Hank Aaron’s widow, Billye, reflects on 50th anniversary of 715th home run

The memories of the night Hank Aaron broke baseball’s all-time home run record on April 8, 1974, are still plenty vivid for Billye Aaron even after 50 years.

As are the memories of anticipation that led up to her late husband’s historic night, and the pride that followed his record-breaking blast.

“We just looked with anticipation for that home run,” she recalls in an MLB Network segment to commemorate the 50th anniversary of No. 715 on Monday. “I think the whole focus was, if you are fortunate, if you’re blessed, maybe you’ll get it tonight.”

In an interview with her granddaughter, Emily Haydel, Aaron shares other memories from that night, as well as from the lead-up to April 8, including attending Opening Day in Cincinnati, where Hank tied Babe Ruth’s record.

“I was just so full of joy, because my husband was going to eventually, whenever, get that [record] home run,” she says.

She also recalls meeting her future husband when he was a guest on a show she hosted for WSB-TV in Atlanta.

“I knew nothing about baseball, but I thought it would be very simple to ask a few questions,” she says. “And it didn’t turn out to be quite so simple.”

After the show, Hank asked whether she’d like help coming up with other baseball questions.

“We just became friends,” she says, “and that friendship sort of grew.”

Despite the joy and pride she felt watching her husband make history with No. 715, there was no excited celebration from her that night at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, or even at home when her husband arrived after the game.

It was just “like any ordinary night,” she says.

“I didn’t go running to him. I didn’t have champagne waiting for him or any of that,” she says with a laugh. “Henry just wasn’t that kind of person, and he didn’t create that kind of atmosphere around him. You rarely could get Henry rattled to the point of making a noise about himself in public, nor in private for that matter.”