Milwaukee Brewers: Top 5 All-Star Game Moments
By Phil Watson
1. Hank’s Record-Breaking Swan Song
Entering the 1975 season, Hank Aaron shared a major-league record with fellow Hall of Famers Willie Mays and Stan Musial, having been selected to 24 All-Star Games.
Aaron made 15 of those trips as a Milwaukee Brave and nine more with the Braves after the team moved to Atlanta in 1966.
Aaron, who had broken Babe Ruth’s all-time home run record in 1974 as a member of the Atlanta Braves, had returned to Milwaukee as a Brewer for the 1975 season, acquired in a trade for Dave May and minor-leaguer Roger Alexander.
Now 41, Hammerin’ Hank wasn’t quite the hitter he once was, coming into the All-Star break hitting just .236/.333/.385 with nine home runs and 36 RBI as the designated hitter for the Brewers.
But sometimes it’s OK to use the All-Star Game as a lifetime achievement award and that’s what it was for Hank Aaron on the night of July 15, 1975, at County Stadium in Milwaukee.
Aaron’s record-breaking 25th All-Star Game selection came as a Brewer, at the ballpark where he became a superstar as a Brave.
The symmetry was stunning and appropriate.
Aaron got into the game early, batting for Oakland Athletics pitcher Vida Blue in the bottom of the second and he lined out to shortstop.
His night was over, as his career would be a season later.
But he got one more moment under the bright lights of the All-Star Game … and he got to do it in Milwaukee.