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. Aaron's first marriage was to Barbara Lucas in 1953. Lewis Grizzard, then-executive sports editor of The Atlanta Journal, reported receiving numerous phone calls calling journalists "nigger lovers" for covering Aaron's chase. Hank Aaron's Greatness, by the Numbers - The Ringer In a statement, the Braves said Aaron died peacefully. By 1969, his chances of breaking the Babe's record were in sight. Instead of congratulations, Aaron received mounds of vile, racist and threatening hate mail which helped to ultimately make Aaron a bitter man. [36], The stint in Puerto Rico also allowed Aaron to avoid being drafted into military service. [92] A friendship with a Roman Catholic priest later helped lead to Hank and his wife's conversion. [9] In 1982, he was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. Im proud of the home run record, but I dont talk about it because it brings back too many unpleasant memories.. [36], In 1954, Aaron attended spring training with the major league club. After his retirement, Aaron held front office roles with the Atlanta Braves, including the senior vice president. [3] Aaron's ability as a hitter can be illustrated by his still having over 3,000 hits even without counting any of his home runs. Sports Illustrated commemorates Hank Aaron's record-setting home run in 1974 in Atlanta, Georgia. [57] Aaron finished the season with 673 career home runs. The last Negro League player to enter the Majors, Aaron joined the Milwaukee Braves in 1954, and moved with them to Atlanta in 1966. Where Hank Aaron does stand out is in the total number of hits. [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. The Atlanta Braves great, who smashed Babe Ruth's all-time home run record, died Jan. 22. [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. Michael Sablica, with helping him grow as a person in the 1950s. Aaron was on the Board of Selectors of Jefferson Awards for Public Service. Former Braves minor league player and sportswriter Pat Jordan said, "Aaron gave [Geraghty] much of the credit for his own swift rise to stardom. There's a new home run champion of all time, and it's Henry Aaron! That's the only thing that kept Willie Mays and me from being teammates fifty dollars.[24]. Aaron's achievements didn't end when his career did, though. Postal Service for receiving more mail (930,000 pieces) than any person excluding politicians. [65] As the 1974 season began, Aaron's pursuit of the record caused a small controversy. 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. Swinging. Aaron went 0 for 3 with a pair of strikeouts in Atlanta's 5-3 win over the Reds on April 7. 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. [7] He 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. All Rights Reserved. To many baseball fans, it won't matter, Hank Aaron is the home run . 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. [14] His boyhood idol was baseball star Jackie Robinson. Memories of a home run scene stealer - In America - CNN [112][113] He also received tributes from former presidents Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama. He was named a 2010 Georgia Trustee by the Georgia Historical Society in recognition of accomplishments that reflect the ideals of Georgia's founders. [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. All that hatred left a deep scar on me. [11][12] He had seven siblings. We've received your submission. He won the NL's Most Valuable Player award in 1957 and has a lifetime batting average of .305. The Hall of Famer holds a host of records, from the most runs batted in (2,297), the most seasons as an. [137], Aaron dedicated the new exhibit "Hank Aaron: Chasing the Dream" at the Baseball Hall of Fame on April 25, 2009. Hank Aaron home run video | 11alive.com With his second wife, he had one child, Ceci. A crowd of 53,775 people, the largest in the history of Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, was with Aaron that night to cheer when he hit a 4th inning pitch off the Los Angeles Dodgers Al Downing. [26], The Braves purchased Aaron's contract from the Clowns for $10,000,[27] which GM John Quinn thought was a steal, as he stated that he felt that Aaron was a $100,000 property. On board is astronaut Ellen Ochoa, soon to become the first Hispanic woman in space. [126], He was honored before the third game of 2021 World Series. Another fun one: Aaron started this season at 713 and the Braves opened the season on the road. The fireworks are going. [25], 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. [134] He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, from President George W. Bush in June 2002. Aaron grew up in a poor family. Home run number seven-hundred fourteen (714) tied Babe Ruth and seven-hundred fifteen (715) made Hank Aaron the all-time home . He was 86 During the 2006 season, San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds passed Babe Ruth and moved into second place on the all-time home run list, attracting growing media coverage as he drew closer to Aaron's record. The night Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth's home run record Robinson, who also bats second, homers in his first at-bat in Cleveland's 5-3 win. "He's going to swing and he'll go after almost anything," Maglie said of the Braves' slugger. We've received your submission. On May 10, 1967, he hit an inside-the-park home run against Jim Bunning in Philadelphia. 1974 Hank Aaron Record Home Run #715 Framed Newspaper Print He died on January 22, 2021, at age 86. 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. Hank Aaron, former MLB home run king, dead at 86 | Fox News "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 . If dogs had eaten off those plates, they'd have washed them. Henry Aaron - Baseball-Reference Aaron Judge broke the A.L. 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. [86] After Bonds hit his record-breaking 756th home run on August 7, 2007, Aaron made a surprise appearance on the JumboTron video screen at AT&T Park in San Francisco to congratulate Bonds on his accomplishment: I would like to offer my congratulations to Barry Bonds on becoming baseball's career home run leader. Though the Korean War was over, people were still being drafted. With 755 career home runs, Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth's record by more than 40 home runs. [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. Aaron was the first player to reach both Hall-worthy batting thresholds of 3,000 hits and 500 home runs. Sign up now to learn about This Day in History straight from your inbox. 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. 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). Serving from 1979 to 1990, Thatcher was the longest-serving British prime minister of the 20th century. [70], On October 2, 1974, Aaron hit his 733rd home run in his last at-bat as a Braves player. [4] By his final MLB season, Aaron was the last former Negro league baseball player on a major league roster. 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. Hank Aaron. 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. Note that seasons prior to 1876 are not included in single-season marks, but are included in career marks. Hank Aaron, one of the greatest baseball players of all time, died Friday at age 86. Hank Aaron was a tremendous ambassador for baseball, and we can think of one way baseball can honor him in death. Hank Greenberg, 1938 Tigers: 58; Jimmie Foxx, 1932 Athletics: 58; . He and his wife first became interested in the faith after the birth of their first child, whom they baptized immediately. He again finished third in National League MVP voting. Henry Louis "Hank" Aaron, the Baseball Hall of Famer who broke Babe Ruth's all-time home run record in the face of racism and went on to become a revered ambassador to the game, has died. [122] The award is given annually to the baseball hitters voted the most effective in each respective league. After touching home plate he was carried off the field by his teammates. [81] Aaron was then named the Braves' vice president and director of player development. 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. There's a drive into left-center field. [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. Henry Louis Aaron Jr., born in Mobile, Alabama, on February 5, 1934, made his Major League debut in 1954 with the Milwaukee Braves, just seven years after Jackie Robinson broke baseballs color barrier and became the first African American to play in the majors. Hank Aaron's 715th home run: What to remember about Braves' legend I resented it, and I still resent it. The manner of death was listed as natural causes. For three decades the baseball player Hank Aaron, who has died aged 86, held the record for hitting more home runs - 755 - than anyone in major league history, and will be remembered in. Bonds surpassed Aaron in 2007 with his 756th home run. Say it: Hank Aaron is the real home-run champion Until then, Aaron had hit most pitches to left field or center field, but after working with Owen, Aaron was able to hit the ball more effectively all over the field. He had 100+ RBIs in a season 15 times, including a record of 13 in a row. 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. His debut generates a buzz throughout the sports world. 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. 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. Aaron begins 1974 season by tying The Babe - Home | Baseball Hall of Fame 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. ", "Sporting News' 100 Greatest Baseball Players", "Aaron to throw out first pitch at All-Star Game", "President Bush Announces the Recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom", "About Carson Park: Eau Claire, Wisconsin", "Aaron receives honorary degree from Princeton", "Portrait of Nation Prize Winner: Hank Aaron", "National Portrait Gallery Honors Aretha Franklin, Carolina Herrera, Hank Aaron", "Hank Aaron presented with Order of the Rising Sun", "Hank Aaron throws out 1st pitch at SunTrust Park", "MLB renames developmental program after Hank Aaron", "Georgia Tech football to retire Hank Aaron's number 44 for 2021 season", "Hank Aaron replaces Confederate general in school name", "National Recording Registry Inducts Music from Alicia Keys, Ricky Martin, Journey and More in 2022", "Sports stars of Alabama: Where are they now? [88] Aaron also owned Mini, Land Rover, Toyota, Hyundai, and Honda dealerships throughout Georgia, as part of the Hank Aaron Automotive Group. On April 8, 1974, Hank Aaron of the Atlanta Braves hits his 715th career home run, breaking Babe Ruths legendary record of 714 homers. Barry Bonds Breaks Home Run Record - CBS News Aaron's autobiography, I Had a Hammer was published in 1990. 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. Statistic Description: Home Runs Hit/Allowed. [152][153], MLB held two All-Star Games from 1959 through 1962. He finished the 1973 season with 713 home runs -. It was the only inside-the-park home run of his career. He had finished 1973 with 713 career home runs, one shy of the all-time record set by Babe Ruth. [30], In 1953, the Braves promoted him to the Jacksonville Braves, their Class-A affiliate in the South Atlantic League. Aaron holds the MLB records for the most career runs batted in (RBIs) (2,297), extra base hits (1,477), and total bases (6,856). On April 8, 1974, Hank Aaron of the Atlanta Braves hits his 715th career home run, breaking Babe Ruth 's legendary record of 714 homers.