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Aaron, r.f.
The greatest sports saga of the modern era has to be Henry Aaron's assault on the immortal Babe Ruth's career home run record of 714. In this book, Henry Aaron tells in his own words the story of that epic journey.
In 1952, Henry Lewis Aaron left Mobile, Alabama, with two dollars in his pocket, two pairs of pants, and two sandwiches in a brown paper bag. Seventeen years old and homesick before the train even left the station, he was off to become a shortstop for the Indianapolis Clowns, a black barnstorming team.
Aaron was not with the Clowns fo long when major league scouts picked up his trail. In particular, the Giants and Braves were interested in his services. The Braves bought his contract from the Clowns for $2,500 and sent him ot their Eau Claire farm club where he hit .336.
The next year, Aaron played for Jacksonville in the Sally League, the first black to do so, and hit .362 to lead the league. On the road in those days, the white players stayed in a hotel in the center of town. More often than not, the black players stayed in a private home on the wrong side of the tracks.
Aaron made the Braves varsity in 1954 when Bobby Thomson broke his leg sliding into second base in spring training. His first season he hit a respectable .280 with 13 home runs and 69 RBIs.
Several seasons later, he waas one of baseball's premier players. In 1956, he won the National League batting title withan average of .328. In 1957, he led the Braves to a World Series victory over the Yankees. He led the league in home runs (44) and RBIs (132) and batted .322 en-route to being named the league's MVP. And he hit .393 with three home runs in the World Series.
Even though the Braves' teams of recent years haven't been as powerful as those of the late 50's, it has not been for lack of hitting on Hank Aaron's part. He has over 3,000 hits, has scored over 2,000 runs, and has knocked in over 2,000 runs, in addition to being the only player other than Babe Ruth to hit more than 700 home runs--a pinnacle many baseball experts thought would never be equalled again.
This is Henry Aaron's story of how he went from a $50-a-week shortstop for the Indianapolis Clowns to being a $200,000-a-year superstar. After twenty major league seasons, this is how Aaron feels about the game which has put him in the national spotlight: "we've gone this road together, baseball and me, and it has done something for me and I think I have done something worthwhile for baseball. I want to stay in baseball because I love it, because it is the one business I know, and because the living is good in baseball."
In 1952, Henry Lewis Aaron left Mobile, Alabama, with two dollars in his pocket, two pairs of pants, and two sandwiches in a brown paper bag. Seventeen years old and homesick before the train even left the station, he was off to become a shortstop for the Indianapolis Clowns, a black barnstorming team.
Aaron was not with the Clowns fo long when major league scouts picked up his trail. In particular, the Giants and Braves were interested in his services. The Braves bought his contract from the Clowns for $2,500 and sent him ot their Eau Claire farm club where he hit .336.
The next year, Aaron played for Jacksonville in the Sally League, the first black to do so, and hit .362 to lead the league. On the road in those days, the white players stayed in a hotel in the center of town. More often than not, the black players stayed in a private home on the wrong side of the tracks.
Aaron made the Braves varsity in 1954 when Bobby Thomson broke his leg sliding into second base in spring training. His first season he hit a respectable .280 with 13 home runs and 69 RBIs.
Several seasons later, he waas one of baseball's premier players. In 1956, he won the National League batting title withan average of .328. In 1957, he led the Braves to a World Series victory over the Yankees. He led the league in home runs (44) and RBIs (132) and batted .322 en-route to being named the league's MVP. And he hit .393 with three home runs in the World Series.
Even though the Braves' teams of recent years haven't been as powerful as those of the late 50's, it has not been for lack of hitting on Hank Aaron's part. He has over 3,000 hits, has scored over 2,000 runs, and has knocked in over 2,000 runs, in addition to being the only player other than Babe Ruth to hit more than 700 home runs--a pinnacle many baseball experts thought would never be equalled again.
This is Henry Aaron's story of how he went from a $50-a-week shortstop for the Indianapolis Clowns to being a $200,000-a-year superstar. After twenty major league seasons, this is how Aaron feels about the game which has put him in the national spotlight: "we've gone this road together, baseball and me, and it has done something for me and I think I have done something worthwhile for baseball. I want to stay in baseball because I love it, because it is the one business I know, and because the living is good in baseball."
212 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1968
1 person is currently reading
37 people want to read
About the author
Hank Aaron
19 books8 followersAmerican baseball player Henry Louis Aaron, known as Hank, in 1974 surpassed lifetime record of George Herman Ruth of 714 home runs and retired in 1976 with a total of 755 home runs, a record that lasted until 2007.
Homer run the 756th of American baseball player Barry Lamar Bonds broke lifetime record of Hank Aaron in 2007.
His Major League Baseball (MLB) career spanned the years 1954 through 1976. Aaron was widely considered one of the greatest baseball players of all time. In 1999, editors at The Sporting News ranked Hank Aaron fifth on their list of "Greatest Baseball Players."
After playing with the Indianapolis Clowns of the Negro American League and in the minor leagues, Aaron started his major league career in 1954. (He was the last Negro league baseball player to have played in the major leagues.) He played 21 seasons with the Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves in the National League, and his last two years (1975–76) with the Milwaukee Brewers in the American League. His most notable achievement was setting the MLB record for most career home runs. During his professional career, Aaron performed at a consistently high level for an extended period of time. He hit 24 or more home runs every year from 1955 through 1973, and was the only player to hit 30 or more home runs in a season at least fifteen times. He was one of only four players to have at least seventeen seasons with 150 or more hits. Aaron made the All-Star team every year from 1955 until 1975 and won three Rawlings Gold Glove Awards. In 1957, he won the National League Most Valuable Player Award, while that same year, the Braves won the World Series, his one World Series victory during his career.
Aaron's consistency helped him to establish a number of important hitting records during his 23-year career. Aaron holds the MLB records for the most career runs batted in (2,297), the most career extra base hits (1,477). Hank Aaron is also in the top five for career hits with 3,771 (third) and runs with 2,174, which is tied for fourth with Babe Ruth. He also was in second place in at-bats (12,364), and in third place in games played (3,298). Aaron's nicknames include "Hammer," "Hammerin' Hank,” and "Bad Henry”.
Homer run the 756th of American baseball player Barry Lamar Bonds broke lifetime record of Hank Aaron in 2007.
His Major League Baseball (MLB) career spanned the years 1954 through 1976. Aaron was widely considered one of the greatest baseball players of all time. In 1999, editors at The Sporting News ranked Hank Aaron fifth on their list of "Greatest Baseball Players."
After playing with the Indianapolis Clowns of the Negro American League and in the minor leagues, Aaron started his major league career in 1954. (He was the last Negro league baseball player to have played in the major leagues.) He played 21 seasons with the Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves in the National League, and his last two years (1975–76) with the Milwaukee Brewers in the American League. His most notable achievement was setting the MLB record for most career home runs. During his professional career, Aaron performed at a consistently high level for an extended period of time. He hit 24 or more home runs every year from 1955 through 1973, and was the only player to hit 30 or more home runs in a season at least fifteen times. He was one of only four players to have at least seventeen seasons with 150 or more hits. Aaron made the All-Star team every year from 1955 until 1975 and won three Rawlings Gold Glove Awards. In 1957, he won the National League Most Valuable Player Award, while that same year, the Braves won the World Series, his one World Series victory during his career.
Aaron's consistency helped him to establish a number of important hitting records during his 23-year career. Aaron holds the MLB records for the most career runs batted in (2,297), the most career extra base hits (1,477). Hank Aaron is also in the top five for career hits with 3,771 (third) and runs with 2,174, which is tied for fourth with Babe Ruth. He also was in second place in at-bats (12,364), and in third place in games played (3,298). Aaron's nicknames include "Hammer," "Hammerin' Hank,” and "Bad Henry”.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 23, 2020
This is a very enjoyable read about a time in baseball gone by. I didn't know a whole lot about many of the players involved, but now I can say I at least know a bit more about Hank Aaron and his baseball career. I appreciated that although Aaron mentions that he was capable of hitting home runs, he never dwells on his massive home run totals or any kind of quest for glory (which makes sense, as he comes across as a humble sort). Aaron only gets to the 1968 season in his own words, but the afterword that details his career home run quest in the early seventies was written by the author.
July 9, 2008
I was just a kid in 6th grade reading about one of my hometown's greatest heroes. I just wanted to know how Hank could break the Babe's record. I had no idea this would be the first I'd really learn about racism and how unkind humans can be. I grew up in a nice and sheltered life, oblivious (at this point) to what many people really went through. It was completely eye opening and inspirational to me. In America, I think athletes and sports do more to integrate races than any public policy can. Hank's perserverance to break the greatest white baseball record of all time is an absolutely unbelievable acheivement. It's maybe more unreal that he did it in the face of death threats and mis-treatment throughout his entire career. I think it was only fitting that when he hit 715, two white men ran on the field to congratulate him. He won on so many levels and this book captured that for me.
April 7, 2013
Hank Aaron was my first sports hero as a kid. I can remember watching all of his baseball games as he closed in on Babe Ruth's home run record. i remember crying while watching him round the bases after he hit number 715 to break the record. His was the first autobiography or biography I ever read as a young boy. Growing up in a predominantly white town and not having been aware of the racism that existed at that time (and still does), this book opened my eyes to the fact that black people were treated differently in this country. I couldn't understand it then, I can't understand it now.
December 8, 2019
Just finished another baseball autobiography book. This one about Hammering Hank, Hank Aaron, the true all-time home run king. Hank played in the Negro Leagues before breaking in with the Milwaukee Braves in 1954. He faced much adversity while approaching and breaking Babe Ruth's 714 lifetime homer record. A great person who still is associated with major league baseball. Good stuff here.
April 20, 2021
I quite enjoyed the book Aaron. The book is written by noted author Furman Bisher. He provides very many insights into Hank Aaron as a player and a person. Unfortunately the book was printed a few months before Hank’s historic homerun.
December 21, 2015
The best Hank Aaron biography...
September 19, 2011
"Two dollars, two sandwiches, two pairs of pants"
Hank aaron
This book had a lot of humor in it, more than his more recent autobiography. I REALLY loved this book.
Hank aaron
This book had a lot of humor in it, more than his more recent autobiography. I REALLY loved this book.
December 21, 2012
I read this as a Jr. Higher (1975'ish) - I think it was my first exposure to black/white issues. I remember being appalled at what HAaron had to go through...
March 7, 2016
I think this book was a good book to read if you wanted to read the life of Henry Aaron.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews