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]. Remembering the Day Hank Aaron Broke Babe Ruth's Home Run Record He had 100+ RBIs in a season 15 times, including a record of 13 in a row. 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. 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. After finishing his remarkable career with 755 home runs, Aaron later spoke of how he was able to compartmentalize his play on the field and the vitriol he faced off of it. [89], Despite being publicly and professionally known as "Hank," Aaron preferred to go by his given name, "Henry. Aaron's autobiography, I Had a Hammer was published in 1990. Hank Aaron, one of the greatest baseball players of all time, died Friday at age 86. Aaron was 34 years, five months, and nine days old. He was one of the first African Americans to play in the league. [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. While with the Clowns he experienced racism. [78], Aaron hit his 755th and final home run on July 20, 1976, at Milwaukee County Stadium off Dick Drago of the California Angels, which stood as the MLB career home run record for 31 years until it was broken in 2007 by Barry Bonds. Robinson, who also bats second, homers in his first at-bat in Cleveland's 5-3 win. On June 21, 1959, against the San Francisco Giants, he hit three two-run home runs. 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. [18] This led Hank Aaron to a major league contract, signed on the final day of spring training, and a Braves uniform with the number five. He divorced Barbara in 1971 and married Billye Suber Williams on November 13, 1973. With 755 career home runs, Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth's record by more than 40 home runs. Bonds is the all-time home run leader: He hit those 762 balls over the fence, a majority of them unenhanced by chemists, all of them a testament to his skill, strength and determination. Although he batted cross-handed (as a right-handed hitter, with his left hand above his right), Aaron established himself as a power hitter. I was a prisoner in my own apartment. He appeared briefly in the Negro American League and in minor league baseball before starting his major league career. [14] His boyhood idol was baseball star Jackie Robinson. 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. Mickey Owen, the team's manager, helped Aaron with his batting stance. By the end of the season, he had performed so well that the league made him the unanimous choice for Rookie of the Year. But Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn ruled that he had to play two games in the first series. On board is astronaut Ellen Ochoa, soon to become the first Hispanic woman in space. on April 8th, 1974 he hit his 715th home run, which broke the then record of 714 held by Babe Ruth. "And he'll hit almost anything, so you have to be careful. The next day, Aaron made his first spring training start for the Braves major league team, playing in left field and hitting a home run. Aaron clobbered his 715th career home run as a member of the Atlanta Braves and passed Babe Ruth to become baseball's all-time home run king.. For fans of Major League Baseball in the 1970s, Henry Aaron's superhero-like home run did a lot of things. A black man is getting a standing ovation in the Deep South for breaking a record of an all-time baseball idol. [140], In 2011, the President of Princeton University Shirley M. Tilghman awarded an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree to Aaron. Free shipping for many products! Four days earlier, in Cincinnati, he had homered in his first at-bat of the season to tie Ruth at 714. And for the first time in a long time, that poker face of Aarons shows the tremendous strain and relief of what it must have been like to live with for the past several months.. Baseball Almanac - Hank Aaron Home Run Logs 755", "Bonds Hits No. 714. On January 5, 2021, Aaron publicly received a COVID-19 vaccination with the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine[99] at the Morehouse School of Medicine at Atlanta, Georgia. When the stadium was instead named Turner Field (after Atlanta Braves owner Ted Turner), a section of Capitol Avenue running past the stadium was renamed Hank Aaron Drive. [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. We've received your submission. 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. 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. 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. [94][96], Aaron was a long-time fan of the Cleveland Browns, having attended many games in disguise in their "Dawg Pound" seating section.[97]. Hank Aaron Timeline. Henry Aaron - Baseball-Reference 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. On April 4, Opening Day, a 39-year-old Aaron sent the very first pitch he saw over the wall,. [39] Aaron hit his first major league home run on April 23, also off Raschi. 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]. [137], Aaron dedicated the new exhibit "Hank Aaron: Chasing the Dream" at the Baseball Hall of Fame on April 25, 2009. [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. Aaron's first marriage was to Barbara Lucas in 1953. Aaron was the first player to reach both Hall-worthy batting thresholds of 3,000 hits and 500 home runs. [11] The 1952 season proved to be very beneficial for Aaron. Vin Scully calls Hank Aaron's historic 715th home run - YouTube [71] Aaron commented after the game that it was his last time as a player in Atlanta as his contract had expired. MLB forced them to make him play and Aaron hit a home run in his first at bat in Cincinnati, but saved 715 for a few games later. Even if the five Negro League home runs do get added eventually, Aaron would still be two short of Barry Bonds's 762 homers. [57] Aaron finished the season with 673 career home runs. In most circumstances, the team was responsible for arranging housing and meals for its players, but Aaron often had to make his own arrangements. "A grand jury, a tell-all book and a congressional committee have combined to form a major-league needle puncturing baseball's public image" , reported Chris Jenkins of USA Today in 'Players Admit Steroids Changed Baseball' (USA Today, 03/15/2005) Between February 17, 2005 and March 9, 2005 five-hundred . Aaron was known to frequently read Thomas Kempis' 15th-century book The Imitation of Christ, which he kept in his locker. On May 10, 1967, he hit an inside-the-park home run against Jim Bunning in Philadelphia. 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. It was the only inside-the-park home run of his career. He and his wife first became interested in the faith after the birth of their first child, whom they baptized immediately. 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. [74] Playing in the American League would allow Aaron to serve as a designated hitter rather than play in the field. While cannons were fired in celebration, two college students [67] sprinted onto the field and jogged alongside Aaron for part of his circuit around the bases, temporarily startling him. The life and death of Hank Aaron (1934-2021) The Atlanta. [131], In June 2000 Tufts University awarded Aaron an honorary Doctor of Public Service. [110][111], US President Joe Biden paid tribute to Aaron by releasing a statement calling him "an American hero". [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. 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. Additionally, Aaron owned a chain of 30 restaurants around the country. Hank Aaron, who faced down racism as he eclipsed Babe Ruth as baseball's home run king, hitting 755 homers and holding the most celebrated record in sports for more than 30 years, has. [115], At Game 3 of the 2021 World Series in Truist Park, a pregame ceremony was held honoring Aaron where his son Hank Aaron Jr. threw out a ceremonial first pitch. 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. Hank Aaron, Home Run King Who Defied Racism, Dies at 86 - New York Times Hank Aaron, legendary baseball Hall of Famer who broke Babe Ruth's home The location of where Hank Aaron's record 755th home run landed has been monumented in Milwaukee. 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. [49], In 1963, Aaron nearly won the triple crown. Active in the civil rights movement, the priest encouraged Aaron to be more publicly vocal about causes he believed in. In the fourth inning, Aaron hit home run number 715 off Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Al Downing. Aaron's legacy has and will always be. In 1988, Aaron was inducted into the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame. Atlanta Braves' Hank Aaron (44) breaks Babe Ruth's record for career home runs as he hits his 715th off Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Al Downing in the fourth inning of the game opener at Atlanta . He finished with 755 overall before retiring after the 1976 season. [127], On February 5, 1999, at his 65th birthday celebration, Major League Baseball announced the introduction of the Hank Aaron Award. 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." He would create his own bats and balls out of materials he found on the streets. By Alyse Shorland, CNN (CNN) - The night of April 8, 1974, Braves outfielder Hank Aaron hit home-run number 715, broke the record held by the legendary Babe Ruth and became, at that time, the home-run leader in baseball. [116][117] After the Braves won the 2021 World Series, Aaron was honored in the design of the team's World Series championship ring, which includes 755 total diamonds to commemorate Aaron's career home runs, and 44 emerald-cut diamonds to represent Aaron's jersey number with the Braves. Aaron was born and raised in and around Mobile, Alabama. I move over now and offer my best wishes to Barry and his family on this historical achievement. Or will it be remembered as the season in which Aaron, the most dignified of athletes, was besieged with hate mail and trapped by the cobwebs and goblins that lurk in baseball's attic? Whats that you say? [148], Atlanta-area sports teams planned to honor Aaron during the 2021 seasons. 44 for Pete Maravich. Aaron's record was . The cars were later recovered.[98]. Margaret Thatcher, the first female prime minister of the United Kingdom, dies in London at age 87 from a stroke on April 8, 2013. 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). [64] Babe Ruth's widow, Claire Hodgson, denounced the racism and declared that her husband would have enthusiastically cheered Aaron's attempt at the record. It is as of yet the only pennant-clinching walk-off home run in major league history in a non-playoff regular-season game. The 20 home runs Aaron hit in 1974 were the third-most ever by a player 40 or older. Hank Aaron Dead: Baseball Legend Who Broke Babe Ruth's Home Run Record 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). Aaronhung up his cleats in 1976 with 755 career home runsa record that stood until 2007, when it was broken by controversial slugger Barry Bonds(Bonds admitted to using steroids in 2011). He was 86. Where Hank Aaron does stand out is in the total number of hits. [119], Aaron was awarded the Spingarn Medal in 1976, from the NAACP. Years later, Aaron remembered: I had the Giants' contract in my hand. Hank Aaron Home Runs By Season | StatMuse Hank Aaron went yard 13 times in his rookie season in 1954. Getty Images Aaron reportedly received 930,000 pieces of mail in 1973 the year before he broke Ruth's record with enough including threats that the. Im proud of the home run record, but I dont talk about it because it brings back too many unpleasant memories.. 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 . FILE- In this July 12, 2004, file photo, home run record holder Hank Aaron greets San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds before the start of the All-Star Home Run Derby in Houston. That record would stand until 2007 when Barry Bonds . The act was unprecedented and read more, On April 8, 1994, rock star Kurt Cobain was found dead in his home in Seattle, Washington, with fresh injection marks in both arms and a fatal wound to the head from the 20-gauge shotgun found between his knees. "[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. His daughter told. Hank has 3,771 hits and even at the end of 1973 season (his 20th season) he still had 3,509 hits before breaking Babe Ruth's home run record in 1974. On October 6, Aaron and Lucas married. It is expected the Gwinnett County professional teams, the AAA Gwinnett Stripers (2021 season) and AA Atlanta Gladiators (202122 season), will also be involved in temporarily retiring Aaron's 44. Hank Aaron dies: MLB Hall of Famer, former home run king dead at 86 [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. 02-05-1934 | Aaron is born on a Monday in Mobile, Alabama. [35], Aaron spent the winter of 1953 playing in Puerto Rico. He had finished 1973 with 713 career home runs, one shy of the all-time record set by Babe Ruth. In 1974, Hank Aaron surpassed that mark, and then held the milestone for 33 years. [118], In 1982, Aaron was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame during his first year of eligibility. Aaron was elected to baseball's Hall of Fame in 1982, and now works in the front office for the Atlanta Braves. [61] The threats extended to those providing positive press coverage of Aaron. [35] Two days later, one of the children died. On May 17, Aaron collected his 3,000th hit, in a game against the Cincinnati Reds, the team against which he played in his first major-league game. [11] He won the league's Most Valuable Player Award,[11][18] and had such a dominant year that one sportswriter was prompted to say, "Henry Aaron led the league in everything except hotel accommodations. 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? Today in Baseball History: Hank Aaron breaks Babe Ruth's home run record Who is the true home run king? Barry Bonds-Hank Aaron debate continues The Atlanta Braves great, who smashed Babe Ruth's all-time home run record, died Jan. 22. He finished the 1973 season with 713 home runs -. Postal Service for receiving more mail (930,000 pieces) than any person excluding politicians. Aaron would hit 44 home runs in four different seasons,[40] and he hit his record-breaking 715th career home run off Dodgers pitcher Al Downing, who coincidentally also wore number 44. Though the Korean War was over, people were still being drafted. Hank Aaron's anguish leading up to record home run No. 715 - Los 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. [70], On October 2, 1974, Aaron hit his 733rd home run in his last at-bat as a Braves player. What ever happened to the 2 men running with Hank Aaron in the iconic Aaron begins 1974 season by tying The Babe - Home | Baseball Hall of Fame It was the only time in his career that he hit three home runs in a game. He then changed his number to 44, which would turn out to look like a "lucky number" for the slugger. Hank Aaron's most notable achievement was breaking the career home run record set by Babe Ruth. On April 8, 1974, Hank Aaron of the Atlanta Braves hits his 715th career home run, breaking Babe Ruths legendary record of 714 homers. Now the Dunbar Creative and Performing Arts Magnet School, 500 St. Anthony St., Mobile. Swinging. 0:00. Say it: Hank Aaron is the real home-run champion He later cited his anti-abortion and anti-homosexual views as motivation for the bombings. 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. [8] In 1999, The Sporting News ranked Aaron fifth on its list of the "100 Greatest Baseball Players". [23] On June 12, 1952, Aaron signed with Braves' scout Dewey Griggs. The fireworks are going. "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. 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. [9] In 1982, he was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 1974 Hank Aaron Record Home Run #715 Framed Newspaper Print at the best online prices at eBay! Aaron led the league in runs (115), hits (208), doubles (36), RBIs (125), total bases (338), and batting average (.362). He didnt know what he was taking, he testified, and thought it was all natural. Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms released the following statement on his death: Derek, our family and I join the nation in sending heartfelt condolences to Mrs. Billye Aaron, the beautiful wife of Henry Hank Aaron for nearly 50 years, and the entire family. [44], Sal Maglie recommended throwing low curveballs to Aaron. [94], Sablica also encouraged him to "attend Mass every Sunday" during Spring Training, to which he responded with the racist realities of the day: "[In Bradenton], they won't let me go to Mass. He again finished third in National League MVP voting. [134] He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, from President George W. Bush in June 2002. Aaron, known as hard working and quiet, was the last Negro league player to also compete in the Major Leagues. The night Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth's home run record 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 reunites with two fans who ran onto field following - ESPN (The NBA's Atlanta Hawks had previously retired No. ", "There was a big catch holding on to No. The Braves returned to Atlanta, and on April 8, 1974, a crowd of 53,775 people showed up for the gamea Braves attendance record. Hank Aaron and Babe Ruth. Throughout the past century, the home run has held a special place in baseball and I have been privileged to hold this record for 33 of those years. "[34], That same year, Aaron met his future wife, Barbara Lucas. There's a new home run champion of all time, and it's Henry Aaron! 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. 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. The Braves moved from Milwaukee to Atlanta after the 1965 season. [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.

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