Black History: A MLB Legend! R.I.P.

1957-Milwaukee, Henry Aaron is voted the most Valuable Player in the National League and wins his Home Run, with 44.

1972-June, Hank Aaron hits Home Run number 648 to tie Willie Mays, now with the New York Mets, for second place on the All-Time Home Run list. Following the game, Aaron expresses belief he has a chance to surpass Babe Ruth's record of 714.

1973-September, Willie Mays, now of the New York Mets, announces his retirement as an active player, though he is to appear in the World Series. May's lifetime batting average is .302, his Homer total 600. Hank Aaron ends the season with 713 Home Runs, one short of Babe Ruth's record.

1974-April, Henry Aaron of the Atlanta Braves ties Babe Ruth's record of 714 in his team's opening game in Cincinnati, breaking it with 715 a few days later in Atlanta against AL Downing of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Hank Aaron-Baseball,

Hank Aaron hit more Home Runs than anyone else in the History of MLB. He attained this plateau with his second time Home Run of the 1974 season, a shot which marked his 715th career round-tripper and thus broke the previous record of 714 which had been held by the immortal Babe Ruth. At the advanced age of 40, Aaron finished that season with 20 Homers and brought his Career mark to a total of 733, a record to which he added 22 more to complete his career with a total 755.

Born in Mobile, Alabama on February 5, 1934, Aaron played sandlot ball as a teenager. He then played for a team called the Black Bears, but, soon thereafter, signed a $200-per-month contract with the Indianapolis Clowns of the Negro American League. He began as as shortstop and went 10-for-11 in a doubleheader on His first day.

He was purchased by the Boston Braves in June of 1952 and proceeded to hit .336 at Eau Claire of the Northern League. The following season, playing for Jacksonville, His .362 average led to a promotion to the Braves, then, based in Milwaukee, and beginning of His brilliant Major League Career in 1954.

In His second big league season, he hit .314, socked 27 Homers, and drove in 106 runs, numbers which were to become routine for Aaron in the years ahead.

He enjoyed perhaps his finest season in 1957, when he was named Most Valuable Player and led his team to a World Championship. His stats that year included a .322 average, 44 homers, 132 runs batted in, and 118 runs scored.

Over his career, Aaron has won a pair of batting titles and hit .300 in 12 seasons. He won the Home Run and RBI Crowns 4 times apiece, hit 40 or more homers 8 times, and hit at least 20 for 20 consecutive years, a National League record. In addition, He was named to 20 consecutive All-Star Teams.

In November 1974, after playing for Atlanta since 1966, Aaron was traded to the Milwaukee franchise (now the Brewers), enabling Him to finish his career in the city where he began in which became a home town to Him.

In January 1982 Aaron received 406 of 415 votes from the Baseball Writers Association as He was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame. While some observers complained that His election should have been unanimous, it was still an overwhelming Tribute to a man who held some 13 Major League records in an outstanding Career.

A True Hero to all Baseball Fans of the Era and his contribution to America's favorite game is a testament to perseverance to be a ground breaker in the annals of MLB Baseball History!