For baseball fans few numbers carry more weight than 755. That was Hank Aaron's final career home run total, the summit of a wonderfully consistent career.
Aaron died in January 2021 aged 86, but his name lives on in the record books and in the hearts of Braves fans in Milwaukee and Atlanta. Here is the story of the quiet slugger from Mobile, Alabama, and to wear a piece of that legacy, explore our Atlanta Braves collection.
Hank Aaron Fact File
| Full name | Henry Louis Aaron |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 5 February 1934 |
| Place of birth | Mobile, Alabama, USA |
| Died | 22 January 2021, Atlanta, Georgia (aged 86) |
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) |
| Position | Right fielder (bats right, throws right) |
| Nationality | American |
| Current status | Retired (1976); later Braves executive; Hall of Famer (1982) |
| Shirt number | 44 |
| Nickname | Hammerin' Hank, The Hammer |
Career History
| Team | Years | Hits | Home runs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis Clowns (Negro American League) | 1951 | - | - |
| Milwaukee Braves | 1954-1965 | 2,266 | 398 |
| Atlanta Braves | 1966-1974 | 1,334 | 335 |
| Milwaukee Brewers | 1975-1976 | 171 | 22 |
| MLB career | 1954-1976 | 3,771 | 755 |
Note: Major league regular-season figures only, totalled from Baseball-Reference season records and matching Hall of Fame career totals. In 3,298 games he hit .305 with 2,297 RBIs.
Early Years in Mobile
Henry Louis Aaron was born on 5 February 1934 in Mobile, Alabama. In 1951 he joined the Indianapolis Clowns of the Negro American League as a young shortstop. Within months the Boston Braves had bought his contract and sent him to their farm team in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
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Breakthrough in Milwaukee
By then the Braves had moved to Milwaukee, and Aaron made his major league debut on 13 April 1954, aged 20. Wearing the number 44 that became his trademark, he was soon an All-Star fixture and won the 1956 batting title.
Then came 1957. Aaron led the majors with 44 home runs, was named National League MVP and helped the Braves beat the New York Yankees in the World Series, the franchise's first title since 1914. A second batting title followed in 1959, along with three straight Gold Gloves from 1958 to 1960.
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Chasing Babe Ruth
Aaron's genius was relentless consistency. He hit 30 or more home runs in 15 seasons and led the league again in 1963, 1966 and 1967, the last two after the Braves moved to Atlanta. Steadily he closed in on Babe Ruth's record of 714.
On 8 April 1974, before a record crowd of 53,775 at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, he took Al Downing of the Los Angeles Dodgers deep in the fourth inning for home run number 715, an unforgettable moment.
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Back to Milwaukee and Beyond
After the 1974 season Aaron was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers, taking him back to the city where his career began. He played his final game on 3 October 1976 with 755 home runs, and he still holds the all-time records for RBIs (2,297) and total bases (6,856).
In 1982 he was elected to the Hall of Fame at the first attempt, named on 406 of 415 ballots (97.8 per cent), and he later served the Braves as a senior executive.
Honours
Team
- World Series champion (1957)
Individual
- National League MVP (1957)
- 25 All-Star selections (a record)
- National League batting champion (1956, 1959)
- Home run leader (1957, 1963, 1966, 1967)
- Gold Glove Award (1958, 1959, 1960)
Legacy
- National Baseball Hall of Fame (inducted 1982)
- Presidential Medal of Freedom (2002)
- MLB's Hank Aaron Award named in his honour (since 1999)
Away From the Game
In 1994 Aaron and his wife Billye founded the Chasing the Dream Foundation, which awards scholarships to help young people from disadvantaged backgrounds chase their dreams. He also remained a respected ambassador for the Braves and for baseball.
FAQs
How old was Hank Aaron when he died?
He was 86 when he died on 22 January 2021.
Where was Hank Aaron born?
He was born in Mobile, Alabama, on 5 February 1934.
How tall was Hank Aaron?
He was listed at 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m).
What teams did Hank Aaron play for?
The Indianapolis Clowns, the Braves (Milwaukee and Atlanta, 1954-1974) and the Milwaukee Brewers (1975-1976).
How many home runs did Hank Aaron hit?
He hit 755 major league home runs and still holds the records for RBIs and total bases.
When did Hank Aaron break Babe Ruth's record?
On 8 April 1974, with his 715th home run.
Shop the Hank Aaron Collection
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Hank Aaron Men's T-Shirt
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Part of our Player Profiles series. Read next: Babe Ruth Career Story and Mickey Mantle Career Story.
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