Henry Louis Aaron, “Hammering Hank,” born February 5, 1934, in Mobile, AL, was, for decades – from 1974 to 2007 – the leading home run hitter in Major League Baseball, with a total of 755. He led the league in homers for four seasons.
His journey to break Babe Ruth’s career home run record he conducted with quiet dignity, despite severe obstacles. He had hit 40 home runs in 1973, ending the season one home run short of the record.
“He was the recipient of death threats during the 1973-1974 offseason and a large assortment of hate mail from people who did not want to see Aaron break Ruth’s nearly sacrosanct home run record.”
Aaron is still the career leader in total bases, extra-base hits, and runs batted in. He is also in the top five for career hits and runs.
He played in the All-Star Game every year from 1955 to 1975, won the Golden Glove as best fielder in 1958 to 1960, and was the National League MVP in 1957.
After a brief stint in the Negro Leagues and a short stint in the minor leagues, Hank broke in with the Milwaukee Braves in 1954, played with them as they moved to Atlanta in 1966, then spent the last two years of his career back in Milwaukee, with the Brewers.
After the 1976 season, when his days on the field were over, Aaron rejoined the Braves as an executive, in various capacities over the years. In 1982, he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, with 97.8% of the vote.
Hank has been a charter member and cheerleader for the National Museum of African American History and Culture, which I’ve joined. Read this 2015 story.
Hank had a brother, the late Tommie Aaron, who hit 13 home runs in a much less distinguished career, also with the Braves, making them the all-time brothers’ leader in homers.
Henry Aaron isn’t my favorite baseball player of all time – that will always be Willie Mays – but he’s in the Top 5.
Wonderful information for an outstanding player.
great post, thanks! While I’ve heard of Hank Aaron, I didn’t know anything much about him other than he was a famous ballplayer.
Beeing Dutch… and not a sportsfan what so ever… your entry today feels like a historielesson 😉
I’m afraid that being a Brit, I now nothing at all about baseball, more a cricket fan, I did play Rounders at school though and always played on first base, where I was quite adept at catching the batsperson out ! Is that any thing like Baseball.
Best wishes,
Di.
ABCW team.
The Aspire TV network recently aired a Flip Wilson episode in which Hank Aaron was a guest performer. There were some good-natured jokes about Aaron and the home run chase, to the point where Wilson offered to sell Aaron something for the sum of $7.13. He asked if Aaron would settle for that, and with a gleam in his eye, Aaron said no way. 🙂
Babe Ruth I know, but that’s about the limit. Oh yeah and the famous line in field of Dreams, “If you play, they will come,” Bu if I have to say, I rather would watch a baseball game than a football game. Since, still after so many years I don’t understand the rules of the latter one:):) Happy week, Roger.
Speaking of the Braves, that took me back to the days when they were the pride of Boston, and Beantown had 2 great teams, the Braves and the Red Sox.
Much prefer baseball to hockey but am not well versed in famous players, I fear. Too bad about the excessive loyalty to Babe Ruth.
Here in Kansas City we have the National Negro Baseball League Hall of Fame. Hank is well represented.
Ann
The loyalty was less about loyalty to Babe Ruth, and more about not wanting a black man to break his record.
It is still upsetting to this day about how people can judge another by the colour of their skin. I get sooooo angry! I played softball as a girl and young woman and loved the game – wish I could see a “real” baseball game, though.
Oh stats and sport the perfect combination. I like watching baseball (on tv) and imagine that it is a great day out under blue skies, but am rather hazy on the rules so would possibly have to sit by you in the bleachers and have the finer points explained. Rather like someone here was trying to explain cricket to his Turkish father in law who was getting more and more puzzled and then was told here comes the finest batsman in the world coming to the crease who as it happens was out first ball. Puzzlement turned to disbelief after that.
I wish I had seen him play.
My ABC WEDNESDAY
Hi Roger! Lots of great info on Hank Aaron. Thanks for the history.
Thank you for highlighting such an important figure in Baseball. Although I am not a big sports fan, I do enjoy baseball games, because it reminds me of games I used to attend with my father when I was a child. Blessings!
Good looking fellow! I am not familiar with any sport, only skating, but I admire this sportsman who faced the hatemail. bravely.Sports should fraternize.
Thanks Roger for your help. I am leaving on Friday.
Wil, ABCW Team
Hank Aaron, along with Johnny Bench, Sandy Koufax and Willie May, looked terrific at last night’s All-Star Game ceremony.
I am completely ignorant about baseball and don’t know anybody in this sport !
I’m not a huge baseball fan, but do know who the great, Hank Aaron was.
Willie Mays is my forever favorite, too. I was sad and mad when the Giants traded him away. Also, when Hank Aaron was traded, but it wasn’t as bad since he had been with the Brewers.
The View from the Top of the Ladder
Great word for A- I admire Hank Aaron’s courage and dignity, especially now when so many baseball heroes have turned out to be much less. When I was young, I loved listening to both baseball games and high school basketball games. I even kept track of the statistics of basketball. I have seen only two pro baseball games, but I enjoyed them immensely- one was Houston Astros in 1978 and the other was the Cincinatti Reds.
Wow death threats to not break a record! People are sure serious about their idols.
BeatAboutThe Book
No doubt about it, he’s one of the Greats.
I definitely remember Hank Aron from the 70’s. He was an amazing ball player.
He must of felt really proud when he was sucking in all of those home runs for his time then. I am not much of a Baseball fan and yet still I have much respect for these guys.