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INTRO (Date Not Affiliated With Anything)
Hank Aaron was baseball player that began playing pros shortly after Jackie Robinson had broke the color barrier in the MLB. Aaron was widely known for breaking Babe Ruth's all-time homerun record, and for getting through adversity, especially the severe racism he faced when he started moving in on Ruth's record. Aaron retired as one of the greatest baseball players of all time despite only winning one World Series title. -
A Legend is Born
Henry Louis is Born in Mobile Alabama to Herbert Aaron, Sr. and Estella (Pritchett) Aaron. Soon after Aaron's birth his family moved to another area of Mobile called "Toulminville." Which was also the hometown of baseball greats like Satchel Paige,Willie McCovey, Billy Williams and a few other baseball big names. Photo Courtesy of: Fast Custom Shirts -
Ttile Picture
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Breaking the Barrier
Photo Courtesy of: Sabrina B. On this date in history, Hank Aaron was 13 years old, and it was the day Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in major league baseball. This is what gave Hank Aaron and every other young black baseball player hope for the future in playing baseball. Had this not have happened who knows how long it would have been for someone else to step up agianst such adversity and break the barrier. -
Frist Attempt
At the young age of fifteen Aaron tried out for the professional team, the Brooklyn Dodgers. Aaron did not make the team as he was thought to be too small weighing a mere 110 pounds. They may have also turned him away due to his "cross-handed" batting grip. Which means as a right handed batter instead of having his right hand on top he had his left hand. on top. Upon returning home, Aaron continued his education while playing for the Pritchett Athletics, where he'd played since he was 14. -
Turning Heads
While playing with the Athletcis, Aaron caught the attention of scout Ed Scott of the Mobile Black Bears. Scott convinced Aaron that he should play for the semi-pro team for three dollars a game, Aaron's mother however only allowed him to play in home games. -
Making Strides
On November 20, 1951 Aaron signed a contract with the Indianapolis Clowns for 200 dollars a month. This team was part of the Negro leagues. Aaron really started to shine while playing with the Clowns, in 26 games he batted .366 along with five home runs. Aaron's impressive statistics helped to lead the team to a Negro League World Series Title. -
So it Begins
After Aaron's successful season with the Clowns, he recieved two telegrams from two different professional teams: the New York Giants and the Milwaukee (Boston) Braves. On June 14, 1952 Aaron agreed to terms with the Braves for 50 dollars more than what the Giants had offered him. Those 50 dollars more is the only thing that kept Hank Aaron and legen Willie Mays from being teammates. -
Off to Eau Claire
Aaron was sent by the Braves to report to their C Class team, the Eau Claire Bears. While there they fixed his cross-handed batted grip and the results served him very well. Aaron played 87 games that season and batted with a remarkable .336 average, including hitting 19 doubles. Aaron earned his all-star seat and rookie of the year award. Photo Courtesy of: Recollection WI -
No Trouble Yet
Aaron, being one of the three black players on the team surpisingly had not endured any racial discrimination while he was in Eau Claire. While he was in Eau Claire for the summer of 1952 he had only seen one other black person outside of the baseball team. In fact, there were so few black people that at this time the KKK's main focus was on Catholics and Jews. -
Racial Seperation
In the summer of 1953 the Braves moved Aaron to their Class-A affiliate team, the Jacksonville Tars of the Southern Atlantic League (SAL). At this time many areas of the South were still governed by unoficiall Jim Crow Laws. In a lot of cases black players on the team would be forced to stay at different locations than the rest of the team. Photo Coutesy of: Zach Spedden -
All You Need is Love
During the summer of 1953 Aaron met his future wife, Barbara Lucas. She attented one of his games where he singled, doulbed, and hit a homerun. They then got married in October when Aaron wasn't even yet twenty. -
Last Step
Aaron spent the winter of 1953 playing in Puerto Rico. Team manager Mickey Owen helpe Aaron work on his batting stance, and this enabled Aaron to be mroe of a versatile hitter. Whereas before Aaron soley hit for power. In addition, the Braves requested that Aaron start playing in the ourfield. This was the first time in his career with the Braves he had played somewhere other than shortstop or second base, -
The Play that Gave Him a Chance
On this day, Milwaukee Braves left fielder Bobby Thomson broke his ankle sliding into second base during a spring training game. The very next day Aaron made his first career spring training game start playing in left field, Aaron hit a home run in this game. This would lead Aaron on to a major league contract and a Braves uniform wearing the number five. Photo Courtesy of: Journal Sentinel files -
Big Leagues
On April 13th Aaron made his major league debut going against the Cincinnati Reds where he would go hitless in five at bats. -
Redemption
On this date Aaron hit a double, for his first major league hit against the Cardinals Pitcher Vic Raschi. -
First of Many
On this date Aaron hit his first career major league home run against the same Cardinals pithcer he got his first major league hit against. -
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Hammering Hank
Aaron would hit 200 homeruns in a span of six years, hitting his 200th homerun on July 3rd, 1960. -
Bump in the Road
On this date Aaron fractured his ankle ending his first season as a major league player. He ended the season had playing in 122 games, batting with a .280 average, along with 13 homeruns. Aaron was 4th in the voting for Rookie of the Year. Photo Courtesy of: Gaius Chamberlain -
Favorite Moment
Aaron recalls this date as being the best moment his career when he homered in the 11th inning of a game to clinch the Braves frist pennant in Milwaukee. In the 1957 World Series Aaron batted with a .393 average and three homeruns against the Yankees to give Milwaukee its only championship. Photo Courtesy of: Photo and Prints -
Not Quite Enough
The Braves returned to the World Series in 1958, lead by Aaron hitting 30 homeruns that season. Sadly they lost in 7 games to the Yankees. That season Aaron was third in the MVP votes, however he did win his first Gold Glove award. Photo Courtesy of: The Pennsauken Indians -
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Tack on More Homeuns
Between these dates Aaron would tack on another 300 homeruns to his previous 200 bringing his grand total up to 500 homeruns. Aaron hit his 500th homeun on July 14, 1968 of Mike McCormick of the Giants. -
Not one, not two, not three, but FOUR!
Aaron would combine with Eddie Mathews, Joe Adcock and Frank Thomas to become the first players ever to hit four consecutive homeurns. This feat was done against Cardinals pither Ron Kline. Photo Courtesy of: MEARS Photo LOA -
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In the 700s
In this timespan Aaron would an additional 200 homeruns bringing up his total to a staggering 700 homeruns. -
Letters
The Braves front office would also recieve letters about Aaron, one part of a letter read, "If you will get rid of some of them (explicit) and put in white ball players whe can use jugge ment we could win the pennant and fill that park but as it is, we the white people dont give a D---- for the (explicit) lovers and (explicit) either." Quote Courtesy of: The Richard A. Cecil Collection -
Fame Has a Cost
Aaron recieved endless racist hate mail when he neared Ruth's record. One letter read, " Dear Mr. (explicit), I hope you don't break the Babe's record. How do I tell my kids that a (explicit) did it. But it took, more at bats, live ball, and other (explicit) tricks. I wish you the worst at anything you do (explicit), KKK Forever." Quote Courtesy of: Richard A. Cecil Collection -
Death Threats (not exact date)
Aaron also recieved many death threats when nearing the record, one section of a letter read, "You will die in one of those games. I'll shoot you in one of them." The FBI would investigate many of the death threats. Aaron and his family felt so threatened by the letters that they were protected by armed guards. Quote Courtesy of: The Richard A. Cecil Collection -
So Close
Aaron would hit his 713 homerun on this date, just one homerun shy of tying Babe Ruth's record. This was his last homerun of the 1973 season. That year Aaron hit 40 homeruns along with Darrell Evans and Davey Johnson, this made the Braves the first team to have three players to hit 40 homers or more in a season. -
Good Company
Aaron hits his 714th homerun off of Reds' pitcher Jack Billingham making him the co-owner of the all-time homerun record with Babe Ruth. Photo Courtesy of: Carmine Frosina -
Theres a New King
On this iconic date in history Hank Aaron would hit his 715th homerun off of Al Downing of the Dodgers to break Babe Ruth's record and make hime the all time leader in homeruns. Photo Courtesy of: Neil Leifer -
The Final One
On this date Aaron would hit his final career homerun off of pitcher Dick Drago of the Angels. Putting his homerun to an unbelievable total of 755. -
Cooperstown
Aaron is voted into the baseball Hall of Fame on this iconic date in history. -
Aaron Srikes Back
Quoted from Hank AaronOn this date that is no more than a month ago Aaron was defending president Obama and had this to say, "We have moved in the right direction, and there have been improvements, but we still have a long ways to go in the country. The bigger difference is that back then they had hoods. Now they have neckties and starched shirts." Aaron also says that he kept all of the racist letters he had. -
More Letters
Quote Courtesy of: Tom Kludt After Aarons comments about Obama the Atlanta
Braves were being flooded with hate mail and e-mails about Aaron. Aaron works in the Braves front office. One e-mail read, "Hank Aaron is a scumbag piece of (expletive) (racial slur." In closing his e-mail the man wrote, "My old man instilled in my mind from a young age, the only good (racial slur) is a dead (racial slur),"
