With the World Series slated to begin Friday, Oct. 25, here’s a closer look at baseball great Hank Aaron, who was recently honored with a stamp:
• He rose from humble beginnings: Henry Louis Aaron (1934-2021) was the third of eight children and grew up in a three-room house built by his father in Mobile, AL. After hearing his idol Jackie Robinson speak in 1948, Aaron dedicated himself to becoming a professional baseball player. Unable to afford a ball and bat, he used a stick to hit bottlecaps.
• Aaron prevailed in the face of racism: After signing with the Braves in 1952, he was assigned to Jacksonville, FL, in the segregated South, where he was one of five players to break the color barrier in the South Atlantic League.
Aaron was forced to stay in separate accommodations from his white teammates and he faced racial taunts during games. Nonetheless, he led the league in batting average and was named the league’s most valuable player.
Years later, as Aaron approached Babe Ruth’s record of 714 home runs, he received more than 900,000 pieces of mail — many of which threatened violence against Aaron and his family. For his safety, a police officer accompanied him everywhere during the season, and Aaron would often leave ballparks through a back exit.
• His records remain unmatched: Never flashy, “Hammerin’ Hank” preferred to let his playing do the talking. He hit 30 or more home runs 15 times and maintained at least a .300 batting average in 14 seasons, never striking out more than 97 times in a season.
In 1970, Aaron became the first of only seven players in history with 3,000 hits and 500 home runs. He also collected three Gold Glove Awards. Despite retiring nearly 50 years ago, Aaron still holds the record for most runs batted in, total bases and All-Star Game appearances.
• He was a trailblazer and an inspiration: By 1973, Aaron was a star beyond the sport, appearing on talk shows, covers of national news magazines and even in a series of “Peanuts” comic strips.
After retiring as a player, he became vice president of player development with the Braves — becoming one of the first African Americans to be promoted to a front-office position in Major League Baseball. In 1994, Aaron and his wife, Billye, started the Hank Aaron Chasing the Dream Foundation to provide scholarships to underserved youth, continuing his lifelong pursuit to increase minority participation in baseball.
