Hank Aaron

Date of Birth: February 5, 1934

Zodiac Sign: Aquarius

Date of Death: January 22, 2021

Biography

Henry Louis “Hank” Aaron, born on February 5, 1934, in Mobile, Alabama, is one of the most celebrated baseball players in the history of Major League Baseball (MLB). Aaron’s career spanned from 1954 to 1976, predominantly with the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves. Known for his powerful hitting, Aaron broke Babe Ruth’s long-standing home run record by hitting his 715th home run on April 8, 1974, and finished his career with 755 home runs, a record that stood until 2007. Throughout his career, Aaron was a model of consistency and excellence. He was a 25-time All-Star, appeared in 24 All-Star games (including two All-Star games per year from 1959 to 1962), and won three Gold Glove Awards. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982. After retiring, Aaron continued to contribute to baseball as an executive and was known for his civil rights advocacy. He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2002 for his contributions both on and off the field.

5 Interesting Facts about Hank Aaron

1. Hank Aaron held the MLB record for career home runs (755) for over 33 years until it was broken by Barry Bonds in 2007.

2. He faced significant racial discrimination and death threats, especially as he approached breaking Babe Ruth’s home run record.

3. Aaron ended his career with 3,771 hits, ranking third on MLB’s all-time hits list, and he is one of only four players to have at least 17 seasons with 150 or more hits.

4. He is the only player in MLB history to hit 30 or more home runs in a season at least 15 times.

5. Aaron’s career RBI total of 2,297 remains the highest in MLB history.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Hank Aaron

1. “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.”

2. “Failure is a part of success. There is no such thing as a bed of roses all your life. But failure will never stand in the way of success if you learn from it.”

3. “I never doubted my ability, but when you hear all your life you’re inferior, it makes you wonder if the other guy has something when he’s up there battling you.”

4. “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.”

5. “I think what separates a superstar from the average ballplayer is that he concentrates just a little bit longer.”