hank aaron home runs

 

[83] Aaron was then named the Braves' vice president and director of player development. 44 for Pete Maravich. "And he'll hit almost anything, so you have to be careful. 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. Like us on Facebook to see similar stories, 'Unbearable' conditions push White House to close Houston migrant center, Nasa Mars helicopter makes history as first vehicle to fly on another planet. Two of Aaron's contemporaries — Mickey Mantle and teammates Eddie Mathews — hit their 500th homers in 1967. The fireworks are going. By the end of the season, he had performed so well that the league made him the unanimous choice for Rookie of the Year. [41] Aaron hit his first major league home run on April 23, also off Raschi. Its gone! [91] A friendship with a Roman Catholic priest later helped lead to Hank and his wife's conversion. During his junior year, Aaron first joined the Prichard Athletics, an independent Negro league team,[21] followed by the Mobile Black Bears, another independent Negro league team. If dogs had eaten off those plates, they'd have washed them. [78] 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. Aaron was born and raised in and around Mobile, Alabama. [7] Aaron is in second place in home runs (755) and at-bats (12,364), and in third place in games played (3,298). On January 5, 2021, Aaron publicly received a COVID-19 vaccination at the Morehouse School of Medicine at Atlanta, Georgia. By the time Aaron retired, he and his brother held the record for most career home runs by a pair of siblings (768). Aaron hit his 100th home run on August 15, 1957 off Cincinnati's Don Gross. [112] Later that year, he ranked fifth on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players,[113] and was elected to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team. [121] Statues of Aaron stand outside the front entrance of both Turner Field and Miller Park. [2] In 1982, he was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. The game was also broadcast nationally on NBC. [117] He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, from President George W. Bush in June 2002. [10] He won the league's Most Valuable Player Award,[10][18] and had such a dominant year that one sportswriter was prompted to say, "Henry Aaron led the league in everything except hotel accommodations. Henry Aaron is coming around third. Hank Aaron could have added to his home run total if not for an unusual call in a game against the Cardinals. [18] Aaron was a member of the Boy Scouts of America. On March 13, 1954, Milwaukee Braves left fielder Bobby Thomson fractured his ankle while sliding into second base during a spring training game. Aaron attended the dedication. [6] Aaron 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. [10] Over the next 122 games, Aaron batted .280 with 13 homers before he suffered a fractured ankle on September 5. [10] Although Dodgers outfielder Bill Buckner nearly went over the outfield fence trying to catch it, the ball flew into the Braves' bullpen, where relief pitcher Tom House caught it. 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 was known to frequently read Thomas à Kempis' 15th-century book The Imitation of Christ, which he kept in his locker. Hank Aaron's 755 Home Runs - Career Stats, Facts and History of Hank Aaron. [10] He broke his habit of hitting cross-handed and adopted the standard hitting technique. [54] Aaron was, at the time, the second-youngest player to reach the milestone. He was 86. Aaron's 400th homer came in his age 32 season. [14] His boyhood idol was baseball star Jackie Robinson. [40] In the same game, Eddie Mathews hit two home runs, the first of a record 863 home runs the pair would hit as teammates. [10] Tommie Aaron, one of his brothers, also went on to play Major League Baseball. "[36], That same year, Aaron met his future wife, Barbara Lucas. [115] 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, respectively. [44], 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,[45] reportedly "delight[ing]" even its recipient. Hank Aaron, who hit 755 career home runs in the baseball’s majors, listens to tributes to him on the stage during a celebration of his 75th birthday, Feb. 5, 2009, in Atlanta. But the Braves offered fifty dollars a month more. [122], He was named a 2010 Georgia Trustee by the Georgia Historical Society, in conjunction with the Governor of Georgia, to recognize accomplishments and community service that reflect the ideals of the founding body of Trustees, which governed the Georgia colony from 1732 to 1752. Of a time his team was in Washington, D.C. Aaron recalled, We had breakfast while we were waiting for the rain to stop, and I can still envision sitting with the Clowns in a restaurant behind Griffith Stadium and hearing them break all the plates in the kitchen after we finished eating. [128], 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. But Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn ruled that he had to play two games in the first series. That same year, baseball fans named Aaron to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team. Aaron hit No. 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. Although he batted cross-handed (as a right-handed hitter, with his left hand above his right), Aaron established himself as a power hitter. 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. Take another look at that hit total: 3,771. [73] Aaron commented after the game that it was his last time as a player in Atlanta as his contract had expired. Aaron … 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. 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. Lewis Grizzard, then-executive sports editor of the Atlanta Journal, reported receiving numerous phone calls calling journalists "nigger lovers" for covering Aaron's chase. [59] Aaron finished the season with 673 career home runs. They were also the first siblings to appear in a League Championship Series as teammates.[13]. [56] Aaron established the record for most seasons with thirty or more home runs in the National League. 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. [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. [25] On June 12, 1952, Aaron signed with Braves' scout Dewey Griggs. From the New York Times: “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 … During the next several years, Aaron had some of his best games and best seasons as a major league player. [10] In addition, Aaron hit for a .336 batting average. On April 27, 1971, Aaron hit his 600th career home run, the third major league player ever to do so. He started play as a 6 ft (180 cm), 180 lb (82 kg) shortstop,[24] and earned $200 per month. [111] The award honors the best overall offensive performer in the American and National League. After his retirement, Aaron held front office roles with the Atlanta Braves, including the senior vice president. It was hit off the Phillies' Wayne Twitchell in Philadelphia. On June 21, 1959, against the San Francisco Giants, he hit three two-run home runs. [51], In 1963, Aaron nearly won the triple crown. "Our … (The NBA's Atlanta Hawks had previously retired No. It was the only time in his career that he hit three home runs in a game. Aaron had seven siblings, including Tommie Aaron, who played major-league baseball with him. He was one of the first African Americans to play in the league. Though the Korean War was over, people were still being drafted. [28], The Braves purchased Aaron's contract from the Clowns for $10,000,[29] which GM John Quinn thought was a steal, as he stated that he felt that Aaron was a $100,000 property. [48][49] In 1956, Aaron hit .328 and captured the first of two NL batting titles. Aaron, who ended his 23 year career with 755 home runs, said he is not bitter but disappointed about what he … [80], 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 until it was broken in 2007 by Barry Bonds. [10] While on the Bears, Aaron earned $3 per game ($30 today), which was a dollar more than he got while on the Athletics. Showing up every day isn't glamorous, but it's one way you topple Ruth and hit 755 home runs. With the eyes of the entire nation on him, Aaron hit a pitch from the Dodgers' Al Downing over the left field wall to pass Babe Ruth and make baseball history. Here's the pitch by Downing. He is one of only four players to have at least 17 seasons with 150 or more hits. [33] 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. This made him one of the first minorities in Major League Baseball upper-level management. On July 14, 1968, with 499 career home runs under his belt, Aaron hit a three-run shot in the third inning off Giants’ pitcher Mike McCormick. [108], 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. It's gone! As a result, in 1949, at the age of 15, Aaron had his first tryout with an MLB franchise, the Brooklyn Dodgers; however, he did not make the team. A black man is getting a standing ovation in the Deep South for breaking a record of an all-time baseball idol. Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article. Hank Aaron & Barry Bonds – Retirement (2002)", "Sporting News' 100 Greatest Baseball Players", "Vin Scully's Call of Hank Aaron's 715th Home Run", "Aaron to throw out first pitch at All-Star Game", "Hank Aaron presented with Order of the Rising Sun", "MLB renames developmental program after Hank Aaron", "For single seasons, From 1876 to 2008, (requiring HR≥30), sorted by greatest Seasons matching criteria", "For single seasons, From 1876 to 2008, (requiring H≥150), sorted by greatest Seasons matching criteria", "Braves' Sale Approved by Baseball Owners", "Sports stars of Alabama: Where are they now? He appeared briefly in the Negro American League and in minor league baseball before starting his major league career. In 1957, Aaron won his only NL MVP Award,[10] as he had his first brush with the triple crown. 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. [102], In 1982, Aaron was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame during his first year of eligibility. It is expected the Gwinnett County professional teams, the AAA Gwinnett Stripers (2021 season) and AA Atlanta Gladiators (2021-22 season), will also be involved in temporarily retiring Aaron's 44. 756 to Break Aaron's Record", "Midsummer Classics: Celebrating MLB's All-Star Game", "About Carson Park: Eau Claire, Wisconsin", "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. [37] In 1958, Aaron's wife noted that during the offseason he liked "to sit and watch those shooting westerns". He was the third player to reach the number after Babe Ruth and friend Willie Mays (who reached the mark in 1969). [27], The Howe Sports Bureau credits Aaron with a .366 batting average in 26 official Negro league games, with five home runs, 33 runs batted in (RBIs), 41 hits, and nine stolen bases. [37] Two days later, one of the children died. Aaron's 649th home run might not ring a bell today, but it was the homer that allowed him to pass the still-active Willie Mays for second place on the all-time homer list. With his second wife, he had one child, Ceci. [92], Aaron was a long-time fan of the Cleveland Browns, having attended many games in disguise in their "Dawg Pound" seating section. [110], On February 5, 1999, at his 65th birthday celebration, Major League Baseball announced the introduction of the Hank Aaron Award. At the age of 39, Aaron managed to slug 40 home runs in 392 at bats, ending the season with 713, which at that time one home run short of the record. Number six-hundred forty-nine (649) was hit on June 10, 1972 and it is significant because it … He was a three-time Gold Glove winner, and in 1957, he won the NL Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award when the Milwaukee Braves won the World Series. Despite that, he again finished third in the MVP voting. The scoreboard flashes "715" seconds after Hank Aaron hit his recording breaking 715th home run in 1974. [95][96] He died in his sleep in his Atlanta residence on January 22, two weeks before his 87th birthday. Henry Louis "Hank" Aaron, the Hall of Fame slugger whose 755 career home runs long stood as baseball's golden mark, has died. [131], 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. [10] His family could not afford baseball equipment, so he practiced by hitting bottle caps with sticks. In the fourth inning, Aaron hit home run number 715 off Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Al Downing. The next day, Aaron made his first spring training start for the Braves major leagueteam, playing in left field and hitting a home run. No one knew it at the time, but Aaron's homer off California's Dick Drago at Milwaukee's County Stadium would end up being the final homer of his career. 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. [63] The threats extended to those providing positive press coverage of Aaron. While cannons were fired in celebration, two college students [69] sprinted onto the field and jogged alongside Aaron for part of his circuit around the bases, temporarily startling him. Atlanta Braves’ Hank Aaron hits his first long drive over the left field fence for the 1974 spring training workout in West Palm Beach, Fla, March 1, 1974. Sports Illustrated pointedly summarized the racist vitriol that Aaron was forced to endure: Is this to be the year in which Aaron, at the age of thirty-nine, takes a moon walk above one of the most hallowed individual records in American sport ...? This le… [57] As the year came to a close, Aaron broke Stan Musial's major-league record for total bases (6,134).,[58] a record he was the most proud of, more than his home run record since it reflected his overall performance as a team player. It was hit off the Phillies' Bo Belinsky in Philadelphia. "He's going to swing and he'll go after almost anything," Maglie said of the Braves' slugger. [4] His experiences fueled his activism during the civil rights movement.[5]. Aaron is regarded as one of the greatest baseball players of all time. On the field, Aaron is best known for being the man who broke Babe Ruth's long-standing home run record, eventually finishing his career with 755 homers. [67] As the 1974 season began, Aaron's pursuit of the record caused a small controversy. [88] 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. 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. Aaron played the vast majority of his MLB games in right field, though he appeared at several other infield and outfield positions. 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. mark of 714. [50], After the 1976 season, Aaron rejoined the Braves as an executive. He is currently #2 on the Top 1,000, behind Barry Bonds (762). [97][98][99][100][101] His funeral was held on January 27, followed by his burial at South-View Cemetery. [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. Four days later, on April 8, 1974, "Hammerin" Hank hit his 715th home run over the left field wall in Atlanta's Fulton County Stadium, breaking Ruth's 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). [32], In 1953, the Braves promoted him to the Jacksonville Braves, their Class-A affiliate in the South Atlantic League. [15] Aaron attended Central High School[b] as a freshman and a sophomore. [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. 500 off San Francisco's Mike McCormick in Atlanta. 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). In 1954, Aaron attended spring training with the major league club. 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 season—off Reds pitcher Jack Billingham, but did not hit another home run in the series.[68]. Consistent excellence for so long as Aaron was awarded the Spingarn Medal in 1976, the! 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