Watch Hank Aaron reminisce about HR No. 715 with Al Downing, the pitcher who surrendered it

At the annual BBWAA Dinner on Saturday night, Aaron and Downing were presented with the Willie, Mickey and the Duke Award, which is given each year to "baseball personalities forever linked in history."

While Hammerin' Hank's recollection that he'd never gotten a hit off Downing until the historic homer isn't quite correct -- he'd in fact gone 6-for-22 with two home runs off him before April 8, 1974 -- Downing was indeed a terrific pitcher, being named an All-Star in 1967 with the Yankees and finishing third in the Cy Young voting for the Dodgers in '71.