Hall of Famer and longtime home run king Henry Louis “Hank” Aaron died Friday morning, his daughter confirmed to WSB-TV in Atlanta. The Atlanta Braves legend was 86.
Aaron, a 25-time All-Star, played in MLB from 1954-76 almost entirely with the Braves organization — first in Milwaukee and then in Atlanta. In 1957 he led the organization to its first World Series title since 1914. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1982.
Aaron’s career as home run king
Aaron had his first major-league tryout at the age of 15 with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1949, but did not make the team. He started a minor-league career with the Indianapolis Clowns of the Negro Leagues in 1951 at the age of 17.
It was only seven months later, in June 1952, that he signed with the Boston Braves, who offered him more money than other teams. The following season the franchise moved to Milwaukee and Aaron got his first big-league roster call-up in 1954 wearing No. 5. He switched to No. 44 the next year, during which he made his first All-Star appearance.
Aaron famously passed Babe Ruth on the all-time home run leaderboard in 1974 with his 715th shot. He finished his career with 755. It stood for 31 years until Barry Bonds passed him in 2007 and eventually set the mark at 762.
Aaron is still the game’s all-time leader in RBIs (2,297) and total bases (6,856). He ranks third in career hits (3,771). The outfielder won three Gold Gloves as well as the National League batting title in 1956 and 1959, the 1957 NL MVP award and the 1970 Lou Gehrig Memorial Award for character.
He was the first player in MLB history to reach 500 home runs and 3,000 hits. He was third in MVP voting six different times.
SOURCE: Yahoo Sports
