| |
KF5JRV > TODAY 08.04.25 16:46z 30 Lines 2280 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 6594_KF5JRV
Read: GUEST
Subj: Today in History - Apr 08
Path: HB9ON<DK0WUE<DK0WUE<K7EK<VE3CGR<N3HYM<KF5JRV
Sent: 250408/0947Z 6594@KF5JRV.#NWAR.AR.USA.NA BPQK6.0.23
On April 8, 1974, Hank Aaron of the Atlanta Braves hits his 715th career home run, breaking Babe Ruths legendary record of 7
14 homers. A crowd of 53,775 people, the largest in the history of Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, was with Aaron that night to
cheer when he hit a 4th inning pitch off the Los Angeles Dodgers Al Downing. However, as Aaron was an African American who h
ad received death threats and racist hate mail during his pursuit of one of baseballs most distinguished records, the achiev
ement was bittersweet.
Henry Louis Aaron Jr., born in Mobile, Alabama, on February 5, 1934, made his Major League debut in 1954 with the Milwaukee Bra
ves, just seven years after Jackie Robinson broke baseballs color barrier and became the first African American to play in t
he majors. Aaron, known as hard working and quiet, was the last Negro league player to also compete in the Major Leagues. In 19
57, with characteristically little fanfare, Aaron, who primarily played right field, was named the National Leagues Most Val
uable Player as the Milwaukee Braves won the pennant. A few weeks later, his three home runs in the World Series helped his tea
m triumph over the heavily favored New York Yankees. Although “Hammerin Hank” specialized in home runs, he was also an e
xtremely dependable batter, and by the end of his career he held baseballs career record for most runs batted in: 2,297.
Aaron spent his 23-year big league career with two organizations. He was with the Braves from 1954 to 1974first in Milwaukee
and then in Atlanta, when the franchise moved in 1966and closed it out with two seasons back in Milwaukee for the Brewers.
Aaron hung up his cleats in 1976 with 755 career home runsa record that stood until 2007, when it was broken by controversia
l slugger Barry Bonds (Bonds admitted to using steroids in 2011). Aaron's achievements didn't end when his career did, though.
He went on to become one of baseballs first African American executives, with the Atlanta Braves, and a leading spokesperson
for minority hiring. Hank Aaron was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982. He died on January 22, 2021, at age 86.
73 de Scott KF5JRV
Pmail: KF5JRV@KF5JRV.#NWAR.AR.USA.NA
Email KF5JRV@gmail.com
Read previous mail | Read next mail
| |
