Satch Davidson: the game I'll never forget: former major league umpire was behind the plate for Hank Aaron's 715th career home run and Game 6 of the 1975 World Series

BEING A NATIONAL LEAGUE UMPIRE FOR 16 YEARS WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE, and I was behind the plate for two of the biggest games in baseball history.

The first big game was when Hank Aaron hit his 715th home run in Atlanta on April 8, 1974. It was a bother having to change balls every time Hank came to bat. Aaron hit a pitch that wasn't very good to pull, but with his strong wrists, he put it over the fence. The stadium was packed before Hank hit the homer. After he broke the record, the crowd started leaving. The stands were more than half empty by the seventh inning.

When Hank hit that homer, Joe Ferguson (Dodgers catcher) said, "We just saw history." It couldn't have happened to a nicer guy. You respected Hank because of the way he played and conducted himself. I heard about the threats against Hank, but it's not something you think about when you have to concentrate on the game.

The score? That's not something most people remember. The Braves won 7-4 thanks to the Dodgers making a bunch of errors. No matter what the score was, it will always be the game where Aaron broke Babe Ruth's record.

When it comes to the other game I'll never forget, the score was something that lots of people have remembered for the past 30 years. I'm talking about Game 6 of the 1975 World Series between the, Red Sox and the Reds.

It was played at Fenway Park. Game 6 started out as one of the fastest I've ever umpired. It was full of great defensive plays. The Red Sox got three runs on a homer by Fred Lynn in the first inning, but the Reds were ahead 6-3 in the eighth inning.

Things looked pretty grim for the Red Sox, since they were down 3-2 in the series. Bernie Carbo came up as a pinch hitter with two on and two out against Rawly Eastwick. Carbo hit his second pinch homer of the series, and the game was tied 6-6.

The Red Sox loaded the bases in the ninth inning with nobody out, but they didn't score. Will McEnaney was pitching for Cincinnati and with runners on first and third, intentionally walked Carlton Fisk to load the bases.

Fred Lynn came up and hit a shallow fly ball towards the left field foul line where George Foster came in to catch the ball and threw out Denny Doyle at the plate after he tagged up from third. Rico Petrocelli ended the inning by grounding out to third.

The Reds almost went ahead in their half of the 11th. Joe Morgan drove one over the right field fence, but Dwight Evans leaped, caught the ball and fired it in to double Ken Griffey off the bases.

Rick Wise came in for the Red Sox in the 12th and held the Reds scoreless. Fisk then came up to hit against Pat Darcy, and he hit the famous home run that won the game. When Fisk hit the ball, I had a better view of it than the third base and left field umpires. The ball hit the foul pole, and I signaled it was fair.

Pete Rose always liked to talk. When he came to the plate late in the game, Pete made a remark to Fisk. He said, "I don't know about you, but this is the greatest game I ever played in."

Even though it was the World Series, you don't treat it as a special game. You work and prepare the same way every game. Managers and players want to see you hustle, be in the right place, and be consistent. Things go very smoothly if you do that as an umpire.

My only disappointment in baseball was that my career wasn't longer. I had to retire because of a bad back after the 1984 season. I really did have the best seat in the house, and I enjoyed every minute of it.

Satch Davidson Background Information File

National league Umpire for 16 years 1969 through 1984

All-Star Games Umpired--1976 at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia

World Series--1975, Cincinnati Reds vs. Boston Red Sox; 1982 St. Louis Cardinals vs. Milwaukee Brewers.

National League Championship Series--1971, Pittsburgh Pirates vs. San Francisco Giants; 1974 Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Pittsburgh Pirates; 1978 Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Philadelphia Phillies.

Current occupation: Retired, The 69-year old Davidson makes occasional appearances at celebrity golf tournaments and baseball functions. An Ohio native, he has lived in Houston for more than 20 years. "I like the warm weather," Davidson said. As a long-time Texas resident. Davidson will be inducted into the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame on November 11.

A movie star's name: How did Dave Davidson become "Satch"? Think of actor Huntz Hall.

"When I was growing up, I was a big fan of the Bowery Boys, especially Satch (played by Hall), Davidson admits. "All my friends starting calling me Satch, and I've been nothing but Satch ever since."

Davidson later developed a friendship with his favorite movie star.

"Huntz traveled with me once in awhile because he was a big baseball fan," Davidson said. "We became very good friends."

Lots of no-nos: Davidson was present at five N.L. no-hitters, and two stand out in his mind.

"Jim Maloney dominated the Astros at Crosley Field on April 30, 1969, and Don Wilson threw a no-hitter against the Reds the next day for back to back no-hitters," Davidson said. "Wilson was something. I've never seen anyone that determined. The look on his face was something I can't describe." Umpires aren't always aware of no-hitters.