Aaron, Hank

Impact on the world

Broke Babe Ruth's long-standing career home run record in 1974 while enduring a sustained campaign of racist hate mail and death threats against himself and his family, ultimately retiring with 755 home runs, a record that stood until 2007, along with MLB records for career RBIs, extra-base hits, and total bases that still stand.

Life & background

Born near Mobile, Alabama, Aaron began his professional career with the Negro American League's Indianapolis Clowns before signing with the Milwaukee Braves for $50 a month more than a competing offer from the New York Giants, a decision he later said was the only thing that kept him and Willie Mays from being teammates. He won NL MVP in 1957, leading the Braves to a World Series title the same year federal troops were escorting Black students into a segregated Little Rock high school. As his career home run total approached Babe Ruth's record in the early 1970s, Aaron received a sustained barrage of racist hate mail and death threats targeting him and his family; he broke Ruth's record in 1974 and retired in 1976 with 755 home runs, a mark that stood until 2007, along with still-standing MLB career records for RBIs (2,297), extra-base hits (1,477), and total bases (6,856).

Sources

1. Academy of Achievement; ESPN