Hank Aaron
Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth's home run record with 755 career home runs.
Carol M. Highsmith · Public domain
According to Ed Scott Sr., the first African-American scout in Boston Red Sox history, Scott discovered the teenaged Aaron playing in a Mobile softball game. Scott signed Aaron to his first professional contract for the Indianapolis Clowns of the Negro leagues. By 1952, the 18-year-old player was offered a contract by the Boston Braves. Aaron would go on to play 23 big-league seasons and shatter Babe Ruth's all-time record with 755 home runs over his career.
- field
- Right fielder
- nationality
- American
- known_for
- Career home run record (755)
Lore & Background
Ed Scott Sr., a talent-spotter for the Negro leagues, discovered the teenaged Hank Aaron playing in a Mobile softball game. According to Ed Scott Jr., his father said, 'If that boy can hit a softball that far, how far can he hit a baseball?' With the help of field manager Bunny Downs, Scott signed Aaron for the Indianapolis Clowns. By 1952, the 18-year-old player was offered a contract by the Boston Braves. Aaron went on to play 23 big-league seasons and shattered (in 1974) Babe Ruth's all-time record with 755 home runs over his career. Aaron currently stands second, all time, to Barry Bonds.
Reader's Guide
Hank Aaron's significance lies in his career home run record. He hit 755 home runs over his 23 big-league seasons, breaking Babe Ruth's all-time record in 1974. Aaron currently stands second all time to Barry Bonds. He was signed to his first professional contract by Ed Scott Sr., a scout for the Indianapolis Clowns of the Negro leagues, after Scott spotted him playing softball in Mobile. Aaron was 18 when the Boston Braves offered him a contract in 1952.
Did You Know?
- Ed Scott Sr. discovered the teenaged Hank Aaron playing in a Mobile softball game.
- Scott signed Aaron to his first professional contract for the Indianapolis Clowns.
- Aaron shattered Babe Ruth's all-time home run record in 1974 with 755 home runs.
- Aaron currently stands second all time to Barry Bonds in career home runs.
- By 1952, the 18-year-old Aaron was offered a contract by the Boston Braves.
Gallery
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Hank Aaron?
Hank Aaron was an American right fielder who spent 23 seasons in Major League Baseball from 1954 to 1976. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest power hitters the sport has ever produced.
How many career home runs did Hank Aaron hit?
Aaron finished his career with 755 home runs, a total that stood as the MLB all-time record for 33 years after he surpassed Babe Ruth in 1974.
What position did Hank Aaron play?
He was a right fielder for his entire 23-season major league career.
How long did Hank Aaron hold the career home run record?
After breaking Babe Ruth's mark in 1974, Aaron's 755 home runs remained the all-time MLB record until Barry Bonds surpassed it in 2007, a span of 33 years.
What teams did Hank Aaron play for?
He spent 21 seasons with the Braves franchise in the National League (Milwaukee and Atlanta), then closed out his career with two seasons for the Milwaukee Brewers in the American League.
More in Baseball & Softball 1-20
Related in Baseball & Softball
Links follow this subject's own source article.
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record