How did the home plate and bases from Hank Aaron’s 715th home run end up at auction?
Good question.
The mementos to be auctioned later this month may not be authentic. If they are, how they ended up out of the Braves possession and into an auction is a reasonable question. If they are not, bidders beware.
The memorabilia from the historic home run are said to be part of Heritage Auctions’ Summer Platinum Night Sports Auction on Aug. 23-25. The auction house has publicized the auction on its website and in press releases. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution ran a story on the auction this week.
While some in the Braves organization were surprised by the article in the AJC, others were aware that the claimed home plate and bases were up for auction.
Bringing into question the authenticity of the memorabilia, the AJC in May took a photo of the third base from the night of the 715th home run, which Aaron hit April 8, 1974, on display at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. It was part of an exhibit “Hank Aaron: Chasing The Dream.” The exhibit, open since 2019, corresponded with the unveiling of a permanent statue of Aaron in the Hall of Fame.
A plaque with the base on display reads: “HANK AARON’S career-long quest of 715 homeruns became official on April 8, 1974, when ‘THE HAMMER’ rounded third base and planted his foot on home plate in ATLANTA STADIUM. To commemorate this historical achievement, the third base of this game has been saved as a memento of AARON’S determination to cross 2,145 bases enroute to this amazing individual record.”
Three years ago, the Hall of Fame posted a YouTube video on how they curated the Chasing the Dream exhibit and it includes the third base.
In a statement to the AJC, the Hall of Fame stated: “The third base bag from Hank Aaron’s 715 home run game, which was presented to him following his record-setting home run, was then donated by Aaron to the Hall of Fame in 1982. He subsequently donated his entire collection to the Hall of Fame.”
According to the auction house, the memorabilia was in the hands of the son of a “long-time Braves employee.” Heritage’s description stated that “for decades, the three bases and home plate of Aaron’s historic circumnavigation languished in cardboard boxes where our consignor’s father placed them that very day until they were gifted to his son in 2016, and now consigned to auction.” The items were said to be stored at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium and Turner Field.
When contacted by the AJC as to the identity of the long-time Braves employee, a spokesman for a public relations firm said in an email, “We do not know.”
However, the lot description of the bases includes a “letter of provenance from former Braves staffer.”
It is unclear at this point how the home plate and bases, if authentic, came into the possession of the employee and out of the possession of the Braves.
The Braves issued the following statement to the AJC through a spokesperson: “The evening of April 8, 1974, marked one of the most important events in the history of our game. Artifacts from that night should direct attention to the incredible accomplishments of Hank Aaron and his enduring legacy on the game. Verified items from that night are currently housed at the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Truist Park and the Atlanta History Center so that baseball fans can properly honor Hank and his accomplishments. We were recently made aware of an auction containing bases removed from Atlanta Stadium by someone claiming to be a former Braves employee. We are working with multiple entities to explore their authenticity and whether they were improperly taken. If the provenance of these items is established, then we will take the necessary measures to ensure that they are returned to the organization so that they can be displayed for generations of fans who want to recognize Hank and his achievements.”
Photo courtesy of Heritage Auction
Photo courtesy of Heritage Auction
According to Heritage Auctions, the bases are expected to top $100,000.
The complete uniform from Aaron’s 715th home run are in the Baseball Hall of Fame. The bat and ball are in Atlanta at Truist Park.
According to Heritage: “The bases (”Sportsways/Hollywood Bases” stickers on undersides) and home plate (“Safeslide” stamped on the front) exhibit appropriate game use, each bearing the proper branding that match other known period examples. A collection of spike marks decorate the home plate where Aaron stepped to become the greatest home run slugger in baseball history. Additionally, the original manufacturer’s box which the home plate was shipped to the Braves in, and later used to store it after 715, is included. That box displays ‘715 Home Run’ in vintage red marker on the top, while the bottom reveals a vintage ‘AMF Voit Safeslide Home Plate’ manufacturer’s label and stamp.”
Also, a part of the auction is the jersey that Aaron wore during a home run contest in Japan in November 1974, the day before he was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers. It is unclear how the jersey was obtained for the auction.
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