Hank Aaron

On April 8, 1974, history was made at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium when Hank Aaron of the Atlanta Braves hit his 715th career home run, surpassing Babe Ruth’s iconic record of 714. That night, a record-breaking crowd of 53,775 witnessed Aaron’s monumental achievement in the fourth inning against Los Angeles Dodgers’ pitcher Al Downing. Yet, for Aaron, an African American athlete who had endured death threats and racist hate mail during his pursuit of this legendary milestone, the moment was bittersweet.

Born Henry Louis Aaron Jr. on February 5, 1934, in Mobile, Alabama, Aaron made his Major League debut in 1954 with the Milwaukee Braves, just seven years after Jackie Robinson famously broke baseball’s color barrier. Known for his relentless work ethic and quiet demeanor, Aaron was the last former Negro leagues player to shine in the Major Leagues. In 1957, with little theatricality, he was honored as the National League’s Most Valuable Player during the Milwaukee Braves’ pennant-winning season. Shortly after, his three home runs in the World Series propelled the Braves to an unexpected victory against the heavily favored New York Yankees.

Though “Hammerin’ Hank” was celebrated for his prodigious home runs, his consistent excellence as a batter was equally impressive, culminating in a career-high 2,297 runs batted in. Over his remarkable 23-year Major League career, Aaron played for two organizations. He spent two decades with the Braves—beginning in Milwaukee and later in Atlanta after the team relocated in 1966—before finishing his career with two seasons for the Milwaukee Brewers.

Aaron retired in 1976 with an astounding 755 career home runs, a record that stood until it was eclipsed by Barry Bonds in 2007. Beyond his on-field accomplishments, Aaron made significant contributions as one of baseball’s pioneering African American executives with the Atlanta Braves and emerged as a prominent advocate for minority hiring practices. His legacy was immortalized with his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982. Hank Aaron passed away on January 22, 2021, at the age of 86, leaving behind an indelible mark on the sport and society as a whole.