Hank Aaron

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Aaron's path to greatness began with humble roots in Mobile, Alabama, where he practiced by hitting bottle caps with sticks because his family could not afford equipment. He attended Central High School before joining independent Negro league teams like the Prichard Athletics and Mobile Black Bears, earning $3 per game with the latter. In 1951, Ed Scott signed him to the Indianapolis Clowns of the Negro American League for $200 a month. After just three months, the Boston Braves purchased his contract from the Clowns for $10,000 because they offered fifty dollars more than the New York Giants did. Years later, Aaron recalled that money was the only reason he and Willie Mays were not teammates. He started with the Eau Claire Bears in 1952, where he broke his cross-handed batting habit to become a standard right-handed hitter, leading the Northern League in Rookie of the Year voting.

In Their Own Story

During his 1953 season with the Jacksonville Braves, Aaron led the South Atlantic League in runs (115), hits (208), doubles (36), RBIs (125), total bases (338), and batting average (.362). A sportswriter noted he 'led the league in everything except hotel accommodations,' as Jim Crow laws often forced him to arrange his own housing. That year, he met Barbara Lucas after she attended a game where he singled, doubled, and hit a home run; they married on October 6. His ability to hit for power was established early, but it was his consistency that defined his career. He hit 24 or more home runs every year from 1955 through 1973. In 1957, he won the NL Most Valuable Player Award as the Milwaukee Braves captured the World Series. His activism was fueled by the extensive racist threats he and his family endured while chasing records, making him a pivotal figure in the civil rights movement.

Reader's Guide

Hank Aaron's statistical dominance is unparalleled. He holds MLB records for career runs batted in (2,297), extra base hits (1,477), and total bases (6,856). He ranks third all-time in career hits with 3,771 and fifth in runs scored with 2,174. A unique testament to his hitting ability is that he accumulated over 3,000 hits even without counting any of his home runs. Aaron was an All-Star for 25 seasons (20 NL, 1 AL), holding the record for most selections and tying Willie Mays and Stan Musial with 24 games played. He won three Gold Glove Awards. Beyond the field, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2002 and was elected to the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 1982. In 1999, MLB introduced the Hank Aaron Award, and he was named to the All-Century Team.

Did You Know?

• Aaron and his brother Tommie held the record for most career home runs by a pair of siblings (768) at the time of Aaron's retirement.
• He was offered multiple football scholarships in high school but turned them down to pursue baseball, where he idolized Jackie Robinson.
• As a minor leaguer, Aaron earned $3 per game with the Mobile Black Bears, which was one dollar more than he made with the Prichard Athletics.
• By his final MLB season in 1976, Aaron was the last former Negro league player on a major league roster.
• He hit cross-handed (left hand above right) as a youth before switching to a standard stance while playing for the Eau Claire Bears.