Hank Aaron
Hank Aaron was an American baseball player who held the career home run record for over thirty years.
He broke Babe Ruth's longstanding record in 1974, finishing with 755 home runs—a milestone he achieved while receiving death threats from racists opposed to a Black man surpassing Ruth.
Aaron played most of his career for the Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves.
Prejudice based on ethnicity
- death threatsStatements promising lethal harm
- hate mailThreatening or abusive correspondence
- dignityInnate personal worth
- graceEffortless beauty of motion
Jackie Robinson · segregation · Jim Crow · activism · equality · courage · perseverance · trailblazer
All-time long-ball leader
- total basesCumulative bases from hits
- MVPBest player award
- Gold GloveBaseball fielding excellence award
- batting titleHighest average distinction
consistency · longevity · durability · power · slugger
Institution honoring distinguished achievers
- inductionFormal admission process
- enshrinementFormal preservation as sacred
- plaqueInscribed memorial tablet
- ceremonyFormal event marking occasions
immortalized · bronze · legends · elite · baseball history · recognition · achievement · monument
Three-dimensional sculpted likeness
- ambassadorOfficial foreign representative
- philanthropistDonor to charitable causes
- mentorTrusted wisdom-giving advisor
- role modelPerson others emulate
inspiration · gentleman · humility · class · sportsmanship · pioneer · influence · respect
racism
Prejudice based on ethnicity
- death threatsStatements promising lethal harm
- hate mailThreatening or abusive correspondence
- dignityInnate personal worth
grace · Jackie Robinson · segregation · Jim Crow · activism · equality · courage · perseverance · trailblazer · resilience
home run king
All-time long-ball leader
- total basesCumulative bases from hits
- MVPBest player award
- Gold GloveBaseball fielding excellence award
batting title · consistency · longevity · durability · power · slugger
Hall of Fame
Institution honoring distinguished achievers
- inductionFormal admission process
- enshrinementFormal preservation as sacred
- plaqueInscribed memorial tablet
ceremony · immortalized · bronze · legends · elite · baseball history · recognition · achievement · monument · Willie Mays
statue
Three-dimensional sculpted likeness
- ambassadorOfficial foreign representative
- philanthropistDonor to charitable causes
- mentorTrusted wisdom-giving advisor
role model · inspiration · gentleman · humility · class · sportsmanship · pioneer · influence · respect · honored
Atlanta
Georgia's capital city
- retired jerseyCommemoratively unworn team shirt
- AlabamaBirmingham, Alabama, Montgomery, Huntsville, Mobile
- Famous GeorgiansJimmy Carter, Martin Luther King Jr., Ray Charles, Jackie Robinson, Julia Roberts
- Sports LegendsMichael Jordan, Muhammad Ali, Tiger Woods, Tom Brady, Babe Ruth
- Baseball LegendsBabe Ruth, Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle, Lou Gehrig, Ted Williams
- Baseball HistoryBabe Ruth, Jackie Robinson, Lou Gehrig, Willie Mays, Ty Cobb
- Black AthletesJackie Robinson, Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan, Serena Williams, LeBron James
Hank AaronBarry Bonds
Mark McGwire · Sammy Sosa · Alex Rodriguez · Lance Armstrong · Roger Clemens