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{{Infobox MLB player
|name=Hank Aaron
|image=Hank Aaron All Star Parade 2008.jpg
|width=200
|position=[[Outfielder]]
|bats=Right
|throws=Right
|birthdate={{birth date and age|1934|2|5}}
|birthplace=[[Mobile, Alabama]]
|debutdate=April 13
|debutyear={{by|1954}}
|debutteam=[[Atlanta Braves|Milwaukee Braves]]
|finaldate=October 3
|finalyear={{by|1976}}
|finalteam=[[Milwaukee Brewers]]
|stat1label=[[Batting average]]
|stat1value=.305
|stat2label=[[Home runs]]
|stat2value=755
|stat3label=[[Hit (baseball)|Hits]]
|stat3value=3,771
|stat4label=[[Run batted in|Runs batted in]]
|stat4value=2,297
|teams= <nowiki></nowiki>
* [[Atlanta Braves|Milwaukee / Atlanta Braves]] ({{by|1954}}-{{by|1974}})
* [[Milwaukee Brewers]] ({{by|1975}}-{{by|1976}})
|highlights = <nowiki></nowiki>
* 25× [[MLB All-Star Game|All-Star]] selection (1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1959², 1960, 1960², 1961, 1961², 1962, 1962², 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975)
* [[World Series]] champion ({{wsy|1957}})
* 3× [[Gold Glove Award]] winner (1958, 1959, 1960)
* 1957 [[NL MVP]]
* 1970 [[Lou Gehrig Memorial Award]]
* [[Atlanta Braves#Retired numbers|Atlanta Braves #44]] retired
* [[Milwaukee Brewers#Retired numbers|Milwaukee Brewers #44]] retired
* [[Major League Baseball All-Century Team]]
'''MLB Records:'''
* 6,856 total bases
* 2,297 RBI
* 1,477 extra-base hits
* 17 consecutive seasons with 150 or more hits
|hofdate=[[1982 in baseball|1982]]
|hofvote=97.83% (first ballot)
}}
'''Henry Louis "Hank" Aaron''' (born February 5, {{by|1934}} in {{city-state|Mobile|Alabama}}) is a retired [[United States|American]] [[baseball]] player whose [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) career spanned the years [[1954 in baseball|1954]] through [[1976 in baseball|1976]]. Aaron is widely considered one of the greatest baseball players of all time. In [[1999 in baseball|1999]], [[literary editor|editors]] at ''[[The Sporting News]]'' ranked Hank Aaron fifth on their list of "[[The Sporting News list of Baseball's Greatest Players|Greatest Baseball Players]]."

After playing with the [[Indianapolis Clowns]] of the [[Negro American League]] and in the [[Minor league baseball|minor leagues]], Aaron started his major league career in {{by|1954}}. (He is the last [[Negro league baseball]] player to have played in the major leagues.)<ref name=hofcache>{{cite web | title=Cached BBHOF Bio | work=baseballhalloffame.org | url=http://216.239.51.104/search?q=cache:M68gXb1PYN0J:www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers_and_honorees/hofer_bios/Aaron_Hank.htm+baseball+hall+of+fame+aaron+negro+league | accessdate=July 11, 2007}}</ref> He played 21 [[season (sport)|seasons]] with the [[Atlanta Braves|Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves]] in the [[National League]], and his last two years (1975&ndash;76) with the [[Milwaukee Brewers]] in the [[American League]]. His most notable achievement was setting the MLB record for most career [[home run]]s with 755, which he held for 33 years until being surpassed by [[San Francisco Giants]] outfielder [[Barry Bonds]] on August 7, {{by|2007}}.

During his professional career, Aaron performed at a consistently high level for an extended period of time. He hit 24 or more home runs every year from [[1955 in baseball|1955]] through {{by|1973}}, and is the only player to hit 30 or more home runs in a season at least fifteen times.<ref name=30hr>{{cite web|title=Baseball Reference|url=http://www.bb-ref.com/pi/shareit/C2rf|accessdate=January 27, 2009}}</ref> He is one of only four players to have at least seventeen seasons with 150 or more hits.<ref name=150h>{{cite web|title=Baseball Reference|url=http://www.bb-ref.com/pi/shareit/E9t8|accessdate=January 27, 2009}}</ref> Aaron made the [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star team]] every year from 1955 until [[1975 in baseball|1975]]<ref>23 of Aaron's 24 All-Star appearances were for the [[National League]] team. During his final appearance in 1975, the Brewers were a member of the [[American League]]. Currently, Milwaukee plays in the National League.</ref> and won three [[Rawlings Gold Glove Award]]s. In {{by|1957}}, he won the [[National League]] [[MLB Most Valuable Player award|Most Valuable Player Award]], while that same year, the Braves won the [[1957 World Series|World Series]], his one [[World Series]] victory during his career.

Aaron's consistency helped him to establish a number of important [[Batting (baseball)|hitting]] records during his 23-year career. Aaron holds the MLB records for the most career [[runs batted in]] (2,297), the most career [[extra base hit]]s (1,477), and the most career [[total base]]s (6,856); he is also in the top five for career [[hit (baseball)|hits]] with 3,771 (third) and [[run (baseball)|runs]] with 2,174, which is tied for fourth with [[Babe Ruth]]). He also is in second place in at-bats (12,364), and in third place in games played (3,298). Aaron's nicknames include "Hammer," "Hammerin' Hank,” and "Bad Henry”.

==Youth and professional beginnings==
Hank Aaron was born in Mobile, Alabama to Herbert and Estella (Pritchett) Aaron.<ref name="greatath">{{cite book |last1=Bily |first1=Cynthia A |editor1-first=Dawn P |editor1-last=Dawson |title=Great Athletes |edition=Revised |volume=1 |year=2002 |origyear=1992 |publisher=Salem Press |isbn=1-58765-008-8 |pages=1–3 }}</ref><ref>http://books.google.com/books?id=AUFUw01sIWYC&pg=PA1&lpg=PA1&dq=Estelle+(Pritchett)+Aaron&source=bl&ots=fxTUwoJ1oB&sig=4TkkpFc-y9UL-kJTGegIXdYuEac&hl=en&ei=1DIbSuaiHMmMtge-hcj6DA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3</ref> Aaron had seven [[sibling]]s.<ref name="greatath"/> [[Tommie Aaron]], one of his brothers, also went on to play [[Major League Baseball]]. By the time Aaron retired, he and his brother held the record for most career home runs by a pair of siblings (768). They were also the first siblings to appear in a [[1969 National League Championship Series|League Championship Series]] as teammates.<ref name=bbpage>{{cite web|title=Baseball Page Bio|work=thebaseballpage.com|url=http://www.thebaseballpage.com/players/aaronha01.php|accessdate=July 10, 2007}}</ref>

While he was born in a section of Mobile referred to as "Down the Bay," he spent most of his youth in [[Toulminville]]. Aaron grew up in a poor family,<ref name="greatath"/> picking cotton on a farm, and to this day people say that strengthened his hands so he could hit more home runs. His family couldn't afford baseball equipment, so he practiced by hitting bottle caps with sticks. He would make his own bats and balls out of materials he found on the streets.<ref>David Nemec, Players of Cooperstown:Baseball's hall of fame, Publications International, Cooperstown, NY, 1995.</ref> Aaron attended Central High School as a [[Ninth grade|freshman]] and a [[Tenth grade|sophomore]], where he played [[outfield]] and [[third base]] on the baseball team and helped lead his team to the Mobile Negro High School Championship both years.<ref name=Serena>Kappes, Serena. (2005) ''Hank Aaron'', Twenty-First Century Books. ISBN 978-0-8225-3069-5.</ref><ref name=Allen>Allen, Bob & Bill Gilbert. (1999) ''The 500 Home Run Club'', Sports Publishing LLC. ISBN 978-1-58261-031-3.</ref> During this time, he also excelled in [[American football|football]]. His success on the football field led to several football scholarship offers,<ref name=jrank14>{{cite web | title=Hank Aaron Biography | work=jrank.org | url=http://sports.jrank.org/pages/14/Aaron-Hank.html | accessdate=July 10, 2007}}</ref> which he turned down to pursue a career in professional baseball. Although he batted cross-handed (i.e., as a right-handed hitter, with his left hand above his right), Aaron had already established himself as a power hitter.<ref name=jrank14/> As a result, in [[1949 in baseball|1949]], at the age of fifteen, Aaron had his first tryout with a MLB franchise, with the [[Los Angeles Dodgers#Brooklyn Dodgers|Brooklyn Dodgers]]; however, he did not make the team.<ref name=angelfire>{{cite web | title=Early Years | work=angelfire.com | url=http://www.angelfire.com/sports/texanbraves/haaron.html | accessdate=July 10, 2007}}</ref> After this, Aaron returned to school to finish his secondary education, attending the Josephine Allen Institute, a private high school in Alabama. During his [[Eleventh grade|junior year]], Aaron joined the Mobile Black Bears, an independent [[Negro league baseball|Negro league]] team.<ref name="greatath"/> While on the Bears, Aaron earned $10 per game (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|10|1951|r=0}}}} in current dollar terms).<ref name=jrank14/>

Aaron's minor league career began on November 20, 1951, when baseball scout [[Ed Scott (baseball scout)|Ed Scott]] signed Aaron to a contract on behalf of the [[Indianapolis Clowns]].<ref name=jrank6>{{cite web | title=Hank Aaron Biography | work=jrank.org | url=http://sports.jrank.org/pages/6/Aaron-Hank-Played-in-Negro-League-Major-League.html | accessdate=July 10, 2007}}</ref>

==Negro League and minor league career==
After relocating to {{city-state|Indianapolis|Indiana}}, eighteen-year-old Aaron helped the Clowns win the {{by|1952}} [[Negro League World Series]].<ref name=jrank6/> As a result of his standout play, Aaron received two offers from MLB teams ''via'' [[telegram]]; one offer was from the [[San Francisco Giants#New York Giants history|New York Giants]], the other from the then [[Atlanta Braves|Boston Braves]]. Years later, Aaron remembered:
: “I had the Giants' contract in my hand. But the Braves offered fifty dollars a month more. That's the only thing that kept [[Willie Mays]] and me from being teammates -- fifty dollars."<ref>muse.jhu.edu/demo/nine/v009/9.1honig02.pdf</ref>

The Howe Sports Bureau credits Aaron with a .366 average in 26 official Negro League games, with 5 home runs, 33 RBI, 41 hits, and 9 stolen bases.<ref>Vascellaro, Charlie. ''Hank Aaron: a biography''. Greenwood Publishing Group, 2005, ISBN 9780313330018, p. 20</ref>

Aaron elected to play for the Braves, who purchased him from the Clowns for $10,000.<ref name=jrank6/> On June 14, 1952, Aaron signed with Braves' scout Dewey Griggs.<ref name=jrank6/> During this time, he picked up the nickname '[[pork chops]]' due to the fact that it "was the only thing I knew to order off the menu".<ref>{{citenews|url=http://chat.augustachronicle.com/stories/1999/07/11/bas_265377.shtml|accessdate=January 5, 2009|publisher=''[[Augusta Chronicle]]''}}</ref> A teammate later said, "[t]he man ate pork chops three meals a day, two for breakfast".<ref>Barnstorming to heaven: Syd Pollock and his great Black teams‎. Alan J. Pollock, James A. Riley. 2006. pp.228</ref>

The Braves assigned Aaron to the [[Eau Claire Bears]], the Braves' [[Northern League (baseball, 1902-71)|Northern League]] [[Minor league baseball#Levels of competition|Class-C]] [[Farm system#Baseball|farm team]].<ref name="greatath"/> The 1952 season proved to be very beneficial for Aaron. Playing in the [[infield]], Aaron continued to develop as a ballplayer and made the Northern League's All-Star team.<ref name="greatath"/> He broke his habit of hitting cross-handed and adopted the standard hitting technique. By the end of the season, he had performed so well that the league made him the unanimous choice for Rookie of the Year.<ref name="greatath"/><ref name=angelfire /> Although he appeared in just 87 games, he scored 89 [[run (baseball)|runs]], had 116 hits, nine home runs, and 61 RBI.<ref name="greatath"/> In addition, Aaron hit for a .336 batting average.<ref name="greatath"/> During Hank's minor league experience, he was very homesick and faced constant racism, but his brother, Herbert Jr., told him not to give up the opportunity.<ref>Lauren, Spencer, Baseball's Hall of Famers, The Rosen Publisher Group, Inc., New York, NY, 2003</ref>

In {{by|1953}}, the Braves promoted him to the [[Jacksonville Suns|Jacksonville Tars]], their Class-A affiliate in the [[South Atlantic League]].<ref name="greatath"/> Helped by Aaron's performance, the Tars won the league championship that year. Aaron led the league in runs (115), hits (208), [[double (baseball)|doubles]] (36), RBI (125), total bases (338), and batting average (.362).<ref name="greatath"/> He won the league's [[Most Valuable Player]] Award<ref name="greatath"/> and had such a dominant year that one [[sportswriter]] was prompted to say, "Henry Aaron led the league in everything except hotel accommodations."<ref name=Allen /> Aaron's time with the Tars did not come without problems. He was one of the first five [[African American]]s to play in the league.<ref name=jrank6 /> The 1950s were a period of [[racial segregation]] in parts of the United States, especially the southeastern portion of the country. When Aaron traveled around [[Jacksonville, Florida]] and the surrounding areas, he was often separated from his team because of [[Jim Crow laws]]. In most circumstances, the team was responsible for arranging housing and meals for its players; Aaron often had to make his own arrangements.<ref name=jrank6 /> The Tars' manager, [[Ben Geraghty]], tried his best to help Aaron on and off the field. Former Braves minor league player and sportswriter [[Pat Jordan]] said, "Aaron gave [Geraghty] much of the credit for his own swift rise to stardom."<ref name=Jordan>Jordan, Pat. ''A False Spring.'' New York: Dodd, Mead, 1975. ISBN 978-0-8032-7626-0.</ref>

1953 also proved notable to Aaron off the field, as he met a woman called Barbara Lewis. The night they met, Lewis decided to attend the Tars' game. Aaron singled, doubled, and hit a home run in the game. On October 6, Aaron and Lewis [[marriage|married]].<ref name=angelfire />

Before being promoted to the majors, Aaron spent the winter of 1953 playing in [[Puerto Rico]]. [[Mickey Owen]], the team's manager, helped Aaron with his batting stance. After working with Owen, Aaron was better able to hit the ball effectively all over the [[Baseball field|field]], whereas previously, Aaron was only able to hit for power when he hit the ball to left or center field.<ref name=angelfire /> During his stay in Puerto Rico the Braves requested that Aaron start playing in the [[outfield]]. This was the first time Aaron had played any position other than [[shortstop]] or [[second baseman|second base]] with the Braves.<ref name=angelfire />

==Major League Baseball career==
On March 13, 1954, Milwaukee Braves left fielder [[Bobby Thomson]] fractured his [[ankle]] while [[slide (baseball)|sliding]] into [[second base]] during a [[spring training]] game. The next day, Aaron made his first spring training start for the Braves' [[Major League Baseball|major league]] team, playing in left field and hitting a home run.<ref name=Allen /> This led Hank Aaron to a major league contract and a Braves uniform with the number five.<ref name="espn.go.com">http://www.espn.go.com</ref> On April 13, Aaron made his major league debut and was hitless in five at-bats against the Cincinnati Reds' left-hander [[Joe Nuxhall]].<ref name=Allen /> In the same game, [[Eddie Mathews]] hit two home runs, the first of a record 863 home runs the pair would hit as teammates. On April 15, Aaron collected his first major league hit, a single off Cardinals' pitcher [[Vic Raschi]]. Aaron hit his first major league home run on April 23, also off Raschi.<ref name="greatath"/> Over the next 122 games, Aaron batted .280 with thirteen homers before he suffered a fractured ankle on September 5. He then changed his number to forty-four, the number of home runs he would go on to hit in four different seasons during his career.<ref name="espn.go.com"/>

===Prime of his career===
In 1955, Aaron made his first All-Star team; it was the first of a record-tying 21 All-Star Game appearances.<ref>http://www.baseball-reference.com/a/aaronha01.shtml</ref> He finished the season with a .314 average, 27 home runs and 106 RBI. Aaron hit .328 in 1956 and captured first of two NL batting titles. He was also named The Sporting News NL Player of the Year.

In 1957, Aaron won his only NL MVP Award.<ref name="greatath"/> He batted .322 and led the league in home runs and runs batted in.<ref name="greatath"/> On September 23, 1957, Aaron hit a two-run [[walk-off in Milwaukee, and Aaron was carried off the field by his teammates. Milwaukee went on to win the [[1957 World Series|World Series]] against the [[New York Yankees]].<ref name="greatath"/> Aaron did his part by hitting .393 with three homers and seven RBI.

In {{by|1958}}, Aaron hit .326, with 30 home runs and 95 RBIs. He led the Braves to another pennant, but this time they lost a seven-game [[1958 World Series|World Series]] to the Yankees. Aaron finished third in the MVP race, but he picked up his first [[Gold Glove]].

During the next several years, Aaron had some of his best games and best seasons as a major league player. On June 21, 1959 against the [[San Francisco Giants]], he hit three two-run home runs. It was the only time in his career that he hit three home runs in a game.<ref>Hank Aaron and the Home Run that changed America, Tom Stanton, p.142, ISBN 978-0-06-072290-6</ref>

Aaron nearly won the [[Triple crown (baseball)|triple crown]] in {{by|1963}}. He led the league with 44 home runs and 130 RBI and finished third in [[batting average]].<ref>His average was .319, .007 behind the leader, [[Tommy Davis]].</ref> In that season, Aaron became the third player to [[30-30 club|steal 30 bases and hit 30 home runs]] in a single season. Despite that, he again finished third in the MVP voting.

Aaron was the first player to hit 500 home runs and reach 3,000 hits.<ref>http://baseball-almanac.com</ref>

The Braves moved from [[Milwaukee]] to [[Atlanta]] after the {{by|1965}} season.

===Home Run Milestones & 3000th Hit===
During his days in Atlanta, Aaron reached a number of [[milestone]]s; he was only the eighth player ever to hit 500 career home runs, with his 500th came against [[Mike McCormick (pitcher)|Mike McCormick]] of the [[San Francisco Giants]] on July 14, 1968—exactly one year after former teammate Eddie Mathews had hit his 500th. [http://www.retrosheet.org/miles-hr.htm] He was, at the time, the second-youngest player to attain that plateau.<ref>Aaron was 34 years, five months and nine days old. [[Jimmy Foxx]] was the youngest to reach the mark at the time. Since then, [[Alex Rodriguez]] has become the youngest to reach this mark.</ref>

On July 31, 1969, Aaron hit his 537th home run, passing [[Mickey Mantle]]; this moved him into third place on the career home run list, after Willie Mays and [[Babe Ruth]]. At the end of the season, Aaron again finished third in the MVP voting.

The 1970 season saw Aaron reach two more career milestones. On May 17, Aaron collected his 3,000th hit, in a game against the [[Cincinnati Reds]], the team against which he played his first game.<ref>Hank Aaron and the Home Run that changed America, Tom Stanton, p.202, ISBN 978-0-06-072290-6</ref> He was the first player to get 3,000 career hits and 500 career home runs. Also during that year, Aaron established the record for most seasons with thirty or more home runs in the National League.

On April 27, 1971, Aaron hit his 600th career home run, the third player ever to do so. On July 31, Aaron hit a home run in the [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star Game]] (played at [[Detroit]]'s [[Tiger Stadium (Detroit)|Tiger Stadium]]) for the first time. He hit his 40th home run of the season against the [[San Francisco Giants|Giants]]' [[Jerry Johnson (MLB pitcher)|Jerry Johnson]] on August 10, which established a National League record for most seasons with 40 or more home runs (seven). At age 37, he hit a career-high 47 home runs during the season (along with a career-high .669 [[slugging percentage]]) and finished third in MVP voting for the sixth time.

During the strike-shortened season of [[1972 in baseball|1972]], Aaron tied and then surpassed Willie Mays for second place on the career home run list. Aaron also knocked in the 2,000th run of his career and hit a home run in the first All-Star game played in Atlanta. As the year came to a close, Aaron broke [[Stan Musial]]'s major league record for total bases (6,134).

While many expected Aaron to break Ruth's home run record in 1973, a key moment of the season came on August 6. This was Hank Aaron Day in Wisconsin and the Braves played the [[Milwaukee Brewers]] in an exhibition game. The guests in attendance included Aaron's first manager with the Braves, [[Charlie Grimm]], his teammate from Jacksonville, [[Felix Mantilla Lamela|Felix Mantilla]], Eau Claire president Ron Berganson, and [[Del Crandall]], the catcher for the 1957 world champion Braves and the-then manager of the Brewers.<ref>Hank Aaron and the Home Run that changed America, Tom Stanton, p.129, ISBN 978-0-06-072290-6</ref>

The only position that the Braves wanted Aaron to play was as the [[designated hitter]] because the game was held in an American League park; at that time, however, the [[National League]] prohibited use of the DH even in scrimmages. Due to the fact that National League president [[Chub Feeney]] could not be contacted, it was left to the umpire, [[Bruce Froemming]] to make the decision. Froemming ignored the rule, allowing Aaron to be the DH for the Braves. Later on, National League officials ignored the infraction.<ref>Hank Aaron and the Home Run that changed America, Tom Stanton, p.130, ISBN 978-0-06-072290-6</ref>

===Breaking Ruth's record===
[[Image:hank aaron jersey.jpg|thumb|200px|The jersey Hank Aaron wore when he broke Babe Ruth's record]]
Although Aaron himself downplayed the "chase" to surpass Babe Ruth, baseball enthusiasts and the national media grew increasingly excited as he closed in on the home run record. During the summer of [[1973 in baseball|1973]] Aaron received thousands of letters every week; the Braves ended up hiring a secretary to help him sort through it.<ref>Hank Aaron and the Home Run that changed America, Tom Stanton, p.62, ISBN 978-0-06-072290-6</ref>

At the age of 39, Aaron hit 40 home runs in 392 at-bats, ending the season one home run short of the record. He hit home run number 713 on September 29, 1973, and with one day remaining in the season, many expected him to tie the record. But in his final game that year, playing against the [[Houston Astros]] (led by manager [[Leo Durocher]], who had once roomed with Babe Ruth), he was unable to achieve this. After the game, Aaron stated that his only fear was that he might not live to see the 1974 season. <!-- The following sentence needs to be clarified or removed. Did Aaron speak of Clemente's death in this context?: [That statement wasn't just about the death threats: one year earlier, September 30, 1972 was the last day that the legendary [[Roberto Clemente]] ever played, as he perished in the offseason.] --><ref>''Hank Aaron and the Home Run that changed America,'' Tom Stanton, p.179, ISBN 978-0-06-072290-6</ref>

Over the winter, Aaron was the recipient of [[death threat]]s and a large assortment of hate mail from people who did not want to see a [[African American|black man]] break Ruth's nearly [[wikt:sacrosanct|sacrosanct]] home run record.<ref>Hank Aaron and the Home Run that changed America, Tom Stanton, p.64, ISBN 978-0-06-072290-6</ref> The threats extended to those providing positive press coverage of Aaron. [[Lewis Grizzard]], then editor of the ''Atlanta Journal'', reported receiving numerous phone calls calling them "nigger lovers" for covering Aaron's chase. While preparing the massive coverage of the home run record, he quietly had an obituary written, scared that Aaron might be murdered.<ref>Grizzard, Lewis, "If I Ever Get Back to Georgia, I'm Gonna Nail My Feet to the Ground", p. 239-40</ref>

''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' pointedly summarized the [[racism|racist]] vitriol that Aaron was forced to endure:

<blockquote>"Is this to be the year in which Aaron, at the age of thirty-nine, takes a [[Extra-vehicular activity|moon walk]] above one of the most hallowed individual records in American sport...? Or will it be remembered as the season in which Aaron, the most dignified of athletes, was besieged with hate mail and trapped by the cobwebs and goblins that lurk in baseball's attic?"<ref> Leggett, William. "A Tortured Road to 715." ''[[Sports Illustrated]],'' p.28, May 28, 1973.</ref></blockquote>

Aaron received an outpouring of public support in response to the [[bigotry]]. Newspaper cartoonist [[Charles Schulz]] satirized the anti-Aaron camp in a series of ''[[Peanuts]]'' strips printed in August 1973, in which Snoopy attempts to break the Ruth record, only to be besieged with hate mail. (As Lucy puts it in the August 11 strip, "Hank Aaron is a great player...but you! If you break Babe Ruth's record, it'll be a disgrace!"<ref>[''The Complete Peanuts: 1973 to 1974,'' Charles M. Schulz, p.95]</ref>) Babe Ruth's widow, [[Claire Merritt Hodgson|Claire Hodgson]], even denounced the racism and declared that her husband would have enthusiastically cheered Aaron's attempt at the record.<ref>''Hank Aaron and the Home Run that changed America,'' Tom Stanton, p.25</ref>

As the {{by|1974}} season began, Aaron's pursuit of the record caused a small controversy. The Braves opened the season on the road in [[Cincinnati]] with a three-game series against the [[Cincinnati Reds]]. Braves management wanted him to break the record in [[Atlanta]], and were therefore going to have Aaron sit out the first three games of the season. But [[Commissioner of Baseball|Baseball Commissioner]] [[Bowie Kuhn]] ruled that he had to play two games in the first series. He played two out of three, tying Babe Ruth's record in his very first at bat off Reds pitcher [[Jack Billingham]], but did not hit another home run in the series.<ref>[http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-739 ''New Georgia Encyclopedia'', "Hank Aaron"]</ref>

[[Image:Aaron 715.jpg|left|thumb|The fence over which Hank Aaron hit his 715th career home run still exists outside of Turner Field.]]

The team returned to Atlanta, and on April 8, 1974, a crowd of 53,775 people showed up for the game — a Braves attendance record. In the fourth inning, Aaron hit career home run number 715 off [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] pitcher [[Al Downing (baseball)|Al Downing]].<ref name="greatath"/> Although Dodgers outfielder [[Bill Buckner]] nearly went over the outfield wall trying to catch it, the ball landed in the Braves' [[bullpen]], where [[relief pitcher]] [[Tom House]] caught it. While cannons were fired in celebration, two white college students sprinted onto the field and jogged alongside Aaron for part of his circuit around the bases, temporarily startling him. As the fans cheered wildly, Aaron's mother ran onto the field as well.

A few months later, on October 5, 1974, Aaron hit his 733rd and final home run as a Brave, which stood as the National League's home run record until it was broken by [[Barry Bonds]] in {{by|2007}}. Thirty days later, the Braves traded Aaron to the [[Milwaukee Brewers]] for Roger Alexander and [[Dave May]]. On May 1, 1975, Aaron broke baseball's all-time [[Run batted in|RBI]] record, previously held by Ruth with 2,217. That year, he also made the last of his 21 record-tying (with Musial and Mays) All-Star appearances; he lined out to [[Dave Concepción]] as a [[pinch-hitter]] in the second inning. This All-Star game, like his first in 1955, was before a home crowd at [[Milwaukee County Stadium]].

On July 20, {{by|1976}}, Hank Aaron hit his 755th and final home run at Milwaukee County Stadium off [[Dick Drago]] of the [[California Angels]].

== Post-playing career ==

[[Image:HankAaronHallofFamePlaque.jpg|thumb|right|Hank Aaron's Plaque at the [[Baseball Hall of Fame]]]]
On August 1, 1982, Hank Aaron was inducted into the [[Baseball Hall of Fame]], having received votes on 97.8 percent of the ballots, second only to [[Ty Cobb]], who had received votes on 98.2% of the ballot in the inaugural 1936 Hall of Fame election.<ref name="BBLib">{{cite web
|url=http://www.baseballlibrary.com/ballplayers/player.php?name=Hank_Aaron_1934
|title=Hank Aaron Player Profile
|accessdate=February 1, 2007
|last=Braunstein
|first=Arnie
|publisher=BaseballLibrary.com
}}</ref> Aaron was then named the Braves' vice president and director of player development. This made him one of the first minorities in Major League Baseball upper-level management.<ref name="Classic">{{cite web
|url=http://espn.go.com/classic/biography/s/Aaron_Hank.html
|title=Hammerin' back at racism
|accessdate=February 1, 2007
|last=Schwartz
|first=Larry
|publisher=[[ESPN Classic]]
}}</ref>

Since December 1989, he has served as senior vice president and assistant to the Braves' president.<ref name="Classic"/> He is the corporate vice president of community relations for [[Turner Broadcasting|TBS]], a member of the company's board of directors and the vice president of business development for The Airport Network.<ref name="Classic"/>

On May 16, 2007, Major League baseball announced the sale of the Atlanta Braves. In that announcement, Baseball Commissioner [[Bud Selig]] also announced that Aaron would be playing a major role in the management of Braves. He will be forming programs through major league baseball that will encourage the influx of minorities into baseball.<ref>Blum, Ronald. [http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/fn/4810908.html "Braves' Sale Approved by Baseball Owners"], ''Associated Press'', May 16, 2007.</ref><ref>[http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070518/SPORTS/705180343/1004/SPORTS "Hank Aaron will have new role with new Atlanta Braves"], ''Associated Press'', May 18, 2007.</ref>
[[Image:Hank Aaron 1978.jpg|thumb|left|Hank Aaron during his visit to the [[White House]], August 5, 1978.]]

On February 5, 1999, at his 65th birthday celebration, [[Major League Baseball]] announced the introduction of the [[Hank Aaron Award]].<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.sportingnews.com/archives/aaron/timeline.html
|title=Hank Aaron Timeline
|accessdate=February 1, 2007
|last=
|first=
|publisher=''The [[Sporting News]]''
}}</ref> The award was set to honor the best overall offensive performer in the [[American League|American]] and [[National League]]. It was the first major award to be introduced in more than thirty years and had the distinction of being the first award named after a player who was still alive.<ref name="Award">{{cite web
|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/awards/mlb_awards_content.jsp?content=hank_aaron_history
|title=History of the Hank Aaron Award
|accessdate=February 1, 2007
|last=
|first=
|publisher=[[MLB.com]]
}}</ref> Later that year, he ranked fifth on ''[[The Sporting News]]''' list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players,<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://archive.sportingnews.com/baseball/100/index-5.html
|title=Baseball's 100 Greatest Players
|accessdate=February 1, 2007
|last=
|first=
|publisher=''The [[Sporting News]]''
}}</ref> and was elected to the [[Major League Baseball All-Century Team]].<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/legendary/limc100.shtml
|title=Major League Baseball All-Century Team
|accessdate=February 1, 2007
|last=
|first=
|publisher=Baseball Almanac
}}</ref>

In July 2000 and again in July 2002, Aaron threw out the ceremonial first pitch at the [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game]], played at [[Turner Field]] and [[Miller Park (Milwaukee)|Miller Park]], respectively.

On January 8, 2001, Hank Aaron was presented with the [[Presidential Citizens Medal]] by President [[William Clinton]].

In June 2002, Aaron received, from President [[George W. Bush]], the [[Presidential Medal of Freedom]], the nation's highest civilian honor.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2002/06/20020620-16.html
|title=President Bush Announces the Recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
|accessdate=February 1, 2007
|last=
|first=
|publisher=[[White House]]
}}</ref>

His autobiography, ''I Had a Hammer'' was published in 1990. The book's title is a play on his nickname, "The Hammer" or "Hammerin' Hank," and the title of the folk song ''[[If I Had a Hammer]]''. Aaron now owns Hank Aaron [[BMW]] of south Atlanta in [[Union City, Georgia]], where he gives an [[autograph]]ed baseball with every car sold.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.superiorpics.com/hank_aaron/
|title=Hank Aaron Biography
|accessdate=February 1, 2007
|last=
|first=
|publisher=
}}</ref> Aaron also owns [[MINI (BMW)|Mini]], [[Land Rover]], [[Toyota]], [[Hyundai]] and [[Honda]] dealerships throughout Georgia, as part of the Hank Aaron Automotive Group. Aaron sold all but the Toyota dealership in [[McDonough, Georgia|McDonough]] in 2007.<ref>{{Wayback|http://www.hankaaronauto.com/|title=Hank Aaron Auto}}</ref>

Statues of Aaron stand outside the front entrance of both [[Turner Field]] and [[Miller Park (Milwaukee)|Miller Park]]. There is also a statue of him as an eighteen-year-old shortstop outside Carson Park in [[Eau Claire, Wisconsin]], where he played his first season in the Braves' minor league system.

In April 1997, a new baseball facility for the AA Mobile Bay Bears constructed in Aaron's hometown of [[Mobile, Alabama]] was named [[Hank Aaron Stadium]].

In 2006, a recreational trail in Milwaukee connecting Miller Park with Lake Michigan along the Menomonee River was dedicated as the "Hank Aaron State Trail." Hank Aaron was on hand for the dedication along with Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle, who at the ceremony described himself as a boyhood fan of Aaron's.

===Home run record eclipsed by Barry Bonds===
During the [[2006 in baseball|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. Playing off the intense interest in their perceived rivalry, Aaron and Bonds made a television commercial that aired during [[Super Bowl XLI]], shortly before the start of the [[2007 in baseball|2007 baseball season]], in which Aaron jokingly tried to persuade Bonds to retire before breaking the record.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.ifilm.com/video/2419641/collection/18503/minisite/superbowl
|title=Charles Schwab Super Bowl XXXVI ad
|accessdate=July 31, 2007
|last=
|first=
|publisher=
}}</ref>

As Bonds began to close in on the record during the 2007 season, Aaron let it be known that, although he recognized Bonds' achievements, he would not be present when Bonds broke the record.[http://www.workers.org/2007/us/barry-bonds-0623/]
There was considerable speculation that this was a snubbing of Bonds based on the widespread belief that Bonds had used performance-enhancing [[Anabolic steroids|steroids]] to aid his achievement. However, some observers looked back on Aaron's personal history, pointing out that he had downplayed his own breaking of Babe Ruth's all-time record and suggesting that Aaron was simply treating Bonds in a similar fashion. In a later interview with Atlanta sportscasting personality Chris Dimino, Aaron made it clear that 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.[http://www.workers.org/2007/us/barry-bonds-0623/]

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:
{{cquote|I would like to offer my congratulations to Barry Bonds on becoming baseball's career home run leader. It is a great accomplishment which required skill, longevity, and determination. Throughout the past century, the home run has held a special place in baseball and I have been privileged to hold this record for 33 of those years. I move over now and offer my best wishes to Barry and his family on this historical achievement. My hope today, as it was on that April evening in 1974, is that the achievement of this record will inspire others to chase their own dreams.}}
Aaron dedicated the new exhibit "Hank Aaron-Chasing the Dream" at the baseball hall of fame on April 25, 2009.{{Citation needed|date=April 2009}}

==Awards and honors==
:''See also the information box in the upper-right section of this article (at "Career highlights and awards")''
Aaron was inducted into the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|Baseball Hall of Fame]] in [[1982 in baseball|1982]], his first year of eligibility. In 1988 Aaron was inducted into the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame for his time spent on the Milwaukee Braves.(http://www.sportsinwisconsin.com/hall_fame/members_byyear#AaronH)
In 1999, 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, MLB created the [[Hank Aaron Award]], an annual award given to the hitters voted the most effective in each respective league. That same year, baseball fans named Aaron to the [[Major League Baseball All-Century Team]]. In [[2002 in baseball|2002]], scholar [[Molefi Kete Asante]] listed Hank Aaron on his list of [[100 Greatest African Americans]].

==See also==
*[[List of MLB individual streaks]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball Home Run Records]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball RBI Records]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball doubles records]]
*[[500 home run club]]
*[[3000 hit club]]
*[[3000-500 Club]]
*[[List of top 500 Major League Baseball home run hitters]]
*[[List of major league players with 2,000 hits]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball players with 400 doubles]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball players with 100 triples]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 runs]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 RBI]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball leaders in career stolen bases]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball RBI champions]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball batting champions]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball home run champions]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball runs scored champions]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball doubles champions]]
*[[Major League Baseball hitters with three home runs in one game]]
*[[Major League Baseball titles leaders]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{wikiquote}}
*{{Baseballstats |mlb= |espn= |br=a/aaronha01|fangraphs=1000001 |cube=A/Hank-Aaron |brm=aaron-001hen}}
*{{bbhof|id=110001}}
*[http://www.life.com/image/first/in-gallery/24671/hank-aaron-a-legend-looks-back Hank Aaron: A Legend Looks Back] - slideshow by ''[[Life magazine]]''
*[http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-739 georgiaencyclopedia.org] Aaron story
*[http://www.gshf.org gshf.org] Georgia Sports Hall of Fame
*[http://www.summerupnorth.com summerupnorth.com] Documentary on Hank Aaron's early years in Eau Claire
*[http://www.archive.org/details/HankAaron-715thHomeRun-ThreeDifferentCalls Play-by-Play Audio of Aaron's 715th Home Run] from Archive.org
*[http://www.quoteland.com/author.asp?AUTHOR_ID=1113 Hank Aaron Quotes]
*[http://clinton5.nara.gov/WH/new/html/Mon_Jan_8_141714_2001.html ''President Clinton Awards the Presidential Citizens Medals - Monday, January 8, 2001'']

{{Navboxes|list1=
{{s-start-collapsible|header={{s-ach|ach}}}}
{{succession box
| title = [[List of Major League Baseball batting champions|National League Batting Champion]]
| before = [[Richie Ashburn]]<br />[[Richie Ashburn]]
| years = 1956<br />1959
| after = [[Stan Musial]]<br />[[Dick Groat]]
}}
{{succession box
| title = [[List of Major League Baseball home run champions|National League Home Run Champion]]
| before = [[Duke Snider]]<br />[[Willie Mays]]<br />[[Willie Mays]]
| years = 1957<br />1963 (with [[Willie McCovey]])<br />1966-1967
| after = [[Ernie Banks]]<br />[[Willie Mays]]<br />[[Willie McCovey]]
}}
{{succession box
| title = [[List of Major League Baseball RBI champions|National League RBI Champion]]
| before = [[Stan Musial]]<br />[[Ernie Banks]]<br />[[Tommy Davis]]<br />[[Deron Johnson]]
| years = 1957<br />1960<br />1963<br />1966
| after = [[Ernie Banks]]<br />[[Orlando Cepeda]]<br />[[Ken Boyer]]<br />[[Orlando Cepeda]]
}}
{{s-ach|rec}}
{{succession box
| title = [[List of lifetime home run leaders through history|Career home run record holders]]
| years = 1974-2007
| before = [[Babe Ruth]]
| after = [[Barry Bonds]]
}}
{{s-ach|aw}}
{{succession box
| title = [[Lou Gehrig Memorial Award]]
| years = 1970
| before = [[Pete Rose]]
| after = [[Harmon Killebrew]]
}}
{{succession box
| title = [[MLB Most Valuable Player Award|National League Most Valuable Player]]
| years = 1957
| before = [[Don Newcombe]]
| after = [[Ernie Banks]]
}}
{{succession box
| title = [[Player of the Month|Major League Player of the Month]]
| years =May 1959 (with[[Harvey Haddix]])<br />June 1967
| before = [[Willie Mays]]<br />[[Roberto Clemente]]
| after = [[Roy Face]]<br />[[Jim Ray Hart]]
}}
{{end}}
{{Atlanta Braves|width=100%}}
{{Milwaukee Brewers}}
{{1957 Milwaukee Braves}}
{{NL MVP's}}
{{Lou Gehrig Memorial Award}}
{{NL OF Gold Glove Award}}
{{500 home run club}}
{{3000 hit club}}
{{Braves Retired Numbers}}
{{Brewers Retired Numbers}}
{{1982 Baseball HOF}}
{{Baseball Hall of Fame outfielders}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Aaron, Hank}}
[[Category:Major League Baseball right fielders]]
[[Category:Atlanta Braves players]]
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[[Category:Eau Claire Bears players]]
[[Category:Indianapolis Clowns players]]
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[[Category:Milwaukee Braves players]]
[[Category:Milwaukee Brewers players]]
[[Category:Negro league baseball players]]
[[Category:500 home run club]]
[[Category:National Baseball Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Gold Glove Award winners]]
[[Category:National League All-Stars]]
[[Category:National League batting champions]]
[[Category:National League home run champions]]
[[Category:National League RBI champions]]
[[Category:People from Mobile, Alabama]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball players from Alabama]]
[[Category:People from Milwaukee, Wisconsin]]
[[Category:People from Atlanta, Georgia]]
[[Category:Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients]]
[[Category:African American baseball players]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball players with retired numbers]]
[[Category:1934 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]

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Revision as of 17:50, 1 February 2010

rory monahan taught him evrything he knows hes way better at baseblall kid

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