HANK AARON BIO

Full Name: Henry Louis Aaron Nicknames: Hammerin’ Hank, The Hammer

Born: Feb 5, 1934in Mobile, Alabama Major League Career: 1954-76

Teams: Milwaukee Braves (1954-1965), Atlanta Braves (1966-1974), Milwaukee Brewers (1975-76)

Biggest Accomplishment: Broke Babe Ruth’s home run record in 1974and finished his career with 755, a mark that stood for more than 33years until it was eclipsed by Barry Bonds in 2007.

Other Records: MLB career leader in RBIs (2,297), extra-base hits (1,477) and total bases (6,856); played in 25 All-Star Games.

World Series Appearances: 1957 (Braves defeated the New York Yankees,

4-3); 1958(Braves lost to the Yankees,

4-3)

Other Postseason Appearances:

1969(Braves lost to the New York Mets

3-0in NL Championship Series)

Awards and Accolades: National League MVP (1957); NL batting champion (1956, 1959); NL home run leader

(1957, 1963, 1966, 1967); NL RBI leader

(1957, 1960, 1963, 1966); NL Gold

Glove (1958, 1959, 1960); Baseball Hall of Fame (1982); Presidential Medal of Freedom (2002)

Noteworthy: First player to reach 500 homers and 3,000hits; never struck out

100times in a season; third player after Ken Williams and Willie Mays with at least 30homers and 30stolen bases in a season (1963); finished in Top 10of NL MVP balloting 13times; finished with a career average of .305; honored in 1999 by Major League Baseball with the Hank Aaron Award, which goes to baseball’s top hitter each season; 20straight seasons with at least 20homers; eight

40-homer seasons; six seasons with more than 20stolen bases.

Beginnings: Started pro career at age

17with Indianapolis Clowns of Negro American League.

What Might’ve Been: Aaron could have been paired in the same outfield with Willie Mays, receiving offers from both the Boston Braves and Mays’ team, the New York Giants. He chose the Braves’ slightly higher offer.

Did You Know? Aaron never hit 50 homers in a season. His career high was

47 in 1971.