Hank Aaron facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hank Aaron
Aaron with the Atlanta Braves in 1974
Right fielder
Born: (1934-02-05)February 5, 1934 Mobile, Alabama, U.S.
Died: January 22, 2021(2021-01-22) (aged 86) Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Batted: Right Threw: Right
debut
April 13, 1954, for the Milwaukee Braves
Last appearance
October 3, 1976, for the Milwaukee Brewers
MLB statistics
Batting average	.305
Hits	3,771
Home runs	755
Runs batted in	2,297
Teams
Milwaukee / Atlanta Braves (1954–1974) Milwaukee Brewers (1975–1976)
Career highlights and awards
25× All-Star (1955–1975) World Series champion (1957) NL MVP (1957) 3× Gold Glove Award (1958–1960) 2× NL batting champion (1956, 1959) 4× NL home run leader (1957, 1963, 1966, 1967) 4× NL RBI leader (1957, 1960, 1963, 1966) Atlanta Braves No. 44 retired Milwaukee Brewers No. 44 retired Braves Hall of Fame American Family Field Walk of Fame Milwaukee Brewers Wall of Honor Major League Baseball All-Century Team MLB records 2,297 career runs batted in 6,856 career total bases 1,477 career extra-base hits
Baseball Hall of Fame
Induction	1982
Vote	97.8% (first ballot)

Henry Louis Aaron (February 5, 1934 – January 22, 2021) was an American professional baseball player. He was often called "Hammer" or "Hammerin' Hank". Aaron played as a right fielder for 23 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). His career lasted from 1954 to 1976.

He played 21 seasons with the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves in the National League (NL). He also played two seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers in the American League (AL). When he retired, Hank Aaron held many important power-hitting records in baseball. He broke Babe Ruth's long-standing MLB record for home runs. Aaron held this record for 33 years. Many people consider him one of the greatest baseball players ever.

Early Life & Baseball Dreams

Hank Aaron was born in Mobile, Alabama. His parents were Herbert Aaron Sr. and Estella (Pritchett) Aaron. He grew up with seven brothers and sisters. His family lived in a part of Mobile called "Down the Bay." He spent most of his childhood in Toulminville.

Aaron's family was not rich. They could not afford real baseball equipment. So, he practiced hitting bottle caps with sticks. He even made his own bats and balls from things he found.

Hank went to Central High School for his freshman and sophomore years. His high school did not have an organized baseball team. So, he played outfield and third base for a semi-pro team called the Mobile Black Bears. Aaron was also a member of the Boy Scouts of America.

Even though he held the bat in an unusual way (cross-handed), Aaron was a strong hitter. At age 15, in 1949, he tried out for an MLB team, the Brooklyn Dodgers. But he did not make the team that time.

After that, Aaron went to the Josephine Allen Institute, a private high school. During his junior year, he joined the Prichard Athletics, a Negro league team. Later, he played for the Mobile Black Bears again. With the Bears, he earned $3 per game.

Starting His Professional Career

Playing in the Negro and Minor Leagues

On November 20, 1951, Hank Aaron signed with the Indianapolis Clowns. This team was part of the Negro American League. He played for them for three months.

He started as a shortstop. He was about 6 feet tall and weighed 180 pounds. He earned $200 each month. Because he played so well with the Clowns, two MLB teams wanted him. The New York Giants and the Boston Braves both sent him offers.

The Boston Braves bought Aaron's contract from the Clowns for $10,000. The Braves' general manager, John Quinn, thought this was a great deal. He believed Aaron was worth much more. On June 12, 1952, Aaron officially signed with the Braves. During this time, he got the nickname "pork chops." This was because it was "the only thing I knew to order off the menu." A teammate joked that he ate "pork chops three meals a day."

Aaron played most of his MLB games in right field. But he also played other positions. By his last MLB season, Aaron was the only former Negro league player still on a major league team. During his career, especially when he was chasing the home run record, Aaron and his family faced many racist threats. These experiences made him an important voice in the civil rights movement.

In the 1950s, racial segregation was common in some parts of the United States. When Aaron traveled in places like Jacksonville, Florida, he was often separated from his team. This was because of Jim Crow laws. The team usually arranged places for players to stay and eat. But Aaron often had to find his own. The Braves' manager, Ben Geraghty, tried to help Aaron as much as he could.

In 1953, the Braves moved Aaron to the Jacksonville Braves. This was their Class-A team in the South Atlantic League. With Aaron's help, the Jacksonville Braves won the league championship that year.

Hank Aaron's Major League Career

Key Moments and Records

Hank Aaron played for three major league teams. He started with the Milwaukee Braves in 1954. He mostly played as an outfielder. The Braves moved to Atlanta in 1966. Aaron played for them until 1974. After the 1974 season, Aaron was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers. He finished his career there.

Aaron with the Milwaukee Braves in 1960

When he played for the Milwaukee Braves, his family and friends called him "Henry." But the Braves' public relations director, Don Davidson, started calling him "Hank." This was to make him seem more friendly. The nickname "Hank" quickly became popular. But people still sometimes called him "Henry." During his first year, he also got the nicknames "Hammerin' Hank" (from teammates) and "Bad Henry" (from opposing pitchers).

An away jersey worn by Aaron in 1968 or 1969.

While playing in Atlanta, Aaron reached many important milestones. He was only the eighth player to hit 500 career home runs. At that time, he was the second-youngest player to reach this mark. On July 31, 1969, Aaron hit his 537th home run. This put him in third place on the all-time home run list, behind Willie Mays and Babe Ruth.

Aaron did not like to talk much about chasing Babe Ruth's record. In the summer of 1973, Aaron received thousands of letters every week. Some of these were hate mail. The Braves even hired a secretary to help him sort through it. At the end of the 1973 season, Aaron got a special award from the U.S. Postal Service. He received more mail (930,000 pieces) than anyone else, except politicians.

He tied Babe Ruth's home run record on April 4, 1974. The Braves then returned to Atlanta. On April 8, 1974, a huge crowd of 53,775 people came to the game. This was a record for Braves attendance. The game was also shown live on national TV by NBC. In the fourth inning, Aaron hit home run number 715. He hit it off Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Al Downing. As the fans cheered loudly, Aaron's parents ran onto the field to celebrate with him.

The Braves' jersey Hank Aaron wore when he broke Babe Ruth's career home run record in 1974.

The fence at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium where Hank Aaron hit his 715th career home run.

Aaron hit his 755th and final home run on July 20, 1976. This happened at Milwaukee County Stadium against Dick Drago of the California Angels. This record stood as the MLB career home run record for 31 years. It was broken in 2007 by Barry Bonds. During his 23-year career, Aaron had a batting average of .305. He averaged 163 hits, just over 32 home runs, and 99 RBIs each year. He had 100 or more RBIs in a season 15 times. This included a record of 13 seasons in a row.

Life After Baseball

After he retired from playing, Hank Aaron worked in the front office for the Atlanta Braves. He held a role as senior vice president. Aaron lived near Atlanta until he passed away.

Aaron's autobiography, I Had a Hammer, was published in 1990. The book's title is a play on his nickname, "The Hammer." It also refers to the folk song "If I Had a Hammer." Aaron owned several car dealerships in Georgia. He also owned a chain of 30 restaurants across the country.

Awards and Recognition

Hank Aaron's Hall of Fame plaque at the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Hank Aaron's number 44 was retired by the Atlanta Braves in 1977.

Hank Aaron's number 44 was retired by the Milwaukee Brewers in 1976.

• In 1988, Aaron was added to the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame.
• In 1999, The Sporting News ranked Aaron fifth on its list of the "100 Greatest Baseball Players."
• In 1982, he was chosen for the National Baseball Hall of Fame. This was his first year of being eligible.
• That same year, MLB created the Hank Aaron Award. This award recognizes the best offensive players in each league.
• He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2002.
• In 2010, he was named a Georgia Trustee. This was for his achievements that showed the spirit of Georgia's founders.

Aaron accepting the Presidential Medal of Freedom from US President George W. Bush in 2002.

Personal Life

Aaron with his second wife, Billye.

Aaron first married Barbara Lucas in 1953. They had five children: Gary, Lary, Dorinda, Gaile, and Hank Jr. He and Barbara divorced in 1971. He then married Billye Suber Williams on November 13, 1973. With Billye, he had one child, Ceci.

Even though most people knew him as "Hank," Aaron preferred to be called by his birth name, "Henry."

Hobbies and Interests

In 1958, Aaron's wife said that during the off-season, he liked "to sit and watch those shooting westerns." He also enjoyed cooking and fishing.

Aaron was a big fan of the Cleveland Browns football team. He often went to their games in disguise.

Death

Hank Aaron passed away in his sleep at his home in Atlanta. He was 86 years old. His funeral was held on January 27, 2021. He was buried at South-View Cemetery.

Amazing Facts About Hank Aaron

• His childhood hero was the famous baseball player Jackie Robinson.
• Aaron holds MLB records for the most career runs batted in (RBIs) (2,297). He also holds records for extra base hits (1,477) and total bases (6,856).
• When he retired, he had run more miles on the bases than any other player in MLB history.
• Aaron is third all-time in career hits (3,771). He is also fifth in runs scored (2,174).
• He is one of only four players to have at least 17 seasons with 150 or more hits.
• Aaron was such a good hitter that he still had over 3,000 hits even if you don't count his home runs.
• Tommie Aaron, his brother, also played in Major League Baseball. When Hank retired, they held the record for most career home runs by two brothers (768).
• Hank and Tommy Aaron were also the first brothers to play together in a League Championship Series.
• Aaron was Catholic. He converted with his family in 1959.
• In 1986, Hank Aaron appeared in an episode of the TV show Crazy Like a Fox.

Hank Aaron's Famous Quotes

• "Failure is a part of success."
• "I don't feel right unless I have a sport to play or at least a way to work up a sweat."
• "I'm hoping someday that some kid, black or white, will hit more home runs than myself. Whoever it is, I'd be pulling for him."

Images for kids

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  Aaron with the Atlanta Braves in 1974

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  Aaron with the Milwaukee Braves in 1960

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  Away jersey worn by Aaron during the 1968 or 1969 MLB season.

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  The Braves' jersey Hank Aaron wore when he broke Babe Ruth's career home run record in 1974

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  The fence at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium over which Hank Aaron hit his 715th career home run still exists.

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  Hank Aaron's Hall of Fame plaque at the Baseball Hall of Fame

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  Aaron accepting the Presidential Medal of Freedom from US President George W. Bush in 2002

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  Aaron with his second wife, Billye

See also

In Spanish: Hank Aaron para niños