Henry Louis "Hank" Aaron was born on February 5, 1934 in Mobile, Alabama. He was always a baseball player. In his high school, Central High School, he helped lead his team to the Negro High School Championship both years he attended. In his late teens he was able to play on the semi-pro team as a shortstop and third baseman. While playing on this team a scout saw him and he signed a contract with the Mobile Black Bears for $3 a game. His mother wouldn't allow him to travel so the contract was only for the games played in and around the city.
On June 14, 1952 he signed with the Boston Braves and entered the minors. That same year he received the league's Rockie of the Year as the team's second baseman. In 1953 Aaron was sent to the Jacksonville Braves where he won the league's MVP Award. On April 13, 1954 Aaron made his major league debut against the Cincinnati Reds.
In July 1969 Aaron hit his 537th home run. This put him in third place on the career home run list behind Willie Mays and Babe Ruth. At season's end he finished third in the MVP ratings.
The heat to pass Babe Ruth got a lot hotter in the summer of 1973. At the age of 39 he hit 40 home runs in 281 at-bats that season. That gave him 713 career home runs at the end of the season. Over the winter he had to deal with many death threats and racist hate mail from people who didn't want to see a black man break Babe Ruth's home run record. This all went away when Babe Ruth's widow announced her late husband probably would have cheered him on.
In 1974 he was able to tie the home run record of 714 against the Reds and on April 8, 1974 in Atlanta he hit his 715th home run in the 4th inning. It landed in the Braves bullpen and cannons were fired in celebration. Two local college students ran along side Aaron around the diamond and even his mother ran out into the field as well.
In 1974 he was able to tie the home run record of 714 against the Reds and on April 8, 1974 in Atlanta he hit his 715th home run in the 4th inning. It landed in the Braves bullpen and cannons were fired in celebration. Two local college students ran along side Aaron around the diamond and even his mother ran out into the field as well.
America needed some excitement in a time when things were a little rocky. I think Hank Aaron brought that excitement. He brought something to cause the right amount of controversy and reason to get revved up.
2 comments:
Aren't you missing a few blogs ? :P
Mine are all done it's just not letting me post them for some reason. I got the stupid Anastasia one to go...NOW I just need the others. I'll try again when I get back from the farm :S Going to bed now, 5:30 comes early!
Post a Comment