My friend Marshall Kerlin and I have attended hundreds of
Atlanta Braves games together over the last few decades. We often talk about
“being there” when various memorable events occurred.
But, in the final analysis, he always bests me on the
biggest moment of all.
I was a high school senior in Ringgold, Ga., watching a
fuzzy TV screen on April 8, 1974. And he was crouched in the aisle behind home
plate at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium.
It was Marshall’s first game as an usher at the old ballpark
— where he later worked on the grounds crew as well.
On that chilly night, his supervisor told him to go on break
— which usually meant leaving the seating area for few minutes. But it was the
bottom of the fourth inning and Hank Aaron was coming to bat.
Yes, I saw it on TV and it was a magical moment as the home
run crown long worn by The Babe settled onto the head of a most talented and
gracious man from Mobile wearing a cartoonish feather on his sleeve.
Hank Aaron was — and is — my favorite athlete of all time.
The Braves’ home opener this year (Tuesday, April 8)
commemorates that historic home run — hit exactly 40 years early.
And I’ll be there.
With Marshall.
Who will tell me for the 715th time that he saw
it live and in person.
And that I didn’t.
