Description

Born Mobile, AlabamaA legendary hitter who set records that remain unequaled to this day, Hank Aaron was one of baseball’s greatest offensive stars. Other players may have been more flamboyant, but none could match Aaron’s power and consistency during his twenty-three years in the majors. After launching his career with the Negro League’s Indianapolis Clowns in 1952, Aaron signed with the Boston Braves. His debut with the franchise came in 1954, following its move to Milwaukee. Aaron soon emerged as a tremendous asset to the ball club, and in 1957 his bat drove the Braves to a World Series victory over the Yankees. In the years that followed, Aaron’s impressive hitting fueled his assault on the record books, and in 1974 he became the first player to break Babe Ruth’s career record of 714 home runs. When Aaron retired from play in 1976, his home run mark stood at 755.

Record Contributed By

National Portrait Gallery

Record Harvested From

Smithsonian Institution