The most prolific home run hitter of all-time, Henry Aaron withstood tremendous pressure to break Babe Ruth's career record. Aaron is often overlooked when historians debate the best player of the 1950s and 1960s. He was a great hitter, winning two batting titles. He was a very good base runner, and had a good arm in the outfield. His 1957 MVP season led the Milwaukee Braves to the pennant and eventually their only World Series title. Late in his career, and after his retirement, Aaron was a vocal leader in support of minority hiring in baseball.
Quotes About Hank Aaron
"That loping gait of Hank Aaron's is deceptive. You'd almost get the impression he wasn't hustling at times, but he'd be about the last player you could accuse of that. He just runs as fast as he has to, and you'll notice he always seems to get to a fly ball or base hit in time when there's any chance of making it." — Fred Haney
"He thinks there's nothing he can't hit. he'll have to learn there are some pitches no hitter can afford to go for. He still has something to learn about the strike zone." — Stan Musial, in 1957
You don't try to change a hitter like Aaron. In my book he's a better hitter than Willie Mays. He's going to get better, too. He'll be the one to beat for the batting championship for ten years, maybe more. He's the first NL player since Bill Terry with something better than an outside chance to hit .400 before he's through." — Pittsburgh manager Bobby Bragan, 1957
Quotes From Hank Aaron
"When you're hitting, all pitchers look alike. I don't care too much who's throwing or what he throws. When my timing is off, I have trouble. When it isn't, I don't."
"I'm not a home run hitter." — Aaron, in 1957
Teams Hank Aaron Played For
Milwaukee Braves (1954-1965) Atlanta Braves (1966-1974) Milwaukee Brewers (1975-1976)
Hank Aaron in Minor League Baseball
Aaron hit cross-handed with the Indianapolis Clowns of the Negro American League. After the Braves bought his contract, he hit .326 in the Northern League and .362 to lead the Sally League. When Bobby Thomson broke his ankle in spring training in 1954, Aaron became a major league regular at age twenty.
Where does Hank Aaron rank among baseball greats?
Hank Aaron ranks #2 among the Top 50 all-time at RF. Rankings ⇒
Best Season: 1957 On September 23, 1957, Aaron hit an 11th inning homer off Cardinal pitcher Billy Muffett to clinch the National League pennant for the Braves - their first in Milwaukee. He had better seasons, statistically, but for all he did to help the Braves win the World Series in 1957, that was his finest season.
Factoids The photo on Aaron's 1957 Topps baseball card was accidentally reversed, so that it shows Hank hitting left-handed.
Teammates Hank Aaron and Eddie Mathews homered in the same game 75 times. That total is two more than Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, and ranks as the all-time record.
Mobile Mashers In 1963, Hank Aaron and Willie McCovey tied for the National League home run lead with 44. The two men were both born in Mobile, Alabama, both would eventually end up in the Hall of Fame, and as members of the 500-homer club. Each man wore #44 on his uniform.
Three times deep On June 21, 1959, in San Francisco, Aaron hit three home runs and had six RBI in a victory over the Giants. He hit two-run homers in the 1st, 6th and 7th innings, off Johnny Antonelli, Stu Miller and Gordon Jones. It was the only time in his career that Hammerin' Hank hit three homers in a game.
Most Career Hits, Brothers 1. Paul and Lloyd Waner... 5611
2. Felipe, Matty and Jesus Alou... 5094
3. Joe, Dom and Vince DiMaggio... 4853
4. Ed, Jim, Frank, Joe and Tom Delahanty... 4211
5. Hank and Tommy Aaron... 3987
6. Cal Jr. and Billy Ripken... 3858
7. Roberto and Sandy Jr. Alomar... 3627
8. Joe and Luke Sewell... 3619
9. Ken, Clete and Cloyd Boyer... 3559
10. Honus and Butts Wagner... 3489
11. Bob and Roy Johnson... 3343
12. Eddie and Rich Murray... 3299
Where He Played Played some center field early in his career, then moved to right field, which was his primary position. He was a designated hitter during his last two seasons, with the Milwaukee Brewers.
Born Henry Louis Aaron was born on February 5, 1934, in Mobile, AL.
Uniform Numbers He wore #5 in 1954-1955, but switched to #44, which he wore the remainder of his career. His teammates joked that the slender Aaron wasn't big enough to wear a two-digit number.
Family Tree His brother, Tommie, played in the majors briefly. They rank first with 768 homers by brothers, 755 for Hank and 13 for Tommie. Hank and Tommie were the first siblings to appear in a League Championship series together as teammates (1969). In 2002, Jose and Benji Molina also played together for the Angels in the ALCS.
Similar Players None, Frank Robinson shared some traits, and so did Willie Mays, but not enough to make a real comparison. Aaron was a uniquely talented ballplayer.
May 17, 1970: 3000th Hit... Collected his milestone hit off Wayne Simpson… Was a single.
April 27, 1971: 600th HR...
July 21, 1973: 700th HR...
Batting Feats
April 8, 1974: 715th HR... Off Al Downing
Notes In 16 seasons in which he appeared in at least 140 games, Aaron's teams records were 1,377-1,161 (.548) ... Aaron is a member of the 30/30 club - with 44 homers and 31 steals in 1963. He became the third man to enter the club.
Hitting Streaks
25 games (1956)
25 games (1962)
22 games (1959)
22 games (1971)
18 games (1967)
16 games (1965)
Transactions Traded to the Milwaukee Brewers for Dave May and minor league pitcher Roger Alexander, November 2, 1974.
Home Run Facts Ranks first all-time (755); ranks first in NL (733); ranks first among NL outfielders (661); he and brother Tommie rank first in homers by siblings (768); combined with Mathews to hit most homers as teammates (863); he and Mathews are the only teammates to hit 400 homers each as teammates (442 for Hank, 421 for Eddie); hit 385 in home parks, 370 on the road; hit 185 homers in Milwaukee County Stadium as a Brave, 10 as a Brewer; hit 190 homers in Atlanta Fulton-County Stadium; he hit exactly 400 solo homers (53%); 242 two-run homers (32%); 97 three-run homers (13%); 16 grand slams; hit two homers in a game 61 times (3rd, behind Ruth and Mays); hit three homers in a game once (6/21/1959); hit 14 extra-inning homers; one inside-the-park home run (1967); three PH-homers (1962, 1966, 1973); hit 534 homers off RHP (71%); 221 homers off LHP (29%); victimized 310 pitchers in 32 ballparks; hit three homers in the World Series and three more in the 1969 NLCS; blasted two All-Star game home runs... #1, 4/23/54 off Vic Raschi in St. Louis… #100, 8/15/57 off Don Gross in Cincinnati… #200, 7/3/60 off Ron Kline in St. Louis… #300, 4/19/63 off Roger Craig in New York… #400, 4/20/66 off Bo Belinsky in Philadelphia… #500, 7/14/68 off Mike McCormick in Atlanta… #600, 4/27/71 off Gaylord Perry in Atlanta… #700, 7/21/73 off Ken Brett in Atlanta… #714, 4/4/74 off Jack Billingham in Cincinnati… #715, 4/8/74 off Al Downing in Atlanta… #755, 7/20/76 off Dick Drago in Milwaukee... Aaron hit 16 grand slams: 1957, 1958 (2), 1961, 1962 (3), 1963 (2), 1966, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1974 (2).
Hall of Fame Artifacts Batting helmet worn when he hit his 715th career home run; jersey from his days with the Atlanta Braves.
Matchup Data Aaron hit 17 homers off Don Drysdale: 1958, 1959 (4), 1960 (3), 1961, 1963 (4), 1965, 1966 (2), 1967... The greatest home run hitter slugged two homers off the greatest strikeout pitcher. On May 21, 1971, in Shea Stadium, Aaron hit a solo-blast (#606) off Nolan Ryan. Four years later, in the AL, Aaron went deep against Ryan and the Angels on June 14, 1975, in Milwaukee. It was his 740th career home run.
Trivia Question Who is the last player to hit a homer in his home park during an All-Star Game?
Trivia Answer Braves' outfielder Hank Aaron hit a home run in Atlanta in the 1972 All-Star Game.
Replaced In December of 1953, the Braves traded outfielder Sid Gordon to the Pirates, clearing the way for Aaron to debut in their outfield in 1954. Bobby Thomson's broken ankle in the spring of 1954 opened the door completely for Aaron.
Replaced By Rowland Office took over right field for the Braves as Aaron was fazed out and eventually traded to the Brewers. In 1977, Jamie Quirk took over DH duties for the Brewers in place of the retired Aaron.
Best Strength as a Player Overall hitting ability. Aaron was a very good hitter, reaching the .300 mark fourteen times, despite playing in an era when batting averages were low.
Largest Weakness as a Player It's very difficult to pinpoint a weakness. In his later years with Atlanta, Aaron's throwing arm was a bit of a liability in the outfield. Also, he grounded into a lot of double plays. In 1957, Rogers Hornsby, at that time employed by the recreation department of Chicago, said of Aaron:
"Sure, Henry Aaron has a hitting weakness," the Hall of Famer said. "It's a pitch with something on it right across the letters and in close. But, that's the hitting weakness of every great hitter, regardless of what else they can or can't hit."
