Apr 3, 2023 2 min read

ON THIS DATE

April 4

1974 – The Atlanta Braves’ Hank Aaron hits his 714th career home run, tying him with Babe Ruth for the most in Major League Baseball history. Aaron’s homer comes off Cincinnati’s Jack Billingham.

1980 – Michael Seibert of Washington, who along with partner Judy Blumberg, competed in the Lake Placid Winter Olympics and finished sixth in ice dancing, is named the Observer-Reporter Sports Headliner.

1983 – Lorenzo Charles scores on a dunk after Derek Whittenburg’s 35-foot desperation shot falls short to give North Carolina State a 54-52 triumph over Houston in the NCAA national championship game.

1984 – Adam Sarson, Peters Township’s 6-7 senior center who averaged 18.6 points and 15 rebounds per game, is named the Observer-Reporter’s Boys Basketball Player of the Year.

2000 – On the last opening day at Three Rivers Stadium, Houston’s Richard Hildago hits a sixth-inning grand slam and the Astros defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-2. The game is played one night after the scheduled opener was rained out. Though 54,399 tickets were sold for the game, only 14,610 fans attend.

2003 – Dave Palone drives Down By The Bay to victory in the third race at The Meadows. It’s the 9,000th career win for Palone.

2012 – Fort Cherry’s Beka Bellhy and Monessen’s Mariah Ward are named to the PIAA Class A Girls Basketball All-State second team.