How education and upbringing influenced the life of Hank Aaron. A timeline of key moments.
Hank Aaron, nicknamed "Hammerin' Hank," was a legendary baseball right fielder who played 23 seasons in MLB (1954-1976). Primarily with the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves, he later played for the Milwaukee Brewers. Widely regarded as one of baseball's greatest, Aaron held numerous career power-hitting records upon retirement. Most notably, he surpassed Babe Ruth's career home run record, holding the title for 33 years with 755 home runs until Barry Bonds broke the record in 2007. He consistently hit 24+ home runs annually from 1955-1973 and was one of two players to hit 30+ home runs in at least 15 seasons.
On February 5, 1934, Henry Louis Aaron, later nicknamed "Hammer" or "Hammerin' Hank", was born. He would become one of the greatest baseball players in history.
In 1949, at the age of 15, Hank Aaron had his first tryout with an MLB franchise, the Brooklyn Dodgers; however, he did not make the team.
In 1953, Hank Aaron married Barbara Lucas, with whom he had five children: Gary, Lary, Dorinda, Gaile, and Hank Jr.
On March 13, 1954, Milwaukee Braves left fielder Bobby Thomson fractured his ankle while sliding into second base during a spring training game.
On December 15, 1957, Hank Aaron's wife Barbara gave birth to twins, two days later, one of the children died.
In 1958, Hank Aaron's wife, Barbara Lucas, noted that during the off-season he liked "to sit and watch those shooting westerns". He also enjoyed cooking and fishing.
In 1959, at the age of 25, Hank Aaron, along with his family, converted to Catholicism, influenced by the birth of their first child and a friendship with a priest.
In 1971, Hank Aaron divorced Barbara Lucas, ending their marriage of several years during which they had five children together.
In August 1973, Hank Aaron received an outpouring of public support against bigotry, exemplified by Charles Schulz's Peanuts comic strip addressing hate mail. Babe Ruth's widow, Claire, also denounced the racism and supported Aaron's pursuit of the home run record.
On November 13, 1973, Hank Aaron married Billye Suber Williams, starting a new chapter in his personal life.
During the 1973-1974 offseason, Hank Aaron was subjected to death threats and hate mail due to his pursuit of Babe Ruth's home run record. This harassment also extended to journalists providing positive coverage of Aaron.
On October 2, 1974, Hank Aaron hit his 733rd home run in his final at-bat as a player for the Atlanta Braves. Aaron then expressed a willingness to return to baseball for another year and an interest in a general manager position.
After his final game in 1973, Aaron expressed his fear that he might not live to see the 1974 season, highlighting the intense pressure and threats he faced during his pursuit of Babe Ruth's home run record.
During the 1973-1974 offseason, Hank Aaron was subjected to death threats and hate mail due to his pursuit of Babe Ruth's home run record. This harassment also extended to journalists providing positive coverage of Aaron.
In 1986, Hank Aaron made a guest appearance in an episode of the television show "Crazy Like a Fox", titled "Just Another Fox in the Crowd".
In 1990, Hank Aaron's autobiography, "I Had A Hammer", co-written with Lonnie Wheeler, was published and became a finalist for the Casey Award, offering insights into his life and career.
In a 1991 interview, Aaron credited Fr. Michael Sablica with helping him grow as a person in the 1950s, influencing his personal development and encouraging him to speak out about causes he believed in.
In June 2000, Tufts University awarded Hank Aaron an honorary Doctor of Public Service degree.
In 2002, Hank Aaron appeared in a television commercial with Barry Bonds during Super Bowl XXXVI, jokingly trying to persuade Bonds to retire before breaking his record.
In 2007, Hank Aaron sold all but his Toyota dealership in McDonough as part of the Hank Aaron Automotive Group, marking a change in his business ventures.
In 2011, the President of Princeton University, Shirley M. Tilghman, awarded an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree to Hank Aaron.
In July 2013, media reported that Hank Aaron's home in the Atlanta area was burglarized, with jewelry and two BMW vehicles stolen, though the cars were later recovered.
In 2014, Hank Aaron underwent a partial hip replacement following a fall, addressing his arthritis and mobility issues.
On January 5, 2021, Hank Aaron publicly received the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia. He, along with other Black American figures, aimed to demonstrate the vaccine's safety and encourage other Black Americans to get vaccinated.
On January 22, 2021, Henry Louis Aaron, nicknamed "Hammer" or "Hammerin' Hank", passed away near Atlanta. He was considered one of the greatest baseball players in history.
In 2024, Hank Aaron's great-nephew, Kimani Vidal, was selected by the Los Angeles Chargers in the NFL draft, marking a proud moment for the family.
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