Hank Aaron Biography

Henry Louis Aaron

(Hank) Aaron



 

Date of Birth: February 5, 1934(the day before Babe Ruth turned 39).

Birthplace: Mobile, Alabama, United States

Date. Circumstances of Death: Living

Early Life: The second of nine of Herbert and Estella Aaron's , he weighed just 2 and 1/4 pounds at birth. Hank was a quiet boy who just had one or two friends in the neighborhood. When Hank was eight he saw his first major league game. After the game he knew he wanted to be a major league baseball player which is a good dream because it makes you work hard to make it come true. Hank would sometimes skip school and go down to the baseball bleachers and liked watch players like Joe Dimagio, and Micky Mantel. When his parents found out that Hank was skipping school they scolded him and told Hank that it was important to get an education. His father said that the reason he gave Hank fifty cents to take to school and he took twenty five cents to work was because it was more important to see that Hank got an education than it was for him to eat. Aaron began his professional baseball career as an 18-year-old shortstop for the Indianapolis Clowns of the Negro American League. A right-handed hitter, he batted cross-handed, with his right hand below his left hand.

Education: Hank Aaron attended Central High School and finished school at Josephine Allen Institute.

Major Contributions to Georgia: While playing for the Atlanta Braves, Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth's career home run record. Hank Aaron stayed in Atlanta to work in the Braves' front office, where he became one of the first blacks in upper-level management as vice-president of player development.

Accomplishments: He broke ground for the participation of African Americans in professional sports. Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth's career home run record, although he hit a respectable .280 with 13 home runs before breaking an ankle in September. In 1955, Aaron became the Braves' starting right fielder and he won the NL batting title in 1956 with a .328 average and 26 home runs. His all-time career mark of 755 home runs was built on a remarkable 20-season stretch from 1955 through 1974. He hit 40 or more home runs in 8 of those seasons, 30 or more in 15, and 20 or more in all 20. He also batted over .300 fourteen times. His top batting average was .355 in 1959; his best home run season was 1971, when he had 47. Fascinatingly, he hit 44 home runs--his uniform number--in three different seasons, 1957, 1963, and 1965. The Braves, who had moved to Atlanta