Watch: MLB honors Hank Aaron with high-tech recreation of 715th homer
July 16 (UPI) -- More than 41,000 fans, including the late Hank Aaron's widow, were awed during the sixth inning of the 2025 All-Star Game as MLB honored the baseball icon with a high-tech recreation of his 715th home run in Atlanta.
The lights went dark during a break Tuesday at Truist Park. Projections detailing the April 8, 1974, achievement then glowed on the field, as the voice of legendary broadcaster Vin Scully blared through the stadium speakers.
"It doesn't take a mind reader to read the collective mind that's here in this ballpark tonight," Scully said in the recording from that night at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, when Aaron passed Babe Ruth to become baseball's career home runs leader, at that time. "They came to see him pass the Babe."
The field lit up with "now batting, #44," before showing Aaron wiggling his bat on another projection between the base paths. A virtual Aaron, who faced Los Angeles Dodgers pitchers Al Downing during the exchange, smacked a projection of a giant baseball to left center field in a reenactment of the famous scene.
MLB used a pyrotechnic spark, which blasted toward the outfield fence, at the point of contact as the scoreboard flashed the No. 715. Footage of Aaron rounding the bases showed on the field as the Truist Park crowd cheered on for the baseball legend.
"I think that people can look at me and say, 'he's a great baseball player, but he's even a greater human being,'" Aaron said in a video shown on the scoreboard at the end of the sequence.
Aaron, who died in 2021 at 86, totaled 755 home runs during his decorated baseball tenure. The 1982 Hall of Fame inductee ranks second all-time in career home runs, trailing only Barry Bonds (762).
Aaron remains MLB's record holder for RBIs, extra-base hits and total bases. He hit .305 over 23 seasons.
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Boston Globe
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Yahoo
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Palmer with an identical finish, delightfully dummying his man after Joao Pedro dragged namesake Joao Neves away from contention with a crucial decoy run. The Brazilian, who had been proving throughout the first half that his stunning Fluminense brace was not simply down to beginner's luck, deserved his flowers for his subtle part in doubling Chelsea's lead. But there was no nuance to Joao Pedro's involvement in the eventual third. Linking up with Palmer once more as half-time drew closer, he latched onto a defence-splitting ball in behind before dinking Donnarumma, giving Chelsea what suddenly felt like an insurmountable advantage, even for this PSG team. Barring a stunning capitulation, Chelsea were on the brink of becoming world champions. PSG's youthful exuberance has been at the heart of their success over the past eight months, finally achieving their holy grail in winning the Champions League. They looked unfazed in Munich, putting on a clinic to record the most devastating European Cup final victory in history. But here, for the first time, the lack of experience of Enrique's game-changers was being exposed. Desire Doue, 20, should have given PSG the lead earlier in the first half, before Palmer had a chance to inflict his damage. Put on a plate for him by Kvhicha Kvaratskhelia's low cross, he bewildering chose to square back towards Achraf Hakimi from a few yards out instead of tapping past Robert Sanchez for what looked a simple finish. It was a glaring miss that no doubt changed the course of the game – and history – as PSG's reputation as a unconquerable force was chipped away. An over-the-top American-style half-time show involving Coldplay's Chris Martin and Doja Cat perhaps invigorated a now-desperate PSG side, who came out for the second period looking to spark a comeback. They looked certain to reduce the deficit when Ousmane Dembele, who has 35 goals to his name this season, received the ball on the edge of the six-yard box, only to be denied from close range by the regularly lamented Robert Sanchez, whose outstretched arm somehow pushed the Frenchman's effort around the post. The Spaniard's intervention was pivotal in preventing what could have easily been a PSG resurgence. The Parisians continued to seek a way back into the game, but Chelsea were now playing to frustrate, to wind their opponents up. Chelsea's master of such an art is Marc Cucurella, who after being hacked down in his own box, makes sure to stay down and milk the moment, resisting the frenzied attempts of Neves to pick him up by sandbagging the Portuguese midfielder. To say that the 20-year-old was irritated was an understatement. He tried getting his revenge with five minutes to play, pulling the Spaniard's increasingly iconic curly locks in an ill-advised release of frustration. But in a world of VAR, that was only going to end one way, as Neves was promptly shown red to leave PSG at a further numerical disadvantage as the final drew to its conclusion. Any debate over player investment in the competition was quashed at full-time as ugly scenes broke out between the two sides. Their club's untouchable status no more, Luis Enrique and Donnarumma lost their heads as a brawl broke out, Joao Pedro seemingly PSG's common enemy as their Spanish tactician hit the Chelsea newcomer with a post-match slap. 'Everyone wants to win the game and in the end I think they lose their heads,' the Brazilian reflected. Maybe a sour end to a tournament that's had its fair share of issues, but if nothing else, it showed the players and coaches truly do care about the Club World Cup. And as Chelsea ran over to celebrate in front their sea of blue supporters, finally separated from fisticuffs with the French, what they had achieved felt seismic. Not solely thanks to the occasion, but because of the opponent and the nature of the victory. 'Winning this trophy against such good opposition sends a big statement,' James added. 'I'm happy with how much the club has progressed.' Is this the pinnacle of Chelsea's rebuild? They'll hope not. Despite the grandiose status of 'world champions' and the golden badge that will represent such a fact for the next four years, there are still bigger fish to fry. Instead, this is a huge step forward for Maresca's Chelsea, as the Italian looks to prove his side and tactical mindset belong at the top. The Fifa Club World Cup was shown on DAZN. Sign up here now.
