Book Review: 715 at 50

By Paul Semendinger

May 31, 2024

***

My friends at Summer Game Books sent me a copy of the new book 715 at 50 by Randy Louis Cox and I am happy to share that I greatly enjoyed this book about the night Henry Aaron changed baseball forever.

This book, complete with great photos taken by the author himself details Randy Louis Cox's life as a baseball fan and the good fortune he had to find himself as one of the photographers present at Hank Aaron's record setting game.

Randy Louis Cox tells a delightful story - as a fan and a professional who was part of a record setting, and sport-changing, event. Cox is, in many ways, a fan like the ones who will read and delight in this terrific book. One can only imagine how he might feel if he had the chance to live a life dream as Cox did. This story shares that wonderful story.

In this excellent book, Randy Louis Cox also dives into so much more than Hank Aaron and his home run to break Babe Ruth's record. Cox brings the reader into the stadium for the festivities. He shares the controversies around the game and the record-setting chase (for example, there was a desire for Aaron to break the record at home rather than in the Braves' first series in Cincinnati, Commissioner Bowie Kuhn was not present at the game, and more).

Hank Aaron's career has achieved almost myth-like status as has the life he had to endure as he chased Babe Ruth's legend. Cox tells all of this very well.

In this book, Randy Louis Cox also shares interviews he conducted with the Braves' Public Relations man and two of Aaron's teammates. He also shares intersting statistics, quotes, and so much more.

One of the most unique asp[ects of the book is seeing the game and the celebration through the eyes and camera lens of the author - as noted above, a fan who was fortunate to also be an on-field photographer at the game. Many of the photos in the book are ones never before seen anywhere!

All who are familiar with my approach to book reviews know that I only write reviews when I enjoy a book and feel it deserves my endorsement. This book certainly does.

Check out 715 at 50 by Randy Louis Cox published by Summer Game Books. You'll be glad you did!