Aaron, the retired American baseball player, possesses an extraordinary and inspiring rags-to-riches tale. Aaron was born into an extremely poor family and had to work a variety of odd jobs to support his family. With little interest in education and a strong desire to participate in sports, he knew he wanted to play baseball from an early age. As a result, when chance knocked, he seized it and has never looked back since. However, his heritage as an African-American was always an impediment. Being African-American and playing in the major leagues was not well received, and he was constantly threatened with grave consequences. His journey from humble beginnings to becoming one of the greatest baseball players of all time is a testament to his resilience and determination.
However, his reckless spirit and unwavering love for the game propelled him to the top of the success ladder. He quickly established his worth in Major League Baseball, setting new records. After a tremendously successful career, he received many awards and medals and was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Despite being born and raised in the dreadful environment of poverty and racism, Aaron was never weighed down by these obstacles. He had a clear objective from the start and overcame every obstacle on his path to becoming a baseball legend.
Hank is best known for breaking Babe Ruth‘s all-time home run record. On April 8, 1974, Hank blasted his 715th career home run, surpassing Babe’s 714. Hank finally retired with 755 home runs. That record was surpassed decades later by Barry Bonds. Barry now leads in terms of career home runs. Barry retired with 762 points, however Bonds’ name is marked with an asterisk because he is commonly thought to have used PEDs. Hank is the only player in baseball history who has hit more than 30 home runs in 15 seasons.
Biography:
Born: February 5, 1934 · Mobile, Alabama, USA
Died: January 22, 2021 · Atlanta, Georgia, USA (Natural causes)
Birth name: Henry Louis Aaron
Nicknames: Hammerin’ Hank, The New Sultan of Swat, The Hammer
Height: 6′ (1.83 m)
Childhood & Personal Life:
Aaron was born into a financially challenged family, being the third of eight children to Herbert and Estella Aaron. He attended Central High School, where he excelled in both football and baseball. Later, he transferred to Josephine Allen Institute, a private school, aiming for a brighter baseball career. In 1951, he left school and joined the Indianapolis Clowns of the Negro Baseball League.
In his personal life, Aaron wed Barbara Lucas in 1953, and they had four children before divorcing in 1971. In 1973, he married Billye Williams, with whom he has a daughter named Ceci. He is also the older brother of Tommie Lee Aaron, a baseball player who passed away at the age of 45 due to leukemia.
Net Worth:
Hank Aaron was an iconic American baseball player and businessman who was worth $25 million when he died. Hank Aaron died on January 22, 2021, at the age of 86. From 1954 to 1976, “Hammerin’ Hank” Aaron spent an amazing 23 seasons in Major League Baseball. He was inducted to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982, his first year of eligibility, with 97.8% of the vote from baseball writers who made the decision.
Awards & Honours:
- National League Most Valuable Player Award (1957)
- Presidential Medal of Freedom (2002)
- Lou Gehrig Memorial Award (1970)
- People’s Choice Award for Favorite Sports Figure (1975)
Fun Facts:
- This renowned American baseball player was the first to hit 500 home runs and 3,000 hits.
- This famous American baseball player and his younger brother were the first siblings to compete in the League Championship Series as teammates.
- On August 1, 1982, Aaron was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame after finishing second on a ballot.
- On January 8, 2001, US President Bill Clinton bestowed upon him the second highest civilian honour, the ‘Presidential Citizens Medal’.
- In 2002, African-American scholar, historian, and philosopher Molefi Kete Asante included Aaron on his list of the ‘100 Greatest African-Americans’.
- In June 2002, he won the ‘Presidential Medal of Freedom,’ the highest civilian honour given by United States President George W. Bush.