He is one of only four players to have at least 17 seasons with 150 or more hits. Active in the civil rights movement, the priest encouraged Aaron to be more publicly vocal about causes he believed in. [11] The 1952 season proved to be very beneficial for Aaron. Aaron Judge broke the A.L. 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. He won the NL's Most Valuable Player award in 1957 and has a lifetime batting average of .305. He was 86 Aaron's first marriage was to Barbara Lucas in 1953. During his rookie year, his other well-known nicknames, "Hammerin' Hank" (by teammates) and "Bad Henry" (by opposing pitchers) are reported to have arisen. 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. He died on January 22, 2021, at age 86. Aaron's record was . [57] Aaron finished the season with 673 career home runs. [86] There was considerable speculation that this was a snubbing of Bonds based on the widespread belief that Bonds had used performance-enhancing drugs and steroids to aid his achievement. Lewis Grizzard, then-executive sports editor of The Atlanta Journal, reported receiving numerous phone calls calling journalists "nigger lovers" for covering Aaron's chase. 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. With 755 career home runs, Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth's record by more than 40 home runs. 0:00. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. Listen to HISTORY This Week Podcast: More Than a Home Run. "And he'll hit almost anything, so you have to be careful. Voters have kept Bonds out of the Baseball Hall of Fame over this scandal, but somehow he retains his home-run record. Statistic Description: Home Runs Hit/Allowed. [23] During this time, he picked up the nickname "pork chops" because it "was the only thing I knew to order off the menu". In 1974, Hank Aaron surpassed that mark, and then held the milestone for 33 years. Four days earlier, in Cincinnati, he had homered in his first at-bat of the season to tie Ruth at 714. Henry Aaron Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More | Baseball-Reference.com Henry Aaron Name Note: commonly referred to as Hank Aaron Positions: Rightfielder and First Baseman Bats: Right Throws: Right 6-0 , 180lb (183cm, 81kg) More bio, uniform, draft, salary info Hall of Fame MVP 25x All-Star 1957 World Series 3x Gold Glove Braves announcer Milo Hamilton, calling the game on WSB radio, described the scene as Aaron broke the record: Henry Aaron, in the second inning walked and scored. The nickname quickly gained currency, but "Henry" continued to be cited frequently in the media, both sometimes appearing in the same article, and Aaron would answer to either one. Serving from 1979 to 1990, Thatcher was the longest-serving British prime minister of the 20th century. Aaron singled, doubled, and hit a home run in the game. [11] Helped by Aaron's performance, the Braves won the league championship that year. 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. [7] He was an NL All-Star for 20 seasons and an AL All-Star for one season, and he holds the record for the most All-Star selections (25),[a] while sharing the record for most All-Star Games played (24) with Willie Mays and Stan Musial. [140], In 2011, the President of Princeton University Shirley M. Tilghman awarded an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree to Aaron. Aaron was on the Board of Selectors of Jefferson Awards for Public Service. In 1957, Aaron won his only NL MVP Award,[11] as he had his first brush with the triple crown. [71] Aaron commented after the game that it was his last time as a player in Atlanta as his contract had expired. 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. He was 86. Im proud of the home run record, but I dont talk about it because it brings back too many unpleasant memories.. [32] The 1950s were a period of racial segregation in parts of the United States, especially the southeastern portion of the country. "He taught me what life was all about. The life and death of Hank Aaron (1934-2021) The Atlanta. 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. [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. 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]. Cobains suicide brought an end to a life marked by far more read more, Who killed Laura Palmer? was the question on everyones mind on the night of April 8, 1990, when David Lynchs surreal television drama Twin Peaks premiered on ABC. 2 all-time, died January 22. Hank Aaron, one of baseball's all-time great home run hitters, has died. 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. [138] Statues of Aaron stand outside the front entrance of both Turner Field and American Family Field. On April 4, Opening Day, a 39-year-old Aaron sent the very first pitch he saw over the wall,. Hank Aaron, who endured racist threats with stoic dignity during his pursuit of Babe Ruth but went on to break the career home run record in the pre-steroids era, died early Friday. 714. Whats that you say? [d] On July 31, 1969, Aaron hit his 537th home run, passing Mickey Mantle's total; this moved Aaron into third place on the career home run list, after Willie Mays and Babe Ruth. While preparing the massive coverage of the home run record, he quietly had an obituary written, afraid that Aaron might be murdered.[62]. Michael Sablica, with helping him grow as a person in the 1950s. Baseball's all-time home run king, Hank Aaron did more than hit home runs. The manner of death was listed as natural causes. [102][103][104], His funeral was held on January 27, followed by his burial at South-View Cemetery. They were students, just 17 at the time. 4/4/74: On Opening Day, Hank Aaron hits his 714th Major League home run, tying Babe Ruth for most home runs in Major League historyCheck out http://MLB.com/v. We've received your submission. [19] After this, Aaron returned to school to finish his secondary education, attending the Josephine Allen Institute, a private high school in Alabama. The alternative high school had been named after Nathan Bedford Forrest, a general in the Confederate Army and the Ku Klux Klan's first Grand Wizard. Aaron holds the MLB records for the most career runs batted in (RBIs) (2,297), extra base hits (1,477), and total bases (6,856). [35] Two days later, one of the children died. [11] While on the Bears, Aaron earned $3 per game ($30 today), which was a dollar more than he got while on the Athletics. Here's the pitch by Downing. - IMDb Mini Biography By: Ken Severson To many baseball fans, it won't matter, Hank Aaron is the home run . (Neil Leifer/Sports Illustrated/Getty Images) Aaron hit 40 home runs in the 1973 season, bringing his career total to 713, one run short of the record. [152][153], MLB held two All-Star Games from 1959 through 1962. That's the only thing that kept Willie Mays and me from being teammates fifty dollars.[24]. His debut generates a buzz throughout the sports world. [92] A friendship with a Roman Catholic priest later helped lead to Hank and his wife's conversion. In April 1997, a new baseball facility for the AA Mobile Bay Bears constructed in Aaron's hometown of Mobile, Alabama was named Hank Aaron Stadium. Playing in the infield, Aaron continued to develop as a ballplayer and made the Northern League's All-Star team. [23] As a result of his standout play with the Indianapolis Clowns, Aaron received two offers from MLB teams via telegram, one from the New York Giants and the other from the Boston Braves. [118], In 1982, Aaron was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame during his first year of eligibility. Until then, Aaron had hit most pitches to left field or center field, but after working with Owen, Aaron was able to hit the ball more effectively all over the field. [11][12] He had seven siblings. In 1988, Aaron was inducted into the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame. [93], In an interview in 1991, Aaron credited the priest, Fr. Aaron's autobiography, I Had a Hammer was published in 1990. Years later, Aaron remembered: I had the Giants' contract in my hand. With his second wife, he had one child, Ceci. [3] Aaron's ability as a hitter can be illustrated by his still having over 3,000 hits even without counting any of his home runs. [54] Aaron established the record for most seasons with thirty or more home runs in the National League. [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). [4] By his final MLB season, Aaron was the last former Negro league baseball player on a major league roster. Henry Aaron, the slugger known as "Hammerin' Hank" who broke broke Babe Ruth's career home run mark and remains No. However, as Aaron was an African American who had received death threats and racist hate mail during his pursuit of one of baseballs most distinguished records, the achievement was bittersweet. "[45], Aaron hit .314 with 27 home runs and 106 RBIs, in 1955. If you break Babe Ruth's record, it'll be a disgrace!" It is as of yet the only pennant-clinching walk-off home run in major league history in a non-playoff regular-season game. Aaron attended the dedication. [151] In May of the same year, Tulane University gave Aaron a posthumous honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, the first posthumous honorary degree ever awarded by the university. "[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. On April 8, he banged out his record 715th home run off Al Downing of the Los Angeles Dodgers.. "He's going to swing and he'll go after almost anything," Maglie said of the Braves' slugger. At the time of his retirement, Aaron held most of the game's key career power-hitting records. [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. The last Negro League player to enter the Majors, Aaron joined the Milwaukee Braves in 1954, and moved with them to Atlanta in 1966. He was one of the first African Americans to play in the league. He was 86. Aaron resided near Atlanta until his death. Aaron eventually scored 2,174 runs, the exact same number as Ruth. [10], Aaron was born in Mobile, Alabama, to Herbert Aaron Sr. and Estella (Pritchett) Aaron. He keeps that mail as a reminder. In 1935, Babe Ruth hit his final and 714th home run, a record that would stand for 39 years. He was with the Braves from 1954 to 1974first in Milwaukee and then in Atlanta, when the franchise moved in 1966and closed it out with two seasons back in Milwaukee for the Brewers. He hit his 40th home run of the season against the Giants' Jerry Johnson on August 10, which established a National League record for most seasons with 40 or more home runs (seven). He also enjoyed cooking and fishing. 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. Thanks for contacting us. On April 8, 1974, Aaron hit his 715th home run, breaking Ruth's record and in doing so, received the undying support of the fans. 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. [52] Aaron was, at the time, the second-youngest player to reach the milestone. And listen to this crowd![69]. Aaron got his start playing for. [100][101], Aaron died in his sleep in his Atlanta residence on January 22, 2021 at the age of 86. At the end of the season, Aaron, who had a prior relationship with Brewers owner Bud Selig, requested a trade to Milwaukee. [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. SCP Auctions reports that Barry Bonds' record 756th home run ball to pass Hank Aaron for first on the all-time home run list went for $752,467 in 2007, while No. [83] Aaron founded the Hank Aaron Rookie League program.[84]. MLB, give him back his home run record. Pujols . [11] On September 23, 1957, in Milwaukee, Aaron hit a two-run walk-off home run against the St. Louis Cardinals, clinching the pennant for the Braves. Aaron had seven siblings, including Tommie Aaron, who played major-league baseball with him. For three decades the baseball player Hank Aaron, who has died aged 86, held the record for hitting more home runs - 755 - than anyone in major league history, and will be remembered in. In that announcement, Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig also announced that Aaron would be playing a major role in the management of the Braves,[82] forming programs through major league baseball that will encourage the influx of minorities into baseball. [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. And it is a great moment for all of us, and particularly for Henry Aaron And for the first time in a long time, that poker face in Aaron shows the tremendous strain and relief of what it must have been like to live with for the past several months. As Aaron hammered closer to Ruth's 714 home runs, he . But in his final game that year, playing against the Houston Astros (managed by Leo Durocher, who had once roomed with Babe Ruth), he was unable to achieve this. Hoping to lift the country out of the crippling Great Depression, Congress allowed the president to use the funds at his discretion. The next day, he made history back home. [137], Aaron dedicated the new exhibit "Hank Aaron: Chasing the Dream" at the Baseball Hall of Fame on April 25, 2009. The spot sits outside American Family Field, where the Milwaukee Brewers currently play. HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate. [42], Considerably later in his career, Aaron coined "Stone-fingers", which would prove a popular handle for one of baseball's more colorful characters, the famously distance-hitting but defensively challenged first baseman Dick Stuart,[43] reportedly "delight[ing]" even its recipient. Hank, the superstar outfielder for the Atlanta Braves, was approaching what was then considered the greatest record in sports: the career home-run record of 714, held by the legendary. In 1955 Central High School and Dunbar Jr. High School switched locations; Central High closed in 1970 following desegregation. He hit 24 or more home runs every year from 1955 through 1973 and is one of only two players to hit 30 or more home runs in a season at least fifteen times.[1]. Hank Aaron. Aaron helped lead the Clowns to victory in the 1952 Negro League World Series. [68] As the fans cheered wildly, Aaron's parents ran onto the field as well. [35], Aaron spent the winter of 1953 playing in Puerto Rico. In 1986, Hank Aaron made a guest appearance in "Just Another Fox in the Crowd", episode 30 of Crazy Like a Fox. [119], Aaron was awarded the Spingarn Medal in 1976, from the NAACP. [132] In July 2000 and again in July 2002, Aaron threw out the ceremonial first pitch at the Major League Baseball All-Star Game, played at Turner Field and Miller Park now named American Family Field, respectively. Although Hammerin Hank specialized in home runs, he was also an extremely dependable batter, and by the end of his career he held baseballs career record for most runs batted in: 2,297. 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. 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. 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. [11] During his minor league experience, he was very homesick and faced constant racism, but his brother, Herbert Jr., told him not to give up the opportunity. Many current or former athletes and team owners such as MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, Magic Johnson, David Ortiz, Dusty Baker, Eduardo Prez, Mike Trout, and Baseball Hall of Fame chairman Jane Forbes Clark paid tribute to him. I was just a man doing something that God had given me the power to do, and I was living like an outcast in my own country. [148], Atlanta-area sports teams planned to honor Aaron during the 2021 seasons. This is wrong. Similarly, the point where Aaron's 715th homer landed, upon breaking Ruth's career record in 1974, is marked in the Turner Field parking lot. On April 15, Aaron collected his first major league hit, a double off Cardinals' pitcher Vic Raschi. After his retirement, Aaron held front office roles with the Atlanta Braves, including the senior vice president. The moment became an iconic one, with the indelible image of Hank Aaron rounding the bases, being joined by two fans between second and third, and then mobbed by his teammates and family at home plate, after breaking Babe Ruths home run record in 1974. "On April 8, 1974, when Atlanta Braves' Henry 'Hank' Aaron hit his 715th home run to eclipse the record held by Babe Ruth, there was hardly any celebration. He then changed his number to 44, which would turn out to look like a "lucky number" for the slugger. Newspaper cartoonist Charles Schulz created a series of Peanuts strips printed in August 1973 in which Snoopy attempts to break the Ruth record, only to be besieged with hate mail. He divorced Barbara in 1971 and married Billye Suber Williams on November 13, 1973. [22] On August 1, 1982, he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, having received votes on 97.8 percent of the ballots, second only to Ty Cobb, who had received votes on 98.2% of the ballot in the inaugural 1936 Hall of Fame election. While with the Clowns he experienced racism. Barry Bonds remembers Hank Aaron as 'icon' after complicat Daniel Jones needs to see big picture in Giants negotiations, Red-hot Jon Rahm no match for wind-swept Bay Hill: 'F--king hard', The Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast, The Show with Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman, Amazin' But True: A NY Mets Baseball Podcast, Gangs All Here: A NY Jets Football Podcast, Kellyanne Conway and George Conway to divorce, Canadian teacher with size-Z prosthetic breasts placed on paid leave. Hank Aaron, Major League Baseball's former home-run king and a cornerstone of the Atlanta Braves franchise, died on Friday. The Braves returned to Atlanta, and on April 8, 1974, a crowd of 53,775 people showed up for the gamea Braves attendance record. He led the Braves to another pennant, but this time they lost a seven-game World Series to the Yankees. 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. [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. He again finished third in National League MVP voting. [11] Aaron did his part by hitting .393 with three homers and seven RBIs. [23] On June 12, 1952, Aaron signed with Braves' scout Dewey Griggs. [145], On April 14, 2017, Aaron threw out the first pitch at SunTrust Park (now called Truist Park) at 83 years old. A black man is getting a standing ovation in the Deep South for breaking a record of an all-time baseball idol. He finished with 755 overall before retiring after the 1976 season. ", "There was a big catch holding on to No. 755", "Bonds Hits No. My hope today, as it was on that April evening in 1974, is that the achievement of this record will inspire others to chase their own dreams.[87]. "[143][144], In January 2016, Aaron received the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette from Akihito, the Emperor of Japan. On the Dodgers broadcast for Aarons 715th home run, Vin Scully took note of the momentous occasion both for baseball and society. [59], Aaron (then age 39) hit 40 home runs in 392 at-bats, ending the 1973 season one home run short of the record. It's gone! [11] His family could not afford baseball equipment, so he practiced by hitting bottle caps with sticks. And Aaron showed grace and humility when he congratulated Bonds for beating his mark, though it was clear to everyone that it was tainted. [44], Sal Maglie recommended throwing low curveballs to Aaron. It is a great accomplishment that required skill, longevity, and determination. Aaron suffered from arthritis and had a partial hip replacement after a fall in 2014. Hank Greenberg, 1938 Tigers: 58; Jimmie Foxx, 1932 Athletics: 58; . Kemp orders flags to fly at half-staff to honor Hank Aaron", "Georgia Governor Brian Kemp: flags to fly at half-staff in honor of Hank Aaron", "Statement of President Joe Biden on the Passing of Henry Louis "Hank" Aaron", "President Joe Biden calls Hank Aaron 'an American hero', "Atlanta Braves 44: Hank Aaron's number painted on the field", "World Series Game 3: Braves hold emotional tribute to Hank Aaron", "Aaron's spirit lives on in World Series tribute", "Atlanta Braves receive World Series rings featuring 18.71-karat white gold, 755 diamonds and, yes, pearls", "Are These the 4 Most Important Athletes in Atlanta History? While he considered retirement, he said that he was willing to return to baseball for another year. During his stay in Puerto Rico, Owen also helped Aaron transition from second base to the outfield. "[34], That same year, Aaron met his future wife, Barbara Lucas. [88] Aaron also owned Mini, Land Rover, Toyota, Hyundai, and Honda dealerships throughout Georgia, as part of the Hank Aaron Automotive Group. In the joy of the moment, the months of threats and insults were forgotten. Lucy says in the August 11 strip, "Hank Aaron is a great player but you! Additionally, Aaron owned a chain of 30 restaurants around the country. [85][non-primary source needed] As Bonds began to close in on the record during the 2007 season, Aaron let it be known that, although he recognized Bonds' achievements, he would not be present when Bonds broke the record. [49], In 1963, Aaron nearly won the triple crown. 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. [11] In addition, Aaron hit for a .336 batting average. There is also a statue of him as an 18-year-old shortstop outside Carson Park in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, where he played his first season in the Braves' minor league system. He broke the long-standing MLB record for home runs held by Babe Ruth and remained the career leader for 33 years. 06-14-1952 | Aaron is signed by Boston Braves as a slick fielding second baseman and wins the Northern . During the strike-shortened season of 1972, Aaron tied and then surpassed Willie Mays for second place on the career home run list. "[31] Aaron's time with the Braves did not come without problems. [128] The award honors the best overall offensive performer in the American and National League. 715 call", "Stuart Ranks Next to Foxx; Sox' 2nd Best Righty Slugger", "This Day in Black Sports History: February 5, 1934", "Hank Aaron explains how he is a fan of the Browns", "Hank Aaron Reunites with Valdosta Man who Followed him onto Field", "Ted Turner, Hank Aaron influenced each other as well as Georgia", "Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame Members by Year", Play-by-Play Audio of Aaron's 715th Home Run, Major League Baseball Player of the Month, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hank_Aaron&oldid=1141128927, October 3,1976,for theMilwaukee Brewers, Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 23 February 2023, at 14:06.