Post by Fish Troll on Apr 17, 2007 18:38:26 GMT -5
Aaron's No. 755 landing site located
Commemorative plaque to mark the landing spot of the historic home run
MILWAUKEE -- The Milwaukee Brewers today announced plans to mark the final home run of Hank Aaron's illustrious career with a commemorative plaque at the landing location of the home run. The announcement was made by Brewers Executive Vice President - Business Operations Rick Schlesinger.
On July 20, 1976, Hank Aaron recorded his 755th career home run while playing for the Milwaukee Brewers at County Stadium. For over 30 years, the home run has represented one of the most historic home runs in Milwaukee Brewers history and all of Major League Baseball.
"Hank Aaron's achievements with the Braves and Brewers mark the beginning and end of one of the most prolific careers in sports," said Schlesinger. "This home run ranks among the most prominent and recognizable events in Major League history, and it's only fitting that this historic occurrence be forever memorialized at this location."
While playing against the California Angels, the Home Run King belted the final home run of his 23 year Major League career off pitcher Dick Drago during the 7th inning of a Brewers victory. The home run ball traveled over the left field wall and landed in the grandstand along the left field foul pole, which today serves as a parking lot at Miller Park. Interestingly, the home run was one of two consecutive home runs for the Brewers as teammate and first baseman George Scott homered in the previous at-bat.
In order to identify the exact location of the home run, the services of Dr. Alan J. Horowitz, Professor and Chair of the Civil Engineering and Mechanics Department at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, were called on to perform a thorough study. Through the assistance of several students from UWM's Chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the team calculated GPS measurements, reviewed surveys of County Stadium, studied aerial photos of Miller Park and County Stadium and closely examined the home run video to determine the exact location where the ball landed.
"The location of the home run has been determined by careful examination of several frames from a video of the home run to identify the point where the ball first made contact with a fan in the lower grandstand of County Stadium," said Horowitz. "The position in the grandstand was overlaid on construction plans of Miller Park, which included the exact position of County Stadium. The ball traveled 363 feet in the air."
The location has been identified at the coordinates N 43 degrees 1.821 minutes/W 87 degrees 58.347 minutes, which is occupied in the Brewers Lot 1, a preferred parking area located just east of Helfaer Field.
In June, the Brewers will unveil a commemorative plaque at the site to denote this unforgettable event in baseball history, with Hank Aaron expected to be in attendance at the ceremony.
Commemorative plaque to mark the landing spot of the historic home run
MILWAUKEE -- The Milwaukee Brewers today announced plans to mark the final home run of Hank Aaron's illustrious career with a commemorative plaque at the landing location of the home run. The announcement was made by Brewers Executive Vice President - Business Operations Rick Schlesinger.
On July 20, 1976, Hank Aaron recorded his 755th career home run while playing for the Milwaukee Brewers at County Stadium. For over 30 years, the home run has represented one of the most historic home runs in Milwaukee Brewers history and all of Major League Baseball.
"Hank Aaron's achievements with the Braves and Brewers mark the beginning and end of one of the most prolific careers in sports," said Schlesinger. "This home run ranks among the most prominent and recognizable events in Major League history, and it's only fitting that this historic occurrence be forever memorialized at this location."
While playing against the California Angels, the Home Run King belted the final home run of his 23 year Major League career off pitcher Dick Drago during the 7th inning of a Brewers victory. The home run ball traveled over the left field wall and landed in the grandstand along the left field foul pole, which today serves as a parking lot at Miller Park. Interestingly, the home run was one of two consecutive home runs for the Brewers as teammate and first baseman George Scott homered in the previous at-bat.
In order to identify the exact location of the home run, the services of Dr. Alan J. Horowitz, Professor and Chair of the Civil Engineering and Mechanics Department at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, were called on to perform a thorough study. Through the assistance of several students from UWM's Chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the team calculated GPS measurements, reviewed surveys of County Stadium, studied aerial photos of Miller Park and County Stadium and closely examined the home run video to determine the exact location where the ball landed.
"The location of the home run has been determined by careful examination of several frames from a video of the home run to identify the point where the ball first made contact with a fan in the lower grandstand of County Stadium," said Horowitz. "The position in the grandstand was overlaid on construction plans of Miller Park, which included the exact position of County Stadium. The ball traveled 363 feet in the air."
The location has been identified at the coordinates N 43 degrees 1.821 minutes/W 87 degrees 58.347 minutes, which is occupied in the Brewers Lot 1, a preferred parking area located just east of Helfaer Field.
In June, the Brewers will unveil a commemorative plaque at the site to denote this unforgettable event in baseball history, with Hank Aaron expected to be in attendance at the ceremony.
mlb.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20070417&content_id=1914613&vkey=pr_mil&fext=.jsp&c_id=mil
The HR that will alwats be remember.
