Babe Ruth ended his career with 2,873 hits after 22 seasons. His closest competition is Hank Aaron who "only" hit home runs in every possible ballpark during nine seasons! ATLANTA It's one of the most iconic sports photos of all time: Hammerin' Hank Aaron running the bases after hitting the record-breaking 715th home run at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. I was a prisoner in my own apartment. 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. Here's how Duane Kuiper called the historic moment: Before Bonds, Aaron had held the record since April 8, 1974, when he hit his. [10], Aaron was born in Mobile, Alabama, to Herbert Aaron Sr. and Estella (Pritchett) Aaron. He again finished third in National League MVP voting. A crowd of 53,775 people, the largest in the. 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. [2] Aaron is also third all-time for career hits (3,771) and fifth in runs scored (2,174). [122] The award is given annually to the baseball hitters voted the most effective in each respective league. During his rookie year, his other well-known nicknames, "Hammerin' Hank" (by teammates) and "Bad Henry" (by opposing pitchers) are reported to have arisen. This one has been a long time in the making. [11] While on the Bears, Aaron earned $3 per game ($30 today), which was a dollar more than he got while on the Athletics. - IMDb Mini Biography By: Ken Severson Years later, Aaron remembered: I had the Giants' contract in my hand. In 1957, Aaron won his only NL MVP Award,[11] as he had his first brush with the triple crown. Four days earlier, in Cincinnati, he had homered in his first at-bat of the season to tie Ruth at 714. 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. Mickey Owen, the team's manager, helped Aaron with his batting stance. The game was also broadcast nationally on NBC. [49], In 1963, Aaron nearly won the triple crown. 714. 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. Baseball legend Hank Aaron, who broke Babe Ruth's career home run record, has died, the Atlanta Braves announced Friday. Aaron received thousands of letters every week during the summer of 1973, including hate mail; the Braves ended up hiring a secretary to help him sort through it. [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. A young Craig Sager actually interviewed Aaron between third and home for a television station, WXLT (now WWSB-Channel 40) in Sarasota. 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. 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. The Hall of Famer holds a host of records, from the most runs batted in (2,297), the most seasons as an. [136], In 2002, Aaron was honored with the "Lombardi Award of Excellence" from the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation. The night they met, Lucas decided to attend the Braves' game. 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. While he considered retirement, he said that he was willing to return to baseball for another year. 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. Yankees outfielder growing golf profile alongside Tiger Wo 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. 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. Aaron grew up in a poor family. [110][111], US President Joe Biden paid tribute to Aaron by releasing a statement calling him "an American hero". It was the only time in his career that he hit three home runs in a game. 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! There's a drive into left-center field. [11][12] He had seven siblings. In 1955 Central High School and Dunbar Jr. High School switched locations; Central High closed in 1970 following desegregation. On board is astronaut Ellen Ochoa, soon to become the first Hispanic woman in space. 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. It should have been the most enjoyable time in my life, and instead it was hell. 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. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! [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. [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. 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. [36], In 1954, Aaron attended spring training with the major league club. Aaron helped lead the Clowns to victory in the 1952 Negro League World Series. 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). But it was Hammerin' Hank's sweet home run swing for which he was best known. 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. On May 1, 1975, Aaron broke baseball's all-time RBI record, previously held by Ruth with 2,213. 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. 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. 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? Hank Aaron, one of the greatest baseball players of all time, died Friday at age 86. He was 86 Aaron went on to play through the end of the 1976 season, finishing with 755 career home runs, 3,771 hits and 2,297 RBI. [137], Aaron dedicated the new exhibit "Hank Aaron: Chasing the Dream" at the Baseball Hall of Fame on April 25, 2009. "Maybe I was unnerved by all the attention," read more, On April 8, 1975, against the New York Yankees in Cleveland, the Indians' Frank Robinson becomes the first African American to manage a game in Major League Baseball. In his last two seasons, he was primarily a designated hitter. During his time in Major League Baseball, and especially during his run for the home run record, Aaron and his family endured extensive racist threats. 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. [93], In an interview in 1991, Aaron credited the priest, Fr. Baseball's all-time home run king, Hank Aaron did more than hit home runs. This made him one of the first minorities in Major League Baseball upper-level management. 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. Aaron's pursuit of Ruth's ultimate home run record was one of the top sports stories of the 1970s and generated intense media coverage. A seven-time NL MVP, the 43-year-old Bonds hit his 22nd home run of the year. "[23] On March 13, 1954, Milwaukee Braves left fielder Bobby Thomson fractured his ankle while sliding into second base during a spring training game. [23] On June 12, 1952, Aaron signed with Braves' scout Dewey Griggs. Hank. After touching home plate he was carried off the field by his teammates. Pujols . He died on January 22, 2021, 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. [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. 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. Aaron lived in the Atlanta area. 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. [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. CBS 46 and FOX 5 Atlanta were among those that first reported Aaron's death Friday. 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. 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]. [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. 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. Aaron led the league in runs (115), hits (208), doubles (36), RBIs (125), total bases (338), and batting average (.362). Aaron was on the Board of Selectors of Jefferson Awards for Public Service. 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. Thanks for contacting us. [31] On January 21, 2007, Major League Baseball announced the sale of the Atlanta Braves. [119], Aaron was awarded the Spingarn Medal in 1976, from the NAACP. Im proud of the home run record, but I dont talk about it because it brings back too many unpleasant memories.. That whole period, I lived like a guy in a fishbowl, swimming from side to side with nowhere to go, watching everybody watch me. The best insights from the ultimate insiders, 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens werent close in what could be final Hall of Fame chance, If the Yankees lose Aaron Judge, heres how it could happen, Dusty Baker: No debate over true home run king, Aaron Judge hits 62nd home run to break Roger Maris record. Aaron, known as hard working and quiet, was the last Negro league player to also compete in the Major Leagues. [61] The threats extended to those providing positive press coverage of Aaron. In the fourth inning, Aaron hit home run number 715 off Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Al Downing. He also enjoyed cooking and fishing. He finished with 755 overall before retiring after the 1976 season. He finished the 1973 season with 713 home runs -. He won the NL's Most Valuable Player award in 1957 and has a lifetime batting average of .305. His average was .319, .007 behind the leader. 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. [83] Aaron founded the Hank Aaron Rookie League program.[84]. [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. The Braves opened the season on the road in Cincinnati with a three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds. READ MORE: When Hank Aaron Passed the Babe, Hank Aaron breaks Babe Ruths all-time home run record, https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/aaron-sets-new-home-run-record. Serving from 1979 to 1990, Thatcher was the longest-serving British prime minister of the 20th century. [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. Even if the five Negro League home runs do get added eventually, Aaron would still be two short of Barry Bonds's 762 homers. What a horrible sound. Robinson, who also bats second, homers in his first at-bat in Cleveland's 5-3 win. When Aaron traveled around Jacksonville, Florida, and the surrounding areas, he was often separated from his team because of Jim Crow laws. [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. [28] A teammate later said, "the man ate pork chops three meals a day, two for breakfast". [30], In 1953, the Braves promoted him to the Jacksonville Braves, their Class-A affiliate in the South Atlantic League. The Atlanta Braves great, who smashed Babe Ruth's all-time home run record, died Jan. 22. Bonds broke Mark McGwire's single-season record by hitting 73 in 2001 and while he's no longer such a force,. He was also named The Sporting News NL Player of the Year. Sign up now to learn about This Day in History straight from your inbox. That record would stand until 2007 when Barry Bonds . All that hatred left a deep scar on me. Obituary: Hank Aaron, baseball great who became voice for civil rights, dies at 86 Photos: The life and . This is a considerable loss for the entire city of Atlanta. Hank Aaron, one of baseball's all-time great home run hitters, has died. During his career, Aaron performed at a consistently high level for an extended period of time. Actor: MacGyver. "And he'll hit almost anything, so you have to be careful. In the joy of the moment, the months of threats and insults were forgotten. He was 86. 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. [11] Helped by Aaron's performance, the Braves won the league championship that year. He signed a two-year contract with the Brewers for $240,000 per year. [127], On February 5, 1999, at his 65th birthday celebration, Major League Baseball announced the introduction of the Hank Aaron Award. [88] Aaron also owned Mini, Land Rover, Toyota, Hyundai, and Honda dealerships throughout Georgia, as part of the Hank Aaron Automotive Group. To many baseball fans, it won't matter, Hank Aaron is the home run . 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. 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 . He had received many death threats . Listen to HISTORY This Week Podcast: More Than a Home Run. If successful, this would give North Vietnam control of the northern read more, President Franklin D. Roosevelt authorizes almost $5 million to implement work-relief programs on this day in 1935. Sports Illustrated commemorates Hank Aaron's record-setting home run in 1974 in Atlanta, Georgia. Aaron's first marriage was to Barbara Lucas in 1953. Aaron went 0 for 3 with a pair of strikeouts in Atlanta's 5-3 win over the Reds on April 7. I always felt like once I put the uniform on and once I got on the playing field, that I could separate the two an evil letter I got the day before or even 20 minutes before that I could also concentrate on what I had to do as far as trying to watch a fastball, somebody throwing the ball 90 mph, rather than worrying about a letter somebody sent., The best insights from the ultimate insiders, 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, On this day in history, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner among first members of National Baseball Hall of Fame, The fabled list of Yankees captains Aaron Judge joined, All of Aaron Judges home runs this season, Judges 60th blast sparks comeback as he ties Babe Ruth, now one shy of Roger Maris. 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. 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. 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. "He taught me what life was all about. 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 As an adopted son of Atlanta, Mr. Aaron was part of the fabric that helped place Atlanta on the world stage. [4] By his final MLB season, Aaron was the last former Negro league baseball player on a major league roster. "[143][144], In January 2016, Aaron received the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette from Akihito, the Emperor of Japan. He was 86 years old. Politicians also paid tribute to him. Postal Service for receiving more mail (930,000 pieces) than any person excluding politicians.
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