but definitely not what any one expected. They had been expected to win the pennant. They did not!