By Kevin Kelly
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Thirty years ago last week, Dusty Baker stood steps away from baseball history.

The Cubs manager was in the on-deck circle at Atlanta's Fulton County Stadium when Hank Aaron moved past Babe Ruth into the record books with his 715th career home run on April 8, 1974.

"I never heard him brag about anything. He could have," Baker recalled last week. "A lot of us would've been bragging big-time. But he was very secure in what he could do.

"The only time I ever heard him talk about (breaking the record) was one time in Montreal when the wind blew a home run back. He said, 'Babe Ruth blew it back.'"

Aaron, who finished with 755 career home runs, was honored at Turner Field on Thursday.

Only Barry Bonds, who entered Friday with 659 career home runs, would seem to have a chance of threatening Aaron's mark in the next few years.

"He's a humble man," Baker said of Aaron. "He doesn't care if anyone breaks it or not. He'll be there to congratulate him.

"A lesser person wouldn't want anyone to break it ever."

Actually, Aaron himself said he wouldn't travel to watch Bonds break the record - but only as a matter of convenience, not out of bitterness or disrespect.

SAYING GOODBYE: Pinch-hitter extraordinaire Lenny Harris plans to retire after this season.

Drafted by the Reds in 1983, Harris has a record 181 career pinch hits since 1988.

"I want to get 19 more so I can finish with an even 200," he said Monday. "I'm going to give it all I've got."

"I'll just come here and think about winning a ballgame off the bench each day.... That's me."

GOLDEN DONATION: A simple thanks might have sufficed.

A's third baseman Eric Chavez, considered an average fielder when he broke into the majors, instead thanked Oakland infield coach Ron Washington by presenting him with his 2003 Gold Glove trophy on Tuesday.

"I always knew Eric cared," Washington said. "But he showed me a lot. When they only give away 18 of those a year and he gave me his? Wow. There's never a guarantee you will get another one. That was so awesome."

Chavez also won Gold Gloves in 2001 and 2002.

THE MASKED MAN: Wednesday's game between the Yankees and Devil Rays at Tropicana Field drew 31,669 fans.

Each was given a Don Zimmer mask.

The former Yankees bench coach now serves as an advisor for the Devil Rays, and threw out the ceremonial first pitch Wednesday.

"It's not the incarnation of the Zorro mask, I'll tell you that," Tampa Bay manager Lou Piniella said.

BREAKING IT DOWN: Major League Baseball announced Thursday that 27.3 percent of major leaguers on opening day rosters and disabled lists (227 of 830) were born outside of the United States. That's down from 27.8 last season.

Seventy-nine players were born in the Dominican Republic followed by Venezuela (45) and Puerto Rico (36). The Dodgers led all teams with 14 players born outside the U.S.

NAME GAME: Diamondbacks outfielder Luis E. Gonzalez hit two home runs and Rockies utilityman Luis A. Gonzalez hit his first career home run in the same game Tuesday.

It was the first time two players with the same last name homered in the same game since Ken Griffey and Ken Griffey Jr. hit back-to-back homers for the Mariners on Sept. 14, 1990.

ODDS AND ENDS: Astros pitcher Roger Clemens won his 311th career game Wednesday, tying him with Tom Seaver for 15th on the all-time list.... Rockies first baseman Todd Helton on Tuesday became the ninth left-handed batter to ever get three hits off Randy Johnson in a game.... The Padres entered this season 42-15 against the Giants in the three previous seasons. In their first meeting this season, on Thursday at PETCO Park, San Diego won 4-3.

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Compiled from notes submitted by other baseball writers.