On April 8, 1974, Hank Aaron of the Atlanta Braves hits his 715th career home run, breaking Babe Ruths legendary record of 714 homers. Aaron had seven siblings, including Tommie Aaron, who played major-league baseball with him. Here's the pitch by Downing. [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. [39] Aaron hit his first major league home run on April 23, also off Raschi. Although he batted cross-handed (as a right-handed hitter, with his left hand above his right), Aaron established himself as a power hitter. Braves management wanted Hank to break the record in Atlanta and so they planned to sit him out that first series. [11] While on the Bears, Aaron earned $3 per game ($30 today), which was a dollar more than he got while on the Athletics. [9] In 1982, he was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. [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. Baseball legend Hank Aaron, who broke Babe Ruth's career home run record, has died, the Atlanta Braves announced Friday. By 1969, his chances of breaking the Babe's record were in sight. "He taught me what life was all about. But the Braves offered fifty dollars a month more. At the end of the season, Aaron, who had a prior relationship with Brewers owner Bud Selig, requested a trade to Milwaukee. "[143][144], In January 2016, Aaron received the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette from Akihito, the Emperor of Japan. Where Hank Aaron does stand out is in the total number of hits. Atlanta Braves home uniform shirt #44 worn by Hank Aaron on April 8, 1974 when he broke Babe Ruth's career home run record with his 715th homer in the 4th inning vs. Los Angeles Dodgers - B-5.87 (Milo Stewart Jr./National Baseball Hall of Fame Library) Related Hall of Famers To the top Hank Aaron Inducted: 1982 Position: Right Fielder Walter Alston [48], After the 1976 season, Aaron rejoined the Braves as an executive. [11][12] He had seven siblings. [131], In June 2000 Tufts University awarded Aaron an honorary Doctor of Public Service. 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. 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. [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. Whats that you say? Margaret Thatcher, the first female prime minister of the United Kingdom, dies in London at age 87 from a stroke on April 8, 2013. Hank Aaron's Accomplishments - 550 Words | Internet Public Library HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate. )[149] Also in Atlanta, the Forrest Hill Academy was renamed the Hank Aaron New Beginnings Academy in April 2021. home run record and Gerrit Cole broke the Yankees' single-season strikeouts record. "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 . 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. He died on January 22, 2021, at age 86. Hank Aaron Home Runs | Baseball Almanac What ever happened to the 2 men running with Hank Aaron in the iconic Hank Aaron's 715th home run: What to remember about Braves' legend The 20 home runs Aaron hit in 1974 were the third-most ever by a player 40 or older. [54] Aaron established the record for most seasons with thirty or more home runs in the National League. Aaron was on the Board of Selectors of Jefferson Awards for Public Service. 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. He also enjoyed cooking and fishing. 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. harvnb error: no target: CITEREFBraunsteinWolpin2006 (, Last edited on 23 February 2023, at 14:06, List of Major League Baseball annual doubles leaders, List of Major League Baseball annual home run leaders, List of Major League Baseball annual runs batted in leaders, List of Major League Baseball annual runs scored leaders, List of Major League Baseball batting champions, List of Major League Baseball career doubles leaders, List of Major League Baseball career hits leaders, List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders, List of Major League Baseball career runs batted in leaders, List of Major League Baseball career runs scored leaders, List of Major League Baseball career stolen bases leaders, List of Major League Baseball career triples leaders, List of Major League Baseball doubles records, List of Major League Baseball home run records, List of Major League Baseball individual streaks, List of Major League Baseball runs batted in records, "For single seasons, From 1876 to 2008, (requiring HR30), sorted by greatest Seasons matching criteria", "For single seasons, From 1876 to 2008, (requiring H150), sorted by greatest Seasons matching criteria", "Hank Aaron's searing words on the racism he faced should never be forgotten", "Hank Aaron: Baseball icon and civil rights activist dies aged 86", Wisconsin Sports Development Corporation 2013, "Dunbar Creative And Performing Arts Magnet School", "This date in Braves history: Hank Aaron's only inside-the-park homer", "Vin Scully's Call of Hank Aaron's 715th Home Run", "Aaron Gets Reception, Mets Get Trounced, 81", "The Braves Trade Henry Aaron to the Brewers", "July 15, 1975: In Milwaukee, NL wins fourth straight All-Star Game", "Game Over for Liberty's Purchase of Braves from Time Warner", "Braves' Sale Approved by Baseball Owners", "Charles Schwab Super Bowl XXXVI ad feat. A 6-foot, 180-pounder, Aaron broke Babe Ruth's hallowed home run mark on April 8, 1974, slugging his record 715th off . The Hall of Famer holds a host of records, from the most runs batted in (2,297), the most seasons as an. Henry Aaron - Baseball-Reference He won the NL's Most Valuable Player award in 1957 and has a lifetime batting average of .305. He didnt know what he was taking, he testified, and thought it was all natural. [81] Aaron was then named the Braves' vice president and director of player development. That record would stand until 2007 when Barry Bonds . [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). 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). As an adopted son of Atlanta, Mr. Aaron was part of the fabric that helped place Atlanta on the world stage. [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. On April 15, Aaron collected his first major league hit, a double off Cardinals' pitcher Vic Raschi. [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. 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. We've received your submission. Judge is now just one dinger shy of the AL home run record, set at 61 by fellow Yankee Roger Maris back in 1961. . While he considered retirement, he said that he was willing to return to baseball for another year. [145], On April 14, 2017, Aaron threw out the first pitch at SunTrust Park (now called Truist Park) at 83 years old. 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. Statistic Description: Home Runs Hit/Allowed. 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. In the fourth inning, Aaron hit home run number 715 off Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Al Downing. On board is astronaut Ellen Ochoa, soon to become the first Hispanic woman in space. Aaron eventually scored 2,174 runs, the exact same number as Ruth. 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. Aaron's record was . He again finished third in National League MVP voting. [61] The threats extended to those providing positive press coverage of Aaron. Hank Aaron was a Major League Baseball player that is considered by many the greatest baseball player ever. Aaron resided near Atlanta until his death. 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. Hank Aaron was a tremendous ambassador for baseball, and we can think of one way baseball can honor him in death. [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. MLB home run records: Most HRs in a game, season and career in - NFL Hank Aaron's most notable achievement was breaking the career home run record set by Babe Ruth. Remembering the Day Hank Aaron Broke Babe Ruth's Home Run Record 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. 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. 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. Aaron played the vast majority of his MLB games in right field, though he appeared at several other infield and outfield positions. 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. Aaron was born and raised in and around Mobile, Alabama. Home run number seven-hundred fourteen (714) tied Babe Ruth and seven-hundred fifteen (715) made Hank Aaron the all-time home . Aaron attended the dedication. Hank Aaron's 755 Home Runs - Career Stats, Facts and History of Hank Aaron 755", "Bonds Hits No. In 1955 Central High School and Dunbar Jr. High School switched locations; Central High closed in 1970 following desegregation. 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. Vin Scully calls Hank Aaron's historic 715th home run The next day, he made history back home. 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. "[31] Aaron's time with the Braves did not come without problems. Rankings of Negro League players should consider that Negro League data is not complete. [33] The Braves' manager, Ben Geraghty, tried his best to help Aaron on and off the field. 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. Google Barry Bonds before and after and tell us thats all moms cooking. [18] Aaron was a member of the Boy Scouts of America. Aaron Judge sets AL home run record: Yankees slugger hits No. 62 to top Aaron Judge and Albert Pujols are closing in on major home run records I had nowhere to go except home and to the ballpark, home and to the ballpark. We've received your submission. [118], In 1982, Aaron was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame during his first year of eligibility. [83] Aaron founded the Hank Aaron Rookie League program.[84]. On April 4, Opening Day, a 39-year-old Aaron sent the very first pitch he saw over the wall,. [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. Pujols . 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". 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. Another fun one: Aaron started this season at 713 and the Braves opened the season on the road. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2002. [8] In 1999, The Sporting News ranked Aaron fifth on its list of the "100 Greatest Baseball Players". 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. Say it: Hank Aaron is the real home-run champion The last Negro League player to enter the Majors, Aaron joined the Milwaukee Braves in 1954, and moved with them to Atlanta in 1966. On October 6, Aaron and Lucas married. [70], On October 2, 1974, Aaron hit his 733rd home run in his last at-bat as a Braves player. Hank Aaron, one of the greatest baseball players of all time, died Friday at age 86. Sure, Aaron led the National League (NL) four times, he also was a two-time batting champion and led the league in RBIs four times and runs scored three times. 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. Hank Aaron and the Home Run Record - University Of Northern Iowa To many baseball fans, it won't matter, Hank Aaron is the home run . She curbed the power of Britains labor read more, On April 8, 1935, Congress votes to approve the Works Progress Administration (WPA), a central part of President Franklin D. Roosevelts New Deal.