Henry Aaron

Hank Aaron hitting one of his many home runs. (http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/p_aaroh4.shtml)

Hank Aaron was a marvelous man, not to mention the home run king of baseball. With all the adversity that he overcame, it is amazing that a man could accomplish something so great and so treasured. Henry Aaron was born February 5, 1934, when Babe Ruth was still playing baseball. Little did everyone know that a black kid from Mobile, Alabama would break the Babe’s precious record. Hank Aaron is a legend to be remembered.

As of March, 2006, Hank Aaron still resides in Atlanta, Georgia. He played for the Milwaukee Braves for the beginning of his career until the team relocated to Atlanta and became the Atlanta Braves. Hank Aaron overcame the biggest adversity that I’ve ever read or heard about. He set the all-time home run record in 1974, surpassing Babe Ruth at 715 home runs. He later finished with 755 homers. He holds the homerun record at 755, the RBI record at 2297 along with 1477 extra base hits, 6856 total bases, and the most years with 30 or more homeruns at 15.

Hank Aaron when he played for the Atlanta Braves. (http://www.finalshot.com/Bravespg.asp)

Hank Aaron also played in the Negro League for the Clowns. He got his nickname “Hammering Hank” while he played in the Negro League. Hank was raised during the depression, so he really didn’t have that much as a kid. He said he was the momma's boy of the family though. Hank won his first and only MVP award in 1957, but he deserved the award more years than he got it. Hank received more than 1000 letters before breaking Babe Ruth’s record and all of them were threats to be killed or his family to be killed. He overcame it all and got what was rightfully his.

Hank Aaron is a hero within because he inspired so many African-Americans to do so many things. He lifted them up and held them on his back all the way to the record. But the African-American fans were with him every step of the way. He lifted their spirits, and I think that’s why so many African-Americans are so successful today in the world of sports. I don’t think anyone else could have overcome what Hank did in the time period that he did it in. Society was against him, but he proved that if you set your mind to something that you can achieve it if you try.

Hank Aaron signing autographs before a game. (http://www.sportingnews.com/archives/aaron/photo1.html)

Hank Aaron was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1982. Hank Aaron was a hero for many children and still is today. He inspired with his courage and hard work to become the best homerun hitter of all time. Hank Aaron made a huge difference in baseball and probably in all of sports around the world.