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Hank Aaron eyes the flight of the ball after hitting his 715th homer on April 8, 1974. (Harry Harris/AP)

• Hank Aaron hits career home run 715: 56k | 300k

The jet hummed its way through the dark clouds between Los Angeles and Atlanta, its blackened cabin pierced by a persistent glow which turned one particular seat incandescent.

Al Downing occupied it. He looked like he would've preferred to be alone with his thoughts. But there was no chance of that, as this was the Los Angeles Dodgers' private 747 in the days reporters freely flew with the team. And in the wee hours of April 8, 1974, Downing was en route to his date with destiny.

"I will pitch to Aaron no differently than at any other time," Downing said, for the umpteenth time since the Dodgers had left Los Angeles with a defeat and Hank Aaron had left Cincinnati still with 714 home runs. "I'll mix my pitches up, move the locations. If I make a mistake, it's no disgrace."