[60], He was the recipient of death threats and a large assortment of hate mail during the 19731974 offseason from people who did not want to see Aaron break Ruth's nearly sacrosanct home run record. [50] In 1968, Aaron was the first Atlanta Braves player to hit his 500th career home run, and in 1970, he was the first Atlanta Brave to reach 3,000 career hits. [19], On November 20, 1951, baseball scout Ed Scott signed Aaron to a contract on behalf of the Indianapolis Clowns of the Negro American League, where he played for three months.[21]. [11] His family could not afford baseball equipment, so he practiced by hitting bottle caps with sticks. He had been given six months to live in December of 1984 but defied expectations and lived for five more years, during which time his story helped educate the read more, On April 8, 1993, the space shuttle Discovery lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center. This is a considerable loss for the entire city of Atlanta. [98] In July 2013, media reported that his home was burglarized with jewelry and two BMW vehicles having been stolen. He played two out of three and tied Babe Ruth's record on April 4, 1974, in his very first at-bat on his first swing of the seasonoff Reds pitcher Jack Billingham, but did not hit another home run in the series.[66]. Aaron's record was . The attack would result in the breaking of German defensive lines in just four days, eventually sending read more, North Vietnamese 2nd Division troops drive out of Laos and Cambodia to open a third front of their offensive in the Central Highlands, attacking at Kontum and Pleiku in an attempt to cut South Vietnam in two. After the game, Aaron said his only fear was that he might not live to see the 1974 season. "[95] Sablica said in an interview that he wouldn't have blamed Aaron if he stopped practicing, and Aaron indeed attended Friendship Baptist Church toward the end of his lifenoting in his autobiography that he didn't remain Catholic for very long after converting. If you break Babe Ruth's record, it'll be a disgrace!" [141][142], In November 2015, Aaron was one of the five inaugural recipients of the Portrait of a Nation Prize, an award granted by the National Portrait Gallery in recognition of "exemplary achievements in the fields of civil rights, business, entertainment, science, and sports. [11] Although he appeared in just 87 games, he scored 89 runs, had 116 hits, nine home runs, and 61 RBIs. [35] In 1958, Aaron's wife noted that during the off-season he liked "to sit and watch those shooting westerns". Aaron, known as hard working and quiet, was the last Negro league player to also compete in the Major Leagues. HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate. "use strict";(function(){var insertion=document.getElementById("citation-access-date");var date=new Date().toLocaleDateString(undefined,{month:"long",day:"numeric",year:"numeric"});insertion.parentElement.replaceChild(document.createTextNode(date),insertion)})(); FACT CHECK: We strive for accuracy and fairness. [150], In 2022, a recording of the WSB broadcast of the April 8, 1974, BravesDodgers game in which Aaron hit his 715th home run was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Recording Registry. Where Hank Aaron does stand out is in the total number of hits. I move over now and offer my best wishes to Barry and his family on this historical achievement. Well, to believe that you have to accept that Barry Bonds, with 762, didnt cheat to get there. [114], The Atlanta Braves honored Hank Aaron during the 2021 season by including his jersey number 44 on the back of the team caps along with Phil Niekro's jersey number, 35 (who died one month earlier in December 2020). [83] Aaron founded the Hank Aaron Rookie League program.[84]. On April 8, 1989, California Angels rookie pitcher Jim Abbott, who was born without a right hand, makes his Major League Baseball debut in a 7-0 loss to the Seattle Mariners. Meanwhile, Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully addressed the racial tensionor apparent lack thereofin his call of the home run: What a marvelous moment for baseball; what a marvelous moment for Atlanta and the state of Georgia; what a marvelous moment for the country and the world. 1:28. [148], Atlanta-area sports teams planned to honor Aaron during the 2021 seasons. The night they met, Lucas decided to attend the Braves' game. But for Aaron, the journey to 715 home runs was much more complex. He played right field for the Milwaukee Braves and the Milwaukee Brewers. That's the only thing that kept Willie Mays and me from being teammates fifty dollars.[24]. On April 27, 1971, Aaron hit his 600th career home run, the third major league player ever to do so. [75] He was acquired by the Milwaukee Brewers for Dave May thirty-one days later on November 2. An advocate of nonviolence and conservatism, he pleaded innocent in the highly read more, On April 8, Buddhists celebrate the commemoration of the birth of Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, thought to have lived in India from 563 B.C. [68] As the fans cheered wildly, Aaron's parents ran onto the field as well. Former Braves minor league player and sportswriter Pat Jordan said, "Aaron gave [Geraghty] much of the credit for his own swift rise to stardom. Google Barry Bonds before and after and tell us thats all moms cooking. It is a great accomplishment that required skill, longevity, and determination. Babe Ruth ended his career with 2,873 hits after 22 seasons. [134] He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, from President George W. Bush in June 2002. As an adopted son of Atlanta, Mr. Aaron was part of the fabric that helped place Atlanta on the world stage. Years later, Aaron remembered: I had the Giants' contract in my hand. It should have been the most enjoyable time in my life, and instead it was hell. A black man is getting a standing ovation in the Deep South for breaking a record of an all-time baseball idol. Aaron would finish the season in Atlanta, go back to Milwaukee for two seasons as the Brewers' DH and end his career with 755 home runs. A 6-foot, 180-pounder, Aaron broke Babe Ruth's hallowed home run mark on April 8, 1974, slugging his record 715th off . During his stay in Puerto Rico, Owen also helped Aaron transition from second base to the outfield. Braves management wanted him to break the record in Atlanta and was therefore going to have Aaron sit out the first three games of the season. [119], Aaron was awarded the Spingarn Medal in 1976, from the NAACP. A crowd of 53,775 people, the largest in the history of Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, was with Aaron that night to cheer when he hit a 4th inning pitch off the Los Angeles Dodgers Al Downing. In 1955 Central High School and Dunbar Jr. High School switched locations; Central High closed in 1970 following desegregation. They had five children: Gary, Lary, Dorinda, Gaile, and Hank Jr. Bonds surpassed Aaron in 2007 with his 756th home run. 0:00. Aaron played the vast majority of his MLB games in right field, though he appeared at several other infield and outfield positions. He hit home run number 713 on September 29, 1973, and with one day remaining in the season, many expected him to tie the record. 756 to Break Aaron's Record", "Midsummer Classics: Celebrating MLB's All-Star Game", "Hank Aaron praises Barry Bonds for home run record", "Craig Sager's backstory more colorful than his clothes", "Police recover both of Hank Aaron's stolen cars after Atlanta home burglarized", "Milo Hamilton made Hank Aaron's homer itself star of No. He's sittin' on 714. He hit 24 or more home runs every year from 1955 through 1973, and is the only player to hit 30 or more home runs in a season at least fifteen times. His teammates are at home plate. In 1957, with characteristically little fanfare, Aaron, who primarily played right field, was named the National Leagues Most Valuable Player as the Milwaukee Braves won the pennant. In 1974, after tying Ruth on Opening Day in Cincinnati, Ohio, Aaron came home with his team. Hank Aaron, who hit 755 career home runs in the baseball's . [35] Two days later, one of the children died. [112][113] He also received tributes from former presidents Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama. What a horrible sound. "[23] On March 13, 1954, Milwaukee Braves left fielder Bobby Thomson fractured his ankle while sliding into second base during a spring training game. On December 15, 1957, his wife Barbara gave birth to twins. Barry Bonds broke Hank Aaron's home run record eleven years ago By Jordan Shusterman August 7, 2018 On August 7, 2007, Barry Bonds punctuated his gradual, if inevitable climb to the top of the all-time home run list with an iconic blast to center field at AT&T Park for career home run No. He added 22 more in 1975 and 1976, finally calling it a career with 755 career home runs. The Dodgers responded in the third by starting with three straight hits: Steve Garvey singled, Bill Russell doubled, and then Downing drove a single into center field, plating Garvey and sending Russell to third. [44], Sal Maglie recommended throwing low curveballs to Aaron. Bonds denied the allegations, then later argued ignorance. [49], In 1963, Aaron nearly won the triple crown. Aaron was known to frequently read Thomas Kempis' 15th-century book The Imitation of Christ, which he kept in his locker. He led the Braves to another pennant, but this time they lost a seven-game World Series to the Yankees. Hank Aaron. The Braves were able to speak to the draft board, making the case that Aaron could be the player to integrate the Southern Association the following season with the Atlanta Crackers. Hank Aaron Timeline. Michael Sablica, with helping him grow as a person in the 1950s. [15] Aaron attended Central High School[b] as a freshman and a sophomore. I kept feeling more and more strongly that I had to break the record not only for myself and for Jackie Robinson and for black people, but also to strike back at the vicious little people who wanted to keep me from doing it. In 1974, Hank Aaron surpassed that mark, and then held the milestone for 33 years. Aaron was on the Board of Selectors of Jefferson Awards for Public Service. Nearly 28 years earlier, the read more, Pirates had not captured a ship sailing under the American flag since the 1820s until April 8, 2009, when the MV Maersk Alabama was hijacked off the coast of Somalia. This made him one of the first minorities in Major League Baseball upper-level management. [8], In 1999, major league baseball created the Hank Aaron Award, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Aaron's surpassing of Babe Ruth's career home run mark of 714 home runs and to honor Aaron's contributions to baseball. Aaron also drove in the 2,000th run of his career and hit a home run in the first All-Star game played in Atlanta. [100] He and several other African American public figures, including activist Joe Beasley, Andrew Young, and Louis Sullivan, did so to demonstrate the safety of the vaccine and encourage other black Americans to do the same. They also painted 44 in the midfield at Truist Park. Hank Aaron, one of the greatest baseball players of all time, died Friday at age 86. On the Dodgers broadcast for Aarons 715th home run, Vin Scully took note of the momentous occasion both for baseball and society. The Atlanta Braves great, who smashed Babe Ruth's all-time home run record, died Jan. 22. [125] Georgia State University acquired Turner Field and has since rebuilt it as Center Parc Stadium, in 2017, and university officials plan to build a new baseball park on the former AtlantaFulton County Stadium site, incorporating the left field wall where Aaron hit his record-breaking home run. Hank Aaron, one of baseball's all-time great home run hitters, has died. [146][147], The Elite Development Invitational, a youth baseball tournament organized by the Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association to increase diversity in the sport, was renamed the Hank Aaron Invitational for the 2019 season. Braves' public relations director Don Davidson, observing Aaron's quiet, reserved nature, began referring to him publicly as "Hank" in order to suggest more accessibility. Aaron broke Ruths record on April 8, 1974 at Atlantas Fulton County Stadium against Al Downing and the Dodgers. 11-20-1951 | Aaron is signed by scout Ed Scott to play for the Indianapolis Clowns. I didnt read most of them, but I wanted to have them as reminders, Aaron later wrote in his autobiography I Had a Hammer: The Hank Aaron Story.. [11] Over the next 122 games, Aaron batted .280 with 13 homers before he suffered a fractured ankle on September 5. In a statement, the Braves said Aaron died peacefully. Im proud of the home run record, but I dont talk about it because it brings back too many unpleasant memories.. [30], In 1953, the Braves promoted him to the Jacksonville Braves, their Class-A affiliate in the South Atlantic League. [31], In December 1980, Aaron became senior vice president and assistant to the Braves' president. [55] As the year came to a close, Aaron broke Stan Musial's major-league record for total bases (6,134),[56] the record he was the most proud of since it reflected his overall performance as a hitter and team player. He is one of only four players to have at least 17 seasons with 150 or more hits. Hank Aaron was a Major League Baseball player that is considered by many the greatest baseball player ever. Statistic Description: Home Runs Hit/Allowed. He divorced Barbara in 1971 and married Billye Suber Williams on November 13, 1973. [18] Aaron was a member of the Boy Scouts of America. "He taught me what life was all about. The book's title is a play on his nickname, "The Hammer" or "Hammerin' Hank", and the title of the folk song "If I Had a Hammer". The Braves legend, who died Friday at the age of 86, made history while receiving death threats and hate mail on the way to surpassing Ruth in the record books late in his Hall of Fame career, which spanned from 1954-1976. [127], On February 5, 1999, at his 65th birthday celebration, Major League Baseball announced the introduction of the Hank Aaron Award. Lewis Grizzard, then-executive sports editor of The Atlanta Journal, reported receiving numerous phone calls calling journalists "nigger lovers" for covering Aaron's chase. The Arthur Blank-owned Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United FC, along with Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets have plans during their 2021 seasons to reserve 44 for Aaron. To many baseball fans, it won't matter, Hank Aaron is the home run . "[31] Aaron's time with the Braves did not come without problems. Hank Aaron Significant Home Runs. [9] In 1982, he was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. A young Craig Sager actually interviewed Aaron between third and home for a television station, WXLT (now WWSB-Channel 40) in Sarasota. As Aaron hammered closer to Ruth's 714 home runs, he . Hank. [76] Minor league right-handed pitcher Roger Alexander was sent to the Braves to complete the transaction at the Winter Meetings one month later on December 2. Playing off the intense interest in their perceived rivalry, Aaron and Bonds made a television commercial that aired during Super Bowl XLI, shortly before the start of the 2007 baseball season, in which Aaron jokingly tried to persuade Bonds to retire before breaking the record. All that hatred left a deep scar on me. [26], The Braves purchased Aaron's contract from the Clowns for $10,000,[27] which GM John Quinn thought was a steal, as he stated that he felt that Aaron was a $100,000 property. Aaron reportedly received 930,000 pieces of mail in 1973 the year before he broke Ruths record with enough including threats that the FBI got involved to protect him and his family. [88] Aaron also owned Mini, Land Rover, Toyota, Hyundai, and Honda dealerships throughout Georgia, as part of the Hank Aaron Automotive Group. He also enjoyed cooking and fishing. Hank Aaron & Barry Bonds Retirement (2002)", "Hank Aaron, Home Run King Who Defied Racism, Dies at 86", "Famous Religious Conversions Hank Aaron", "Baseball's home run king Hank Aaron fought racism on and off the field", "Hall of Famer Hank Aaron's death unrelated to Covid-19 vaccination", "Health experts urge confidence in vaccine after superstar's death", "Baseball legend Hank Aaron got virus vaccine earlier in January", "Hall of Famer Henry "Hank" Aaron dies at 86", "Hank Aaron, baseball legend and former home run king, dies at 86", "Private funeral service for Hank Aaron announced", "Tributes pour in honoring the legendary Hank Aaron", "Players, celebrities and fans react to the death of baseball legend Hank Aaron", "Gov. [118], In 1982, Aaron was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame during his first year of eligibility. [57] Aaron finished the season with 673 career home runs. While with the Clowns he experienced racism. On April 8, he banged out his record 715th home run off Al Downing of the Los Angeles Dodgers.. [23] On June 12, 1952, Aaron signed with Braves' scout Dewey Griggs. He keeps that mail as a reminder. . He then changed his number to 44, which would turn out to look like a "lucky number" for the slugger. [128] The award honors the best overall offensive performer in the American and National League. But Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn ruled that he had to play two games in the first series. It was the only time in his career that he hit three home runs in a game. He was 86 714. 755", "Bonds Hits No. 06-14-1952 | Aaron is signed by Boston Braves as a slick fielding second baseman and wins the Northern . Hank Aaron's most notable achievement was breaking the career home run record set by Babe Ruth. About 755HomeRuns.com. But he was more than just a religious friend of mine, he was a friend because he talked as if he was not a priest sometimes." However, some observers looked back on Aaron's personal history, pointing out that he had downplayed his own breaking of Babe Ruth's all-time record and suggesting Aaron was simply treating Bonds in a similar fashion. Aaron's legacy has and will always be. While the world knew him as Hammering Hank Aaron because of his incredible, record-setting baseball career, he was a cornerstone of our village, graciously and freely joining Mrs. Aaron in giving their presence and resources toward making our city a better place. By the time Aaron retired, he and his brother held the record for most career home runs by a pair of siblings (768). Considered one of the greatest baseball players in history, he spent 21 seasons with the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves in the National League (NL) and two seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers in the American League (AL). The next day, he made history back home. [52] Aaron was, at the time, the second-youngest player to reach the milestone. Aaron led the league in runs (115), hits (208), doubles (36), RBIs (125), total bases (338), and batting average (.362). According to the Hall of Fame 's stats keepers, Aaron leads both leagues in all-time ribbies, with 2.297 runs batted in during his storied career. Henry Louis Aaron (February 5, 1934 January 22, 2021), nicknamed "Hammer" or "Hammerin' Hank", was an American professional baseball right fielder who played 23 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB), from 1954 through 1976. I had nowhere to go except home and to the ballpark, home and to the ballpark. [25] Aaron received an outpouring of public support in response to the bigotry. [41], At this point, Aaron was known to family and friends primarily as "Henry". It is as of yet the only pennant-clinching walk-off home run in major league history in a non-playoff regular-season game. During the strike-shortened season of 1972, Aaron tied and then surpassed Willie Mays for second place on the career home run list. [74] Playing in the American League would allow Aaron to serve as a designated hitter rather than play in the field. Apart from Aaron's status as the real King of the Dinger, Hammerin' Hank still holds two records that aren't likely to be broken anytime soon. With 755 career home runs, Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth's record by more than 40 home runs. It was the first major award to be introduced in more than thirty years and had the distinction of being the first award named after a player who was still alive. Rankings of Negro League players should consider that Negro League data is not complete. [31] He was the corporate vice president of community relations for Turner Broadcasting System, a member of the company's board of directors, and the vice president of business development for The Airport Network. Every home run Hank Aaron hit over the course of his big league career appears below in chronological order, along with the date of the home run, his age at the time he homered, the pitcher who surrendered the home run, the inning (Inn), his batting order position (BOP) in the lineup, and where he was playing that day (Pos). The naked body of the blonde homecoming queen was found washed up on the shore wrapped in plastic in the shows read more, On April 8, 1904, with war in Europe a decade away, Britain and France sign an agreement, later known as the Entente Cordiale, resolving long-standing colonial disputes in North Africa and establishing a diplomatic understanding between the two countries. Hank Aaron Stats. He finished the 1973 season with 713 home runs -. [135] In 2001, a recreational trail in Milwaukee connecting American Family Field with Lake Michigan along the Menomonee River was dedicated as the "Hank Aaron State Trail". Aaron has the second most home runs ever? In his last two seasons, he was primarily a designated hitter. The high-profile incident drew worldwide attention to the problem of piracy, commonly believed to be a thing of read more, On April 8, 1990, 18-year-old Ryan White dies of pneumonia, due to having contracted AIDS from a blood transfusion. Aaron sold all but the Toyota dealership in McDonough in 2007. - IMDb Mini Biography By: Ken Severson At age 37, he hit a career-high 47 home runs during the season (along with a career-high .669 slugging percentage) and finished third in MVP voting for the sixth time. In a later interview with Atlanta sportscasting personality Chris Dimino, Aaron made it clear his reluctance to attend any celebration of a new home run record was based upon his personal conviction that baseball is not about breaking records, but simply playing to the best of one's potential. Aaron's autobiography, I Had a Hammer was published in 1990. Actor: MacGyver. [92] A friendship with a Roman Catholic priest later helped lead to Hank and his wife's conversion. On April 15, Aaron collected his first major league hit, a double off Cardinals' pitcher Vic Raschi. [35] In 1958, Aaron hit .326, with 30 home runs and 95 RBIs. That record would stand until 2007 when Barry Bonds . [129] Later that year, he ranked fifth on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players,[130] and was elected to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team. On May 1, 1975, Aaron broke baseball's all-time RBI record, previously held by Ruth with 2,213. [51], During his days in Atlanta, Aaron reached several milestones; he was only the eighth player ever to hit 500 career home runs, with his 500th coming against Mike McCormick of the San Francisco Giants on July 14, 1968exactly one year after former Milwaukee Braves teammate Eddie Mathews had hit his 500th. [23] During this time, he picked up the nickname "pork chops" because it "was the only thing I knew to order off the menu". The fireworks are going. And listen to this crowd![69]. Here's the pitch by Downing. 4/8/74: Vin Scully calls Hank Aaron's milestone home run as he passes Babe Ruth for the most career home runs when he slugs his 715th homerCheck out http://m. ", "Sporting News' 100 Greatest Baseball Players", "Aaron to throw out first pitch at All-Star Game", "President Bush Announces the Recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom", "About Carson Park: Eau Claire, Wisconsin", "Aaron receives honorary degree from Princeton", "Portrait of Nation Prize Winner: Hank Aaron", "National Portrait Gallery Honors Aretha Franklin, Carolina Herrera, Hank Aaron", "Hank Aaron presented with Order of the Rising Sun", "Hank Aaron throws out 1st pitch at SunTrust Park", "MLB renames developmental program after Hank Aaron", "Georgia Tech football to retire Hank Aaron's number 44 for 2021 season", "Hank Aaron replaces Confederate general in school name", "National Recording Registry Inducts Music from Alicia Keys, Ricky Martin, Journey and More in 2022", "Sports stars of Alabama: Where are they now? Henry Louis Aaron Jr., born in Mobile, Alabama, on February 5, 1934, made his Major League debut in 1954 with the Milwaukee Braves, just seven years after Jackie Robinson broke baseballs color barrier and became the first African American to play in the majors. This All-Star Game, like the first one he played in 1955, was before a home crowd at Milwaukee County Stadium. ", "There was a big catch holding on to No. That ball is gonna be-eee Outta here! [124], When the city of Atlanta was converting Centennial Olympic Stadium into a new baseball stadium, many local residents hoped the stadium would be named for Aaron. [72] He had also said that he would be interested in serving as a team's general manager, someone who would make decisions and not a house boy.
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