Headlines in tomorrow’s 1974 newspapers would be variations of today’s big event: Hank Aaron breaks Babe Ruth’s all‑time home run record. “At 9:10 p.m. on the evening of April 8, 1974, the Atlanta Braves slugger became the career home run king, slamming a 1-0 fastball off Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Al Downing into the left-center field bullpen at Fulton County Stadium. Home run No. 715 in the fourth inning allowed Aaron to pass Babe Ruth’s career record that had stood since 1935, tying the game at 3-3 and capping a four-run rally for the Braves. Atlanta would win the nationally televised game, 7-4.”1
Remember, it’s 1974 and our world is a different place. But Aaron’s homerun caused the differences to dissolve if only for a moment as a nation rose to its feet along with the 53,775 fans in the stadium. Braves announcer Milo Hamilton said:
“He’s sitting on 714. Here’s the pitch by Downing. Swinging. There’s a drive into left-center field! That ball is gonna be … outta here!” Hamilton yelled. “It’s gone! It’s 715! There’s a new home run champion of all time, and it’s Henry Aaron! The fireworks are going!
“Vin Scully, the longtime Dodgers broadcaster announced: “There’s a high drive into deep left-center field … (Bill) Buckner goes back … it is gone!”
Scully was silent for 22 seconds after the ball cleared the fence so listeners could soak in the moment.
“What a marvelous moment for baseball. What a marvelous moment for Atlanta and the state of Georgia,” Scully finally said. What a marvelous moment for the country and the world.
“A Black man is getting a standing ovation in the Deep South for breaking a record of an all-time baseball idol. And it is a great moment for all of us, and particularly for Henry Aaron, who was met at home plate, not only by every member of the Braves, but by his father and mother.”2
It took a monumental moment in baseball to cause racism to take a holiday – if only for a moment. It showed that a grand event can dissolve all the ugly words, actions, and feelings, erasing history, and replacing it with celebration. I say it again – if only for a moment.
What if something could do this permanently? What if it would be so much better than breaking a homerun record? What if it put us all on the same playing field? Galatians 3:24-29 tells us what that is!
“Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. (25) But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. (26) For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. (27) For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (28) There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. (29) And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
Ephesians 2:13-16 says, “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. (14) For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; (15) Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; (16) And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby.”
Protests, marches, debates, and movements will never accomplish what the blood of Jesus accomplished. The solution to all of life’s problems that divides us across ethnic barriers comes crumbling at the foot of the cross. Jesus is the great Equalizer. And He makes us one in Christ.
Great events like Aaron’s homerun show us what’s possible for a moment. New birth in Jesus Christ shows us what’s possible permanently and I would rather have the permanent solution rather than the temporary! What a wonderful gift to look at brothers and sisters and not see them based on
1 Corinthians 12:12-13 reminds us, “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. (13) For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”
1https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/hank-aaron-50-years-ago-braves-great-hammered-715th-hr-to-break-babe-ruth-s-record/ar-BB1lga5Z
2Ibid.
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