Aaron Hits 500th Homer
BROOKLYN (Aug. 23) -- Henry Louis Aaron etched his name in the UL record books today with the 500th home run of his illustrious career.  Aaron hit a 2-2 fastball off Bill "Froggy" Hands in the third inning with Ollie Brown aboard to give the Superbas a 4-1 lead en route to a 10-4 win.  The win ended a three-game losing streak and a 2-14 home slump for last place Brooklyn, which has had little to cheer for this year.  Aaron, 37, was the first overall pick of the Louisville Colonels in 1954, and was instrumental in that club's turnaround in the mid-50s.  After finishing in the bottom two every year from 1951 to 1954, the Colonels had their first winning season in 1955, Aaron's first year in the league, and went on to West Division pennants in 1958 and 1960.  Aaron claimed the league Most Valuable Player award in 1960, hitting .341 with 36 home runs and 110 RBIs.  "Hammerin' Hank" hit a career high 42 home runs the following year, and in 1963 he was traded to Los Angeles as the Colonels collapsed into a funk that would see the club finish last in the league four years in a row and relocated to Atlanta.  Teamed up with Frank Robinson in L.A., Aaron starred in one of the league's best home run races.  Spurred on by Boston's Orlando Cepeda, who hit 48, Hank set a league record with 50 round-trippers.  Aaron returned to the World Series in 1968, despite hitting a career low 19 home runs in an injury-plagued campaign.  He became a free agent and inked a four-year deal with Brooklyn in 1969, pairing him with Mickey Mantle and giving him the rare distinction of playing half of his career with the only two hitters with more career home runs than him.  After posting a .854 OPS and 100 RBIs in his first year at "the Frank", Aaron struggled through an injury-shortened .234-17-43 campaign in 1970.  He is hitting .241-18-73 with a .714 OPS in 131 games this year, and leads the club in home runs and RBIs.

500-Homer Club
Mickey Mantle #500: June 15, 1968	Frank Robinson #500: May 19, 1971	Hank Aaron #500: August 23, 1971

Injury-Plagued Feds Going Old School
BOSTON (Aug. 16) -- Faced with a disabled list that has expanded to 12 players -- including 9 pitchers -- spanning the majors and minors, Federals GM Brendan Harris announced today that he would use a strategy hearkening back to the original days of baseball by penciling himself into the depth chart as a player/coach.  "I don't have too many options," said an exasperated Harris as he completed his regular press update on the team's health, which lasted 18 minutes this week.  "I can't afford to bring on new players this late in the season, and I feel that we've squeezed as much pitching out of AA as we can."  Discussing his qualifications as a player, Harris highlighted his ability to "throw straight most of the time" and reminded reporters of his many years as the official scorekeeper for his brothers' Little League teams. Wrapping up his press conference, Harris quipped, "Needless to say, I hope that you DON'T have to see me on the mound."
    

WEST DIVISION The Toppers lost 6 of their last 7.  Tom Timmermann and Steve Carlton lost, ending 4- and 3-game win streaks, and Ron Reed lost twice in a row for the first time, falling to 13-5.   Dave Kingman's season came to an end Aug. 27 with a torn labrum.  Kingman leads all rookies with 23 HR and 82 RBI.  Gaylord Perry tossed back-to-back complete games for wins #10 and 11.       Ken Henderson emerged as the front-runner for Rookie of the Year after claiming his second straight ROM.  The 24yo centerfielder from Iowa is hitting .300-18-67, leading all qualifying rookies in average, slugging, and OPS.       Boog Powell went ballistic, literally.  The lardy lefty hit 6 dingers in 8 games Aug. 23-31.  Reggie Smith hit .363 in August and drove in 20 runs to climb to fifth on the league RBI chart.     Bill Singer, trying to become the first back-to-back leader in wins since Gene Conley (1959-60), notched two more to bring his league-leading tally to 16, one ahead of Dock Ellis and Jim Palmer.     Spiders won five in a row Aug. 17-21, including back-to-back shutouts by Fergie Jenkins and Mike Hedlund/Tug McGraw.  Bob Moose was the hottest pitcher, going 3-1, 0.32 in four starts.

EAST DIVISION Ray Narleski got a win and two saves in three one-run wins in the last week.  His 22 saves are tied for third in the league.  Johnny Podres is 1-5, 6.12 in his last 8 starts.   Chris Short has done far more than merely plug a hole in the rotation.  He has seven wins since July 21 and his 1.77 August ERA was 2nd best in the league.  Joe Hague is pinch-hitting .440 (11-25).   Aurelio Rodriguez, in his 4th UL game, hit a game-winning, two-run double in the 12th to beat Boston 7-5 on Aug. 20.  Reggie Jackson homered in the ninth the next day to complete the sweep to put the Grifins in first -- briefly.  Detroit lost 6 of their next 8 to drop back to third.   What's behind the Barons' 12-1 run? Frank Reberger (3-1, 2.03 in last 5 GS), Paul Schaal (.333 in August), and rookie starter Ernie McAnally (4-1, 2.94 in his first 6 UL starts).  Wes Parker leads the league with 15 pinch hits.    Lost 10 of last 12 despite decent pitching.  Manhattan pitchers allowed four runs or less in seven straight games Aug. 19-26 -- and lost all seven.  Jim Nash is still winless despite a 2.83 ERA in hist last 5 games.   Ray Lamb ran his consecutive shutout inning streak to 29.  Aside from 2 runs allowed in Los Angeles on May 7, Lamb has not allowed a run in 31 of 32 appearances.