Hank Aaron

Hank Aaron

Hank Aaron is among the greatest Major League Baseball players of all time. In his 22-year professional career, he played 21 seasons with the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves.

"Hammerin' Hank" grew up in Mobile, Alabama, where he first became acquainted with baseball on the sandlots. Before becoming a professional, he spent a short time playing for the Indianapolis Clowns of the American Negro League.

Hank Highlights

Upon entering the majors in 1954, Aaron made an immediate impact as one of the league's best hitters. To this day, Hank Aaron holds the all-time record for most career runs batted in (RBIs) with a total of 2,297. But Aaron's career records don't end there.

Along with having the most RBIs, Aaron has records for most career extra-base hits and most career total bases with 1,477 and 6,856 respectively. Despite such impressive statistics, Aaron's most notable distinction comes from another impressive feat.

Record Breaker

Hank Aaron was the first person to surpass Babe Ruth's career home run record. With his 715th home run on April 8th, 1974, Aaron broke Ruth's record, which stood for 33 years.

Aaron went on to amass a total of 755 home runs in his career. And while players have since hit more, many fans consider Aaron to be the true home run king. That recognition comes from the fact that Aaron hit all of his home runs well before baseball's controversial steroid era.

Evidence of Aaron's consistency comes from his 25 all-star game selections. In 1982, the MLB elected Aaron to the Hall of Fame.