Sports Spotlights

Hank Aaron

Hank Aaron was born on February 5, 1934, in Mobile, Alabama. He was born Henry Louis "Hank" Aaron. He was given the nickname "Hammer" or "Hammerin" Hank later in his baseball career. He began his minor league career on November 20, 1951, when he was signed to a contract on behalf of the Indianapolis Clowns of the Negro American League.In 1952, at the age of eighteen, Aaron helped the Indianapolis Clowns win the Negro League Series. The Braves purchased Aaron from the Clowns for $10,000 and he signed with the Boston Braves on June 14, 1952, as a free agent. On April 13, 1954, Aaron made his major league debut. He hit his first home run on April 23rd of that same year. Aaron would hit 44 home runs in four different seasons. In 1955, Aaron made his first All-Star team. Aaron was the first player to hit 500 home runs and reach 3,000 hits. On July 20, 1967, Hank Aaron hit his 755th and final home run at Milwaukee County Stadium which stood as a Major League home run record until it was broken in 2007 by Barry Bonds. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982.