1974 was a landmark year for baseball as Hank Aaron entered the season only one home run behind Babe Ruth and his hallowed record of 714 career home runs. The Braves opened the season in Cincinnati with three games against the Reds. Wanting Aaron to break the record in Atlanta, the Braves were going to sit out Aaron for the entire series until commissioner Bowie Kuhn stepped in and required Aaron to play in at least three games. In fitting fashion, on his first swing of the season, Aaron hit a home run of Reds’ pitcher Jack Billingham to tie Ruth. Aaron went homerless for the remainder of the series and delivered his historic home run in front the home Atlanta crowd on April 8th.

     Presented is a this Adirondack Big Stick model bat used by Aaron during that historic 1974 season, the season in which he passed Babe Ruth for first place on the all-time home run list. This bat shows solid game use with a slight crack in the handle. Aaron’s number “44” is handwritten in black marker on the knob and “229” and “A” are stamped on the knob, along with a small handwritten "34" in green. There is a light coating of pine tar on the handle. Aaron signed his name in bold black marker on the barrel between the “Adirondack” stamp and the “Big Stick HENRY AARON PERSONAL MODEL” stampings.

     This bat comes with a handwritten and signed letter from Aaron’s Atlanta Braves’ teammate in 1974, Buzz Capra. In his handwritten letter dated February 10, 1998, Capra writes “In 1974, my first year with the Atlanta Braves, it was Hank Aaron’s last year with the Atlanta Braves. I was next to Tom House in the bull pen on the night he caught Hank Aaron’s 715th home, breaking Babe Ruth’s all-time record. I also made relief appearance in the game he tied and the game he broke Babe Ruth’s record. During the record breaking 1974 season, Hank Aaron gave me this bat which he cracked in a game. This bat has been in my possession until now. Sincerely Buzz Capra” This bat also comes with a LOA from PSA/DNA, who have graded this bat a GU 9 and an LOA from JSA for the signature.

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