Baseball has sadly lost another all-time great, as Tim Kephart of CBS46 in Atlanta reports that Hall of Famer Hank Aaron has passed away at the age of 86.
One of the greatest sluggers in Major League history, “Hammerin’ Hank” stood atop MLB’s all-time home run leaderboard with 755 round-trippers until being passed by Barry Bonds earlier this century. The Hammer is still the all-time leader in runs batted in (2297) and total bases (6856) and, in the eyes of many fans, will forever be considered the game’s true home run king.
Named to an astonishing 21 All-Star teams, Aaron was a sensation from the moment he arrived on the scene in the Majors as a 20-year-old rookie in 1954. He finished fourth in Rookie of the Year voting that year and would win an MVP Award just three seasons later — one of the countless accolades accumulated over the course of a historic 23-year career. Aaron batted .305/.374/.555 with 755 home runs, 2297 RBIs, 624 doubles, 98 triples, 240 stolen bases and 2174 runs scored during a legitimately legendary career. Along the way, he won two batting titles, three Gold Gloves, and a World Series ring with the ’57 Braves. He led his league in home runs, doubles and RBIs four times apiece.
Aaron was the model of consistency, durability and excellence, annually ranking among the game’s elite in nearly every major offensive category while rarely missing a day on the field. From his age-21 season in 1955 to his age-37 campaign in 1971 — all of them All-Star seasons — he averaged 153 games played and maintained an astonishing .315/.379/.574 output at the plate in spite of that Herculean workload.
Great as Aaron’s career on the field was, his legacy is rooted in far more than those mere numbers. Aaron overcame intense racism, hate mail and death threats as he closed in on breaking Babe Ruth’s all-time home run record of 714 — a hallowed mark in its own right that many thought would never be surpassed. His courage, perseverance and grace throughout the ordeal has served as an inspiration to countless fans.
Aaron’s charitable works following his remarkable career, chronicled here by the National Baseball Hall of Fame’s Matt Rothenberg, include the founding of the Chasing the Dream Foundation and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s 44 Forever program, as well as millions of dollars donated to the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta. Aaron also donated his entire collection of baseball artifacts to Cooperstown and encouraged others do to the same.
The words “icon” and “iconic” are thrown around too often in today’s vernacular, and yet both seem to fall shy of describing Aaron’s status within the sport’s history. The name “Hank Aaron” is emblematic of greatness and will forever be woven into not only into the tapestry of baseball’s rich history but into the history of the country itself. We at MLBTR extend our condolences to Aaron’s family, friends, loved ones, former teammates and legions of fans around the world. Rest in peace, Hammer.
Sadly the Goat has passed on.
Rough week in Braves country to say the least..what a legend.
Bonds had to pump himself full of “horse steroids” to beat Aaron by a measly 7 home runs all time. If bonds didn’t use steroids his career would have ended a lot earlier and he never would have come close to the Hammer. If Aaron had used steroids it would have increased his career home run total by far more than 7 home runs. There is no comparison. Hank Aaron is the GOAT and he didn’t have to use steroids to do accomplish that. This is a sad week in Braves history. To lose one of their greatest announcers of all time (Don Sutton) right after losing the greatest knuckleball pitcher of all time (Phil Niekro) and then top it all off by losing arguably the greatest player of all time (Henry Aaron) is a big loss to Braves country. It’s important to point out that all of the guys were great people. They signed every autograph asked of them and were happy to do it for free. They loved to sit and talk with any baseball fan for extended periods of time. They were never abrasive or confrontational with the media or people around them. They never took steroids. They never complained about what they were being paid even though it was a tiny fraction of what far inferior players make today. They will be forever missed. The league and it’s fans ALREADY misses players like them.
Rip to the real homerun leader
I think you’re forgetting someone
@SFGiantsfan09 GTFO delusional Giants fans that looked the other way while Bonds ROBBED Hank
Giants fans will say ‘ Bonds never actually tested positive for Performance Enhancing Drugs ‘ as if that is to prove he never actually used them. Lol .
@jealousdodgersfan
Regardless of how ripped you are, you still have to make contact don’t you? His swing was so perfect that he could have done it without steroids.
My proof? Well look at his stats pre-steroids. He began taking steroids (accidentally, I should mention) in 1998. So, for the first 13 years of his career he had 411 homeruns, according to baseball reference. . He averaged about 40 homers a season, and then from 1999 on he averaged 50. So, there is a difference but people typically do increase as their careers go on.
“His swing was so perfect that he could have done it without steroids.”
And he may not been able to have the perfect swing without that slotted arm mechanism which locked in his swing in place.
That thing should have been deemed illegal, but at least that wasn’t cheating. I’m not against protection, I was against a mechanism that keeps the swing in place. That thing was a joke.
I don’t think he is
What’s delusional is you act like there wasn’t an era where everyone was using them, like Piazza that’s inducted into the Hall! I hope you hold the same standards about this juiced ball era where hitters are adding 10 to 15 home runs to there record per season robbing others of there records. SMH
Really? Because, if I look up “Who hit the most homeruns in baseball history,” I believe Hank Aaron, as amazing as he was (Both on and off the field) will not be the name that pops up, unless it shows a list that includes the second person on the list.
Hank Aaron was an honorable man. Barry wasn’t. That’s the biggest difference.
You need to understand the difference between cheating and a juiced ball.
Discernment has gone out the window. PEDs are dangerous, players should not have to shave years off their lives to play baseball.
But lets talk about Bond’s swing mechanism It slotted his swing perfectly in place. It was a swing aid. Today, such swing mechanisms are illegal. When Bonds was playing, such mechanisms were perfectly legal.
Use it today, it’s cheating. Use it twenty years ago, not cheating. Use it 20 years ago, your numbers are genuine. Use it today, your numbers are not genuine.
As I said, discernment has gone out the window.
Couldn’t agree more..it’s the same thing I tell others..steroids or not, you still gotta hot the damn ball..let alone, against MLB pitching!
Your take is comical.
With PEDs, You’re stronger, your swing is faster and and because of that you have more area on the bat to drive the ball. Just look at Bonds HR totals.
Bonds
Age 26 – 25 (HRs)
Age 36 – 73 (HRs)
Aaron
Age 26- 40 HRs
Age 36 -38 HRs
I don’t know why you keep talking about the real home run king getting robbed by Bonds when everyone knows Ken Griffey Jr got robbed by multiple players.
Bonds fat head matches his ego.
The problem is their cheating distorted stats, kept otherwise deserving players out and cost us fans a fortune.
This is asinine. He he didn’t need steroids…why did he start using them? Because you slow down when you get older. And yes, Bonds and every other hitter has to make contact first. You do understand though that homeruns come from bat speed and exit velocity right? Those elements come primarily from strength and the accelerated bat speed he had in his late 30’s on makes no logical sense. He’ll eventually get in the Hall and nobody can take away from what’s on the back of his baseball card, but there’s no reason you can’t admit that he cheated. Also, what truly separates them isn’t the homeruns totals. Henry Aaron was an amazing human being in every aspect you could imagine. He was a pillar in civil rights and transcended the game. Bonds is, was and will always be a garbage human being. The true heritage of a person is their legacy, and there’s no way a Bonds fan can try to explain away those elements
Bonds started using Roids because he was jealous of inferior players getting the accolades he deserved.
Halo11…You need to understand that a number being inflated by ANY means is not a REAL number! Juice ball era is giving batters more home runs. Steroids produced more home runs. Period. Bonds never produced a dirty test, neither did Piazza, Piazza is in the Hall, Bonds is not. It was a part of an era. On the record, Bonds is King. You don’t get to say something isn’t legitimate when facts show you otherwise. Get over it. Bonds is King
Sounds like your jealous bahahaha
Correction: Bonds is the epitome of woke baseball writers getting mad at “him” for (fill in the blank).
Bonds didn’t treat them well, and vice versa, and many fans already had preconceived notions because of it. Long before BALCO, even before San Fran.
This is such an ignorant comment. You do realize Aaron was black right?! So how can people saying Bonds doesn’t deserve the title over another black man be a white racial aspect? One of the biggest aspects about Bonds was that he was a huge a hole. And those that are huge baseball fans don’t care at all for Clemens or Canseco or Palmero or many others that were blatantly cheating. Making this about race is as ignorant as you can get
MLBTR – What “HankAaronDidGreenies” wrote is a perfect example of a comment you don’t censor because it falls in line with a certain agenda. This comment is baseless and offensive and should be banned and the commenter should be banned for writing it. I have no confidence that you will do either.
@Eddy Treadway
Bonds began taking them on accident! He started taking them because he was told they were flax seed. Also, look at all the HOFers who took steroids! They got in, why shouldn’t Bonds?
Also, it takes more than steroids to make a player good. Bonds had a mindset that he was unbreakable. He could predict what pitch was coming. Ask Dan Plesac. He has quite the story about the first time he pitched against him.
Dan Plesac says he should get in. He doesn’t feel cheated that Bonds took steroids.
I don’t think anyone is challenging that Bonds was a great hitter. He was even without steroids. The point is that the steroids Bonds used increased his career home runs by more than 7 or 8 home runs. That is clear. He would have never even hit 60 if he didn’t juice. No one since Maris has without juicing. Considering Bonds hit 72 one year, you can attribute at least 12 of those to steroids. If you shave off those 12 steroid induced home runs alone, Bonds is behind Aaron by 5 home runs. That’s giving Bonds the benefit of the doubt that he would have hit 60 if he were clean. That’s also not even docking home runs from other years that were clearly steroid induced as well. There is no way Bonds would have hit within 8 home runs of his 762 record had he not used steroids. That fact, by default, makes Aaron the honest homerun leader. Bonds had to do it dishonestly just to pass Aaron by 7. Can you imagine how high up Aaron would be if he had done it dishonestly too?
Get a life if you really consider Cheat’n Bonds the home run king. Thank you Mr. Aaron. I watched only the end of your career but you are the true HR king. That said your legacy in baseball pales in comparison to your status as a man. RIP.
Money too. How much did he make taking whatever he “didn’t take”?
BS to Bonds being king. Allowing some cheaters in the hall is wrong but what’s worse is allowing other cheaters in and true deserving stars are still out. Why not take the vote totally away from the writers and allow a computer to make the decision? Too much emphasis on stupid stats that prior generations did not tailor their game to maximize. You can’t be half pregnant so go all in with an IBM deciding things.
Please stop the nonsense about race and today’s HOF vote. To me, neither deserves entry but I find it stupid to think there’s a correlation. Maybe some voters are pissed that Bonds hit more homers than HA. Could be as simple as that.
@looiebelongsinthehall
Please get my point though, that people are saying that Bonds shouldn’t get in because he took roids. What about guys that are in? The fact that they took roids was overlooked. Why can’t we overlook Bonds taking roids?
@Halos11fan
Of course he did Halos, all down to the mere accolades.
Could we perhaps stick to eulogising Henry Aaron, because frankly there’s no comparison….
Piazza should not have been inducted. Bagwell, Baines, Pudge Rodriguez, and even Ricky Henderson should have all been excluded as well. The fact that mistakes were made with inducting players before does not justify making the same mistakes again. Bonds, Mac, Sosa and Clemens (amongst many others) don’t belong ever. Just like the few cheaters who have already gotten in. You’re preaching to the choir when you bring up Piazza and Bagwell. You act like you are trying to convince people that actually believe those guys should be in. The fact is, the fans that don’t want Bonds in the Hall, don’t want Piazza or Bagwell in the Hall either for the same reason. You can’t fix mistakes by making more of the exact same mistakes. That just makes the problem worse in any situation.
@Theguyabovewiththedisrespectfulusername that starts with Hank Aaron
Yes, those white people “get a pass from people because they are white”, sure they do, like McGwire or Clemens, or what about the Latino Cuban Canseco, did he get a pass? People that are alleged to have used gear have been criticised equally, it’s got nothing to do with your lies about skin colour. In fact, people like you are racist because you ALWAYS bring skin colour into it. .
I’m a Giants fan and I can simply say you shame all of baseball and the organization with you’re comments SFGiantFan09 Hank Aaron Is as authentic passionate and an actual real life hero he battled racism and discrimination and while doing so with a smile and a hell of a career most kids look at there 21st birthday to drink 21 years and they can finally do it Hank Aaron looked at 21 years and established one of the greatest all time careers of a Major League Baseball player in true professional fashion and work ethic a lot of players of today and yesterday could learn a thing or two from him including Bonds who only holds a record because of the Roids and don’t deny it everyone knows this is coming from a giants fan think about it Bonds needed a drug The Hammer just freaking did it a true man of class and an inspiration to all to all Major League Baseball fans I’m sorry and a special sorry to all you Braves fans out there. Side note it’s been a thought two weeks for you 2020champs Lasorta and Sutton to all you folks I’m sorry and you’re comment made my day!! Again Hank well miss you thank you for being you
Didn’t MLB just declare that Negro Leagues records will be included in Major League records? I believe Hank Aaron hit 8 home runs with the Indianapolis Clowns in 1952….
Hank Aaron actually had 22 Negro League home runs. That would put him 15 above Bonds ironically with the godly career home run total of 777. Unfortunately, MLB considers the League to be integrated in 1948 because that’s when Jackie Robinson joined the league. Any home runs hit in the Negro Leagues after 1948 will not be counted by MLB. Hank Aaron’s entire Negro League career took place after 1948. Aaron’s Negro League stats will not be counted because Jackie Robinson (amongst others) were already in MLB by the time Aaron started hitting them.
Agreed, he helped the Black community in many ways, especially today when we have to do more to dismantle white supremacy and continue to get more Black people in front office roles.
“On the field, Blacks have been able to be super giants,” Aaron once said. “But once our playing days are over, this is the end of it and we go back to the back of the bus again.”
Hank Aaron isn’t, wasn’t and won’t ever be the Goat. He’s one of the Greatest (baseball player’s) of All Time!!! People throw out the name Goat/GOAT like candy at a parade. I understand that it’s “supposed ” to be a complimentary title but is it really? If you REALLY want to honor him, or anyone for that matter, call him by the title and NOT the abbreviated (lazy) acronym for it.
This is unreal.
Here is an unreal stat from Aaron’s career: 1383 strikeouts against 1402 walks. And that was accomplished against the likes of Seaver, Gibson, Sutton, Carlton, Jenkins, et al. Simply the best.
the rightful HR leader. RIP.
Bonds had to cheat to beat Henry Aaron.
Bonds therefore didn’t actually beat Aaron.
Agreed. Steve Adams needs to take a stand and state that in the article, that MLBTR supports Aaron as the true all-time home run leader.
Won’t happen Adams is a shill just like manfred
Not everyone thinks like you that are on this site. Hank was great, Bonds will forever be the King though, check the record books. You think it’s fair that Piazza gets to sit in the Hall as a peds user and not Bonds? You think that all the homers hit these past few years should still count knowing this is the juiced ball era? SMH
Folks that disregard Bonds should throw out 20 years of baseball. No stats should be counted in their books but they are the ones that celebrate folks like Piazza, Biggio… the hypocrisy of the HOF is comical. Buds in though! Just oversaw the whole steroids era of baseball!
Bonds will never be the king. His steroid and hgh cloud will forever follow him.
No one was better than hank.
I agree with you re Bonds never being king. Amen to that. He is cheating slime.
But Hank was not the GOAT. He’s one of them, but not at the top.
Regardless, Rest In Peace Hammerin’ Hank.
It’s a difficult call. Biggio, Bagwell, Piazza, I-Rod, VERY LIKELY took PEDs. They are in.
Suspicions are not enough for many voters. However for Bonds, A-Rod, Palmerio, McGwire and Clemens there is no doubt.
This is America, suspicions are not enough. I can at least respect that vote. I don’t respect the vote of putting in known cheaters.
Piazza, if you do a little research admitted he used peds! He still got in. Bud was the man in charge, he’s in! You’ll be amazed what a little google search turns up.
Yes, you should try a google search. It’s a wonderful thing.
Piazza long ago admitted to doing what are now considered performance enhancers by MLB — specificially Androstenedione — but at a time when it was sold in legal, over-the-counter supplements. Piazza says he stopped using Andro after reporters found the substance in the locker of Mark McGwire in 1998.
He has never admitted to cheating.
Papi too and I’m a Six fan.
Dude you’re one confused individual! He used peds! Period! He cheated bro! So did Biggio, and Bagwell along with many others! Things were legal to use back then yes! But now you’re classified as a cheater if you get caught for using one time! Bonds never admitted to cheating either, but you still label him as one!
Yeah, there are definitely guys in the HOF that were dopers, despite the false notion that dopers never get in.
Halo, have you ever sat in a trial? Jurors are told to listen to the evidence and weigh a person’s credibility. A juror has the right to ignore some or all of their testimony if they believe the person is lying or not credible. Yes this is America and we should penalize frauds.
They were never legal to use. It was against the law (which supersedes ANY baseball rule) to use certain PEDS/drugs without a legitimate prescription.
Yes, certain drugs never were, but not all were illegal. Which is why if you’re going to punish one player for it and not the rest is ridiculous. I personally don’t care for Bonds and his attitude. He has done great things on and off the field though. He also deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. Those who say different are saying it’s ok to cheat as long as you don’t get caught. Maybe Bonds would’ve never used peds in this era, he wouldn’t need to with the juiced balls.
I doubt you heard it from his own mouth..
In an interview with MLB Network following election to the Hall Of Fame – paraphrasing Piazza after being asked if he used any PED’s during his career – ‘I’ve said before that I never used PED’s.’
I certainly do think he used PED’s, though.
Superstar….you’ll have to share your soap box with Tatsumaki
Ken Griffey Jr died today too? Jesus
RIP Hammer
RIP
RIP
I found it interesting that he had more career HRs than Doubles. I am curious if that same relationship exists with other great sluggers throughout time
I just looked some players up to check. Bonds had more homers than doubled. McGwire had about twice as many homers than doubles. While Bagwell was about even.
Definitely an interesting trend. I checked the Top 10 HR leaders all time and Pujols is the only one with more doubles than HRs
Rest in Peace Hank. Never knew you personally, but your legacy continues to impact hundreds of lives each day.
Great player. Great personality. Great ambassador to the game. RIP to the home run king.
A great man, great ballplayer, and one of my early heroes. RIP Hank, you were an all around class act, thanks for the memories!
Oh Hank, you didn’t have your Wheaties, oh Hank, you know it’s not your day.
No knock on Henry, I just remember that commercial from the early 70s. Hank Aaron, the true Home Run King. If it’s possible for a guy who hit 755 Home Runs to be underrated, Hank was.
I have always felt he was the most underrated hall of fame member. Sounds odd I know. I guess that’s what happens when you play in an era with other greats like Mays, Mantle, Musial, Clemente, etc.
Damn terrible news. RIP Hammerin’ Hank the true HR King
RIP to a true legend.
RIP Hammer
OMG-What is going on with our Hall of famers!!!! Big loss of a so special a Baseball Icon! as a Rays fan, I was calling Randy Arozarena -Hammerin Hank (he bats-hits similar to him) all through the World series and he would ablige us by hitting another HR. God speed.
A true Hero
Farewell to THE King. Goodbye, sir. And thank you.
Rest easy Home Run king, 755 will always be my refrence to the home run record.
RIP
I remember reading his biography as a kid and was always inspired by his story. .In many ways, he helped put Milwaukee on the map. So many MLB stars gone in such a short time frame. RIP.
Class act and emblematic of The Braves Way. Rest in Peace, HR King.
What a life he lived.
I’m so sorry to hear this news. Rest in peace Hank.
RIP Hammerin’ Hank – the gentleman and legend.
755.
RIP, Mr. Aaron.
RIP. The best home run hitter ever.
He wasn’t. But he was a great homerun hitter.
Yes, he was. He didn’t need roids to do his damage
Well it’s all up for debate but now is probably not the time.
I will always cherish seeing his debut as Milwaukee’s DH on opening day at Fenway park. I sat right behind 3rd base. The standing ovation that he received was electrifying in it’s volume and length. It was also the attempted comeback of Tony Conigliaro with the Sox. For a baseball fan, it doesn’t get much better than that. RIP Mr. Aaron
Right on. Nothing beats actually being in the stands. Some of my favorite memories took place in MLB or Minor league parks.
Thank you for sharing the memory.
Great story, Spike. Thanks..
For all the vitriol, threats, and hate he endured and how he handled it was a testament to his character. For this alone, he deserves his eternal reward.
Rest in peace, Hammer.
Perfectly said. Thank you.
Paulie, I have an old news paper article from the early 70s where the headline is something like :
“Aaron Hopes Hate Mail Coming Slow”
He went throw a lot when he broke that record.
Feels like 2020 still
I always found it fascinating that Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth and Willie Mays all started their careers and ended them in the same city but with different franchises. Kind of odd when you consider they were the three true HR Kings for a long time.
Hank Aaron – Milwaukee Braves – Milwaukee Brewers
Babe Ruth – Boston Red Sox – Boston Braves
Willie Mays – New York Giants – New York Mets
RIP to the true Home Run champion. Amazing career.
A true American hero from start to finish. A man more MLB players past and present (Mark Mulder, Aubrey Huff, etc) should be holding themselves up to the standards he set for class and attitude.
Rest In Power to a legend….
Terrible news. RIP.
Without wanting to diminish others, Aaron would undoubtedly be a first ballot inductee into Hall of Fame’s Hall of Fame. May he rest in peace, his legacy will continue to shine.
Gruß,
BSHH
Besides being one of the greatest players of al time, he also had a great guest appearance on Futurama.
RIP King.
RIP to one of the best men to ever play the game.
All the all-time greats are up in years. Unfortunately, TIME MARCHES ON!!
RIP to Hammerin’ Hank
2021 can join 2020 in going straight to hell. RIP Hammerin Hank
As a Philly Phan, I am in awe of the man, and the player. He endured.
Be at rest Hammerin Hank. That’s one heII of a team you just joined.
Nice tribute by Steve Adams. Among all the HOF-caliber players lost in the past year or so, Hank tops the list.
In shock! Had so much respect for him as an overall human being what he endured and how he handlwd it with grace and dignity. He was quite possibly the greatest to ever play the game. He was a true ambassador for the sport an multigenerational in his ability to connect with younger fans. This hurts, sad day!
Thank you, Hank, for all the wonderful memories and years.. Braves Nation will miss your stately personality. RIP
Terrible news. Don Sutton 2 days ago and now Hammerin Hank. My first thought was RIP, then about what he went through as a young player, then his greatness. But I also had this thought. Hank just made headlines a couple weeks ago while getting the Covid vaccine telling African Americans to believe and get the shot. Now he passes away. I know his greatness will be talked about, deservedly so, but this will be discussed as well. Crazy he passed so soon after. I’m not saying this is why he passes and don’t believe it but it will be talked about. RIP Hank. 755 forever.
Covid should be a banned word on this site.
You think he died because of the Covid shot? Oh brother. He died because he was 86. Eight Six year olds die.
@Halo. Did u not read the last sentence of what I said? Obviously not.
Cle 2.
Fair enough. I should have said. “people” and not “you”
I stand corrected. I gave you a thumbs up, when you are right, you are right.
So sad.
There is always talk about most impressive/unbreakable records. Here’s mine:
Total Bases:
1st – Hank Aaron – 6856
2nd – Stan Musial – 6134
Difference of 722 total bases
722 TB x 90 feet per base = 64, 980 more feet
64,980 feet /5,280 (ft per mile) = 12.3 miles
Hank Aaron has 12.3 MILES more bases than any other player in the game. TWELVE POINT THREE MILES.
Sad day.
As a side note, I understand the Jays were interested in him this off season.
Rest in Paradise to the HR King.
The last 2 or 3 months for baseball legends has been terrible. May they all Rest in Paradise
Unreal. The complete suck of 2020 continues right into 2021. We’ve lost so many baseball icons just in the last few months, and Hammering Hank is right at the top of that list. Sad, with so many other terrible things going on that the baseball news we are getting is HOFers passing on.
True HR champ, imho and his record lives on. Bonds, McGuire, Canseco, etc…. all those guys NEEDED steroids and HGH to meet the level that people like Hank Aaron played at. That’s what makes him better than they would have ever been.
Regardless of your argument, at least Aaron still had balls when he rounded 755. Bonds had inverted holes, and probably needed needles after he was finished to replenish his energy levels.
Man what a horrible stretch for baseball. Rip
Willie Mays is the last surviving iconic player.
Don’t get me wrong. There are many greats alive, but now only one that has the cultural impact that Aaron, Mantle, Musial, DiMaggio, Williams and a few others carried. Players that not just fans knew, but the average American knew.
Well, I would argue that Sandy Koufax and (without defending him) Pete Rose are also surviving “iconic” players. Maybe Reggie Jackson and Nolan Ryan. But yeah, not many left.
Pre-steroids, it used to be said that any player who hits 500 HRs or gets 3,000 hits is an automatic HOFer. That leads to one of my favorite Aaron stats, among many: Take away all of his 755 career HRs and he still has over 3,000 career hits.
“The words “icon” and “iconic” are thrown around too often in today’s vernacular, and yet both seem to fall shy of describing Aaron’s status within the sport’s history. The name “Hank Aaron” is emblematic of greatness and will forever be woven into not only into the tapestry of baseball’s rich history but into the history of the country itself.” Perfectly said!
My prayers are with the Aaron family.
RIP Mr Aaron. You were one of the greats
January
P don sutton
P phil niekro
Of hank aaron
Mgr tom lasorda.
Already 4 of a 25 man plus mgr roster
Throw in h.o.f. singer charley pride to sing the anthem..
Mays and scully better hide..
Just sad
One of the greatest ever. RIP Mr. Aaron.
Just a reminder of why MLB should be paying these guys to show up for every major event. Best AS game ever was when Ted showed up at Fenway, and every player on that field walked over to pay their respects. We’ve lost Ted, Hank, Mickey, and Clemente.
We need to drag Willie Mays out to every event we can, before it is too late.
the great ! rest in peace
Just hope that the 4 h.o.f.ers this yr and the whole lot last yr doesnt make the writers think they need to fill up the place with all the roid guys now….
That being said only jeff kent should be inducted this yr.
Sad day. Blessings and prayers to the family.
Without roids Bonds’ career would have been equivalent to Mays. Which in my readings isn’t bad.
Very unlikely.
So so sad….again. It’s getting easier to say what baseball great HASN’T passed? It’s one or 2 every week it seems. Rest easy Hammering Hank.
The first year I was interested in baseball – 1973 – Henry Aaron had surpassed Willie Mays and continued his climb to top Babe Ruth’s lifetime home run record. I got to see Rick Reuschel strike out Aaron (as a pinch-hitter) at the first game I attended.
I’ll always remember when I was in second grade watching Monday Night Baseball when Hank became the all-time home run champ.
For some reason, I could never get an elusive Hank when I was lucky enough to have a dime or 15 cents to buy a pack of baseball cards. I did get some Aaron specials in ’74 but otherwise would have to trade for him.
I have his 1958 card. With the green background, it is a spectacular looking card.
I’ve seen so many iconic moments on tv over my lifetime baseball life and Aaron’s breaking Ruth’s HR might be the tops.
1. Aaron HR record
2. Fisk’s game 6 HR vs Reds
3. Grounder through Buckner’s legs
4. Reggie’s 3 HR’s on 3 pitches
5. Lolich outdueling Gibson in ’68 game 7. (since I’m a Tiger fan)
6. so many more…..
RIP Hammerin’ Hank. I was never a Braves fan…nor much of a NL fan…but as a baseball fan you had to love Hank Aaron.
Mom made me go to bed during Game 6 of the 75 World Series. I heard it on the radio and rushed down to watch the replay.
Mom gave in and let me stay up for Game 7, but I was pretty tired from the exciting late night previous and fell asleep. I remember bursting into tears when I woke up on the living room floor and the game was over.
The Kirk Gibson HR. I was at a party with some fairly wild girls, and every guy at the party was watching the game.
For hockey, the return of Eddie Giacomen to the Garden. 10+ minutes of the crowd chanting ‘Eddie, Eddie’, and the announcer say that he had tears streaming down his face.
I was too young to appreciate Jackie Robinson but over the years and the more I learned about Hank Aaron the more I came to realize he might have been Jackie Robinson Deux.
Ok AA today is the day to honor Hammer & get us a legit clean up hitter or better yet sign Freddie to his well deserved extension !!!!
Beautiful write-up. Immense loss for baseball. RIP to the real home run king
No bud, he’s not the true home run king. Bonds is and the books will reflect that forever. Fact
Only crooked minded and uninformed people believe that. Nobody who’s honest and well informed thinks a player could hit over 60 homeruns at age 38+.
Bonds had a 1.422 OPS at age 40 – the highest of his career.. What an absolute joke!.
RIP . Hank The true HR King.
Are you sure? How do you know Hank wasn’t using peds back then? You don’t. Cause they didn’t test for it. I’m not saying he did, but we don’t know.
He lived to within days of his 87th birthday. That’s pretty strong evidence he didn’t use steroids.
Bahaha, get out of here, you don’t know, so stop guessing. You should be just as mad at all the extra home runs being tallied because of the juiced ball in this era. That’s still inflating the home run tally right?
@Balk
Give examples of “PEDS” available in that era. Laughable.
I was so glad to see him in person at a few Brewers games and be honored for what he means to Milwaukee, where he played the majority of his career. I got lucky once to park next to the dedication plaque in the Miller Park lot, where County Stadium once stood, marking the spot where his 755th landed. I never thought I could be so moved by something in a parking lot!
It’s hard to adequately state what he means to the game, sports as a whole, and the US. His 715th HR is exceeded only by Jackie Robinson’s debut in terms of its importance to baseball and American society, and I can’t really think of anything else in baseball that comes close.
He received many of the major awards that the sport and nation can give (a well-deserved Presidential Medal of Freedom, and he even as an equivalent honor from Japan) but somehow even that doesn’t feel like enough. I hope we can find new and even more monumental ways to honor this American hero in death.
Sad, another legend has passed.
I’m surprised how much Aaron’s passing makes me feel. I’ve never met the man, never even watched him play other than old footage. So sorry to see the Braves greatest icon pass from this world.
Man… in the last 6 months or so, HOF’s just keep dying. RIP Hammerin’ Hank. You truly were the GOAT. I thoroughly enjoyed writing that massive research paper on you and your great career in the 10th grade. One of my fond memories of a hellish high school to come up in. RIP #44.
Saying “he was passed by Barry Bonds” is such an insult to the true home run king.
Rest In Peace Hank Aaron. Thank you for sharing your immense talents with baseball people everywhere, as well as your long tenure as an ambassador to the game after your retirement from playing. I vividly remember my older brothers telling me about you when I was a little boy, and then following your chase of the HR record. I had the fortune and thrill of standing next to you on the field when Miller Park opened, and later traveling with you to World Series events. The game has lost so many key people recently; it’s hard not to feel older with each passing. I hope #44 and all those who’ve devoted their lives to baseball are able to help guide the game forward in a positive way. God Bless you Mr. Aaron.
R.I.P. Hank
He had the most home runs (755) before player began to use steroids. Babe Ruth got his hell of a lot faster. Hank Aaron had over 2500 more AB than Ruth did. Ruth and Aaron were the best power hitters to named. Sadly Barry Bonds used steroids so he don’t really count but he would be on that list still if he didn’t use steroids. Albert Pujols is the future to be in Top 4 list. He’s at #5 with 662. He needs 100 more to tie Bonds. Hank Aaron is the f***ing best baseball player to be named! You were the GOAT!!! Hank Aaron family I’m praying for y’all. This is an terrible lose!
I’ll never forget forget watching him set the all-time HR record off Al Downing. Two years later I almost caught a foul ball he hit. Almost!
A great and gentle man, someone who gave and earned respect. RIP, Mr. Aaron. No doubt he has gone to the great diamond in the sky (not in the Beatles sense!).
Loved the 2 hippi’s that took the field to run with him !
Britt Gaston and Cliff Courtenay are forever itched in time w Hank
he literally just got the covid shot too….just saying
He literally was days away from celebrating his 87 Birthday. He literally was just the oldest living Hall of Famer. He literally just ate.
Just saying
Get outta here with that crap. The man was 86 years old.
The 2020s have not been good to old baseball legends.
Rest easy Hank.
Can we please knock off the Barry Bonds stuff? This thread is about the passing of a baseball icon whose legacy transcends mere statistics or even sports. Show some respect. It would be great if the mods deleted all the off-topic comments, including this one.
I was too young to appreciate Jackie Robinson but over the years and the more I learned about Hank Aaron the more I came to realize he might have been Jackie Robinson Deux.
I don’t want to get in trouble but so many of the greats of my childhood are gone…so recently. Among them…Gibson, Morgan, Brock, Kaline, Perry, Lasorda, Seaver and now Aaron.
Please…..if anyone sees the Say Hey Kid give him a big hug for me.
gaylord perry is still alive
kaline, gibson, brock, ford, lasorda, aaron, seaver, sutton, morgan,
willie mays is now the oldest hall of famer
Just make sure you’re wearing a mask before hugging.
Any baseball fan knows Ali was a just a braggart and a liar.
RIP HAMMERIN HANK!
A GREAT MAN to all Americans and baseball fans around the world!
You are wrong about Ali. He and Aaron suffered similar indignities due to their celebrity and the color of their skin. Aaron received hate mail because bigots didn’t want him to topple a white person’s record. Ali was incarcerated because White America felt threatened by an outspoken, self-confident Black man. Shut up and entertain me. Sad to think how that type of thinking still exists today.
Ali was a great man too. I thought of that and came back here to see if I could delete my post……..
Hank would tell me so too……
It was an idiot thing to say.
RnR Pfelfer, No problem. It’s great that you did that. Kids admit they’re wrong all the time but adults seldom do. I have made many mistakes over the years with respect to race and still do. Our upstairs neighbors are black and can surely vouch for my bursts of cluelessness. Sometimes, we (and I mean “me”) need to just shut up and listen. As a straight white male, I will never understand what it’s like to be black, gay, or female. If I dared tell my wife what it’s like to be a woman, I would be sleeping on the couch for a month. Listen, learn, and empathize. That’s the best we can do.
By the way, Ali later took on added significance in my life since my mom had Parkinson’s. He was such a warrior for that cause. For all my love of sports, music, and pop culture, I have seldom been devastated by a so-called celebrity death. It has maybe happened 10 times. Hank Aaron and Muhammad Ali are two of them. Another is Roberto Clemente, who was the first big one for me. I walked around in a daze for a couple of weeks after that one. When Clemente got his 3,000th hit of Jon Matlack, I recorded the audio of the call on my tape recorder. Dumb kid. The times weren’t exactly high-tech and I thought I had something special. When he died, I played that tape over and over until it snapped.
Great post Cey Hey
@Cey Hey
Be quiet, you are divisive and racist.
Another of the all time greats has passed away.
I grew up during his era and he always amazed me as to how consistently great he really was.
I met him in the lobby of the Nittany Lion Inn at Penn State He was there for a competition of college baseball players about 15-20 years ago.The clerk told me who he was but I had read that he would be there so I was not surprised and of course I would have recognized him anywhere.I approached him while he was waiting for the elevator and shook his hand.I knew that his wrists were exceptional so I was surprised to feel how big and strong his hand still was.He was very kind to me in the minute that we shared.Later I saw him dining but people seemed to be respectful enough to let him have some peace and quiet.
When I met him I told him that I grew up in Pittsburgh and that we had a pretty good rightfielder too.He smiled and said yes you did.
Those years in certain respects were much simpler days for many of us.I am sorry that we are losing so many of the greats from that era.
RIP Mr. Aaron and Thank you
It’s irrelevant whether Bonds’s HR numbers should be “counted’ over Aaron’s. Aaron was a legitimately great player, an inner circle HOF, and apparently a fine man. I’m not sure you need to say much more.
The game of baseball is much the better for having Hank play it so well for so many years. I first saw Hank in person play against the Houston Colt 45’s in 1963. Was in college in 1974 watching a black and white tv when he launched HR # 715 off of Al Downing of the Dodgers. Amazing player. Made hitting look so easy. Baseball has lost another legend!
RIP BIG GUY
Sad news, as Hank Aaron was true class act and true gentleman. His life was a home run and I don’t care if anyone disagrees but he is the all time career leader in Home Runs.
Read most of the comments above. The majority of posters here seem to feel that way. I know I count him as the all-time home run champ.
NO!!!!
…and he did it all without cheating.
well…they were on greenies back then tho
Greenies were not illegal and were handed out in the clubhouse. Not cheating.
Bonds played with a swing aid on his arm. Then legal, today illegal.
Aaron played with greenies. Then legal, today illegal.
Context is a wonderful thing.
Hank Aaron career WAR: 143.1. That’s crazy.
RIP Hank. I’m not old enough to watch him play. Does he belong on the MT Rushmore of outfielders or Ruth, Mays, Mantle better?
Yes, and with Clemente, too!
He has a strong argument, but if we’re putting only four up there, I’d say Ted Williams goes instead. Keep in mind that he lost 3 full years of his prime to WWII, but still hit over 500HR and is the all-time leader in OBP. And by the time his career is over, I’d say Trout will deserve it above Mantle, maybe above Williams and Mays.
Hyrax, Ted Williams was the greatest hitter whoever lived. He belongs.
Ruth, Mays, Williams and ….
There are a number of strong candidates for choice number four.
Ruth, Mays, Aaron…and many excellent candidates for the fourth one.
See, we’re still underrating Aaron.
Now THAT I can agree with
That’s almost as much as Derek Jeter and Frank Thomas…combined.
When a legend like Hank leaves us, I can picture the smiles and waves of other greats of the game, as he steps out of the corn and onto the field…
Corny!
jk, upvoted.
Hank Aaron is one of the greatest players I ever saw—he did everything superbly. If I had to pick the three greatest outfielders I ever watched, it would be Aaron, Mays and Clemente. Bonds would be my fourth. Hank’s kind of excellence cannot be measured by new baseball fans because even his amazing numbers simply don’t encompass how remarkable he was on the field and off.
R.I.P. Hank, you’re a legend.
I’m not looking forward to going home for lunch and having to tell my 8 year old son this news about his favorite all-time player.
My first hero when I was a boy, and I chose well. My favorite player of all time, and the way he lived his life off the field was a shining example for humanity. I met him briefly once; preseason game, Cardinals-Braves at the Disney complex. I was standing in line to get a hot dog… right behind HANK AARON. Hammerin’ Hank was standing in line to get a hot dog! I very sheepishly called his name; he turned and smiled. I stuck out my hand and said thank you for the great baseball and for a life honorably lived… He gifted me one of those huge Henry smiles, and said, “Well, thank you, young man**! I appreciate that more than you know!”
Some can never be replaced. Henry is one of those.
**I was in my 40s…
As a major fan of baseball in the 60’s on , I’ll always think of Hammering Hank as the All-Time HR hitter in history, he was polite and signed my scorecard several times at Wrigley Field , I always respected by everyone !! RIP with Ernie and your friends!
Why weren’t you taken care of by the police in DC
This is asinine. He he didn’t need steroids…why did he start using them? Because you slow down when you get older. And yes, Bonds and every other hitter has to make contact first. You do understand though that homeruns come from bat speed and exit velocity right? Those elements come primarily from strength and the accelerated bat speed he had in his late 30’s on makes no logical sense. He’ll eventually get in the Hall and nobody can take away from what’s on the back of his baseball card, but there’s no reason you can’t admit that he cheated. Also, what truly separates them isn’t the homeruns totals. Henry Aaron was an amazing human being in every aspect you could imagine. He was a pillar in civil rights and transcended the game. Bonds is, was and will always be a garbage human being. The true heritage of a person is their legacy, and there’s no way a Bonds fan can try to explain away those elements
This is such an ignorant comment. You do realize Aaron was black right?! So how can people saying Bonds doesn’t deserve the title over another black man be a white racial aspect? One of the biggest aspects about Bonds was that he was a huge a hole. And those that are huge baseball fans don’t care at all for Clemens or Canseco or Palmero or many others that were blatantly cheating. Making this about race is as ignorant as you can get
I have only seen clips and of course heard of his GOAT like power exploits. But perhaps what I have heard most is what a great person he truly was. Rest In Peace, the true HR king in many eyes deserves a major motion picture to see what he went through in his career, or at minimum a high quality documentary please to educate people like me who never came close to seeing him play.
First koby now Hank the Hammer? He was so good I’d be willing to bet he’d be able to give you a dinger or two as of yesterday if he were inserted into a lineup
True HR king!
I have a question. MLB has recently said that Negro leagues records will now be included among MLB records. I believe Hank Aaron hit 8 home runs with the Indianapolis Clowns in 1952. So……?
Hank Aaron was oh so close to being teammates with Willie Mays but didn’t happen just because the Braves offered him 50 dollars a month more.
Imagine that combination. Mays and Aaron on the same team is scary. They were both scary enough on their own, but then you put them together and that might be better than Harden+KD+Kyrie (which is also scary)
As much as I love popular culture, I am seldom crushed by the death of a so-called celebrity. In my nearly 63 years, it has happened maybe 10 times. Three athletes, five or six musicians, and Christa McAuliffe. I’ll refrain from revealing the other names except to say that Henry Aaron is one of them.
Hammerin’ Hank’s pursuit of Babe Ruth’s home run record had a profound influence on me as a teenager. Specifically, it marked the first time I stood up to my father and told him to shove his racist language and bigoted views. I actually curse at him and am glad I did it. My two younger sisters were also glad. Though they both agreed with my stance, they were relieved that my speaking up clinched me being the evil child in Dad’s eyes for all eternity. When I became old enough to drive, Dad wouldn’t let me use the family car. My sisters had no such problem.
My youngest sister used to say she was going to bring a black guy home just to tick off Dad. But in his eyes, she did something much worse by bringing home an Italian. Ah, life with Archie Bunker, which was pretty much the case with most of the fathers in the North Jersey town where I grew up. Sweet, sweet teenage rebellion. Lots and lots of American kids are going through that now.
In Dad’s defense, he transformed his racist views when he was about 70 (he lived until age 84). It’s a shame he didn’t do so earlier because he would have had a much better relationship with his children. Today, I can look back and say that I miss him. He was a Red Sox fan who was born in 1919 and died in 2003. Yep, he just missed them winning a World Series on both ends. But shed no tears for him as he still had his freakin’ Celtics. Oddly enough, my dad’s first name was also Henry. Just like Henry Aaron. Just like Henry Finkel.
RIP, Mr. Aaron. Thank you for being one of my greatest teachers.
@CeyHey
It’s a shame you don’t mend your racist views, racist. All I see you doing on here is talk about black people, Italians, how others are ‘racist’, and it’s you that is divisive and racist with your comments.
Hank Aaron was an excellent player,
but I think Willie Mays was a little more talented because of being a total 5 tool player. Mays made things happen when he was on the field, be it defensively, on the bases or at bat. He had the perfect baseball instincts
RIP HAMMERING HANK.
Two guys who get overlooked in these greatest outfielder debates are Stan Musial and Frank Robinson. If I want to win a game, I want Frank Robinson on my team. As for Musial, is there a more underpublicized all-time great in the history of North American team sports? A lot of people know about him having 1,815 hits both at home and on the road. He also had almost identical splits with 1,949 runs scored and 1,951 RBI. Here are some more numbers: 725 doubles, 177 triples, 475 home runs. Stick him in one of the many bandboxes of his era and there’s no telling how many homers he might have hit. As it is, he led the NL in doubles eight times and triples five times. In three separate seasons, he led the league in both.
More Stan: WAR 128.3; OPS+ 159. And how this: 1,599 walks and just 696 strikeouts. MVP voting g: 14 top 10 finishes including 3 #1’s and 3 #2.’s. Missed a year due to World War II after finishing first and fourth the previous two years. He won the award his first year after returning. All-star games: 24, Career OPS: 976. I don’t know where he ranks among outfielders, but he is easily a top-10 player among nonpitchers.
One thing regarding Willie Mays. We know fans can be idiots. Well, in the ’60s, there was a rather large faction of Giants fans who felt Mays wasn’t “clutch” like McCovey and Cepeda. Some went so far as to include Jim Ray Hart in that group. Ridiculous, I know, but these people would point to Mays’ pedestrian World Series numbers as proof that he didn’t come through when it counted. Idiot fans. All teams have them. As a Dodger fan, I have encountered more than my share 🙂
Agreed on Musial and Robinson.
What a class act. Rest easy Hank.
Mr. Aaron was my idol growing up. It’s been a bad week for braves fans.
I think the greatest hitter of all time. Blend of power, consistency and durability. 20 straight seasons with 20+ homers all while facing racial discrimination.
America should put him on the $100 bill to let him live on in perpetuity.
RIP Hammerin Hank— the GOAT.
RIP the true HR king!
What a great player and a super gentleman. One of my first heroes of the game.
RIP Legend
Hank Aaron was selected to 25 All-Star games.
Hammering Hank, RIP
Whats more inflated
Home runs on steroids or covid deaths?