Hank Aaron

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Hank Aaron!
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Hank Aaron was 18 years old when he played for
the Indianapolis Clowns in the Negro American
League.
Aaron was then bought at that year by the Boston
Braves in 1952. When the Braves acquired Aaron he
had only one problem, he hit with a reversed grip.
Aarons Major League Debut was in 1954 when he
was called up from the minors to replace an
injured Bobby Thompson.
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That next season Hank Aaron became the Boston
Braves starting right-fielder.
He took the year by having a .314 batting average
and a .540 slugging percentage.
Aaron obtained 105 runs and 106 RBIs and an On
Base Percentage of .366.
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MVP
In 1957 Hank Aaron was named the National
Leagues Most Valuable Player. He lead the league
in home runs (44), runs batted in (132), and runs
scored (118).
Aaron continued his excellence during the
postseason caring his team with a .393 batting
average taking the Milwaukee Braves to their only
World Series Title.
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Career Batting Stats
12364 At Bats 2174 Runs 3771 Hits 624 Doubles 98
Triples 755 Home Runs 2297 Runs Batted In 240
Stolen Bases 73 times Caught Stealing 1402 Walks
1383 Strike Outs .305 Batting Average .374 On
Base Percentage .555 Slugging Percentage 6856
Total Bases 21 Sacrificed Hits 121 Sacrificed
Flies 293 Intentional Walks Hit by a Pitch 32
times
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Career Fielding Stats
7463 Put Outs 429 Assists 144 Errors 218 Double
Plays .982 Fielding Percentage
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Breaking the Record
When the 1974 baseball season came around Hank
Aaron was one home run shy of tying Babe Ruths
record. The Braves season opener was being held
in Cincinnati so the Braves organization said
that Aaron would not be playing in this series so
that he could have the chance to hit the home run
tier in front of his home fans. Baseball
Commissioner Bowie Kuhn didnt like that too much
so he order the Braves to play him against
Cincinnati. Aaron hit the tying home run on his
first plate appearance in the series. Then in the
first home game of the season against the Los
Angeles Dodgers Aaron hit his 715th home run to
break Ruths record. The ball was hit into the
Braves bullpen and caught by relief pitcher
Tommy House.
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November 2, 1974 Hank Aaron was traded to the
Milwaukee Brewers for Rodger Alexander and Dave
May.
Aaron played for two more years with Milwaukee
and then retired after hitting his 755th home
run.
Aaron then rejoined the Braves organization by
becoming the vice-president of player
development. Also becoming one of the first
African Americans to hold a top-office job.
In 1990 Aaron then became the senior vice
president and assistant to the president of the
Braves.
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On August 1 , 1982 Hank Aaron was inducted into
the Baseball Hall of Fame.
On Aarons 65th birthday, Major League Baseball
announced the beginning of the Hank Aaron award.
This award is to be presented annually to the
best hitters in the American and National Leagues.
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Guessing what the pitcher is going to throw is
eighty percent of being a successful hitter. The
other twenty percent is just execution. Hank
Aaron
I'm hoping someday that some kid, black or
white, will hit more home runs than myself.
Whoever it is, I'd be pulling for him. Hank
Aaron
The pitcher has got only a ball. I've got a bat.
So the percentage in weapons is in my favor and I
let the fellow with the ball do the
fretting. Hank Aaron
I don't see pitches down the middle anymore -
not even in batting practice. Hank Aaron
I looked for the same pitch my whole career, a
breaking ball. All of the time. I never worried
about the fastball. They couldn't throw it past
me, none of them. Hank Aaron
Can I smoke now without someone taking my
picture? Hank Aaron