The baseball world and beyond tuned in the night of April 8, 1974, and Hank Aaron delivered. That’s when The Hammer broke Babe Ruth’s home run record with No. 715, an achievement that highlighted his career but hardly defined it.
Hall of Famer. Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient. American hero.
“You were and are an inspiration to be a better person on and off the field. We lost a true LEGEND of the game today,” three-time MVP Mike Trout tweeted.
Aaron, who endured racist threats with stoic dignity on his way to hitting 755 homers and ascending the Mount Rushmore of sports, died Friday at 86.
The Braves star still holds the mark for RBIs and extra-base hits, though his home run record was broken by Barry Bonds in 2007.
Fittingly for a man who did so much for so many, Aaron’s last public appearance came just 2 1/2 weeks ago, when he received the COVID-19 vaccine. He said he wanted to help show Black Americans it was safe.
A final, significant shot from Hammerin’ Hank.
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1of14Hank Aaron holds a the ball he hit for his 715th career home run Monday night, April 8, 1974, in Atlanta Stadium against the Los Angeles Dodgers.BOB DAUGHERTY/APShow MoreShow Less2of14Atlanta Braves' Hank Aaron (44) breaks Babe Ruth's record for career home runs as he hits his 715th off Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Al Downing in the fourth inning of the game opener at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, Ga., April 8, 1974.APShow MoreShow Less3of14Milwaukee Braves' Hank Aaron is carried from the baseball field Sept. 23, 1957, by teammates after they won the National League pennant with a 4-2 victory against the St. Louis Cardinals, in Milwaukee.APShow MoreShow Less4of14Atlanta Braves' outfielder Hank Aaron makes a stretch catch attempt after Cincinnati Reds' Tony Perez hit a double into right field in fourth inning action in Cincinnati, Ohio, June 4, 1967.APShow MoreShow Less5of14Joe DiMaggio and Hank Aaron, wearing their Sultan of Swat crowns at rakish angles, pose with the awards at 11th annual Tops in Sports banquet, Jan. 14, 1964, in Baltimore, Maryland. Aaron, an outfielder with the Milwaukee Braves, was given the award for his slugging record of last season which included 44 homers and 130 runs batted in. DiMaggio, the former New York Yankees' star, was given a retroactive award for his 1939 record.William A. Smith/APShow MoreShow Less6of14A new sign showing the number of Hank Aaron's home runs provides a background as he runs off the field after the eighth inning of the first game of the doubleheader with the Cincinnati Reds at Atlanta Stadium, Sept. 10, 1973.APShow MoreShow Less7of14Baseball slugger Henry Aaron, left, gets an assist from his wife, Billye, in blowing out a birthday cake presented Aaron on his 40th birthday, in their home, Tuesday, Feb. 5, 1974, Atlanta, Ga.BJ/APShow MoreShow Less8of14Major League Baseball's all-time career home run record holder Hank Aaron and his wife Billye take a lap in a golf cart around Turner Field in Atlanta, Thursday, April, 8, 1999, after a ceremony to mark the 25th anniversary of his breaking Babe Ruth's record of 714 home runs on April 8, 1974.JOHN BAZEMORE/APShow MoreShow Less9of14Hank Aaron holds up the ball after throwing the ceremonial last pitch to former Manager Bobby Cox after a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers and the Braves last game at Turner Field, Oct. 2, 2016, in Atlanta.John Amis/APShow MoreShow Less10of14Hank Aaron of the Atlanta Braves reacts Saturday, July 21, 1973, in Atlanta after hitting 700th career home run against the Philadelphia Phillies.Anonymous/APShow MoreShow Less11of14Atlanta Braves' Hank Aaron looks over his shoulder during a news conference in New Orleans, Monday, April 1, 1974. Aaron is only one home run from tying and two from breaking Babe Ruths all-time home run record.Anonymous/APShow MoreShow Less12of14Former Yankee star Roger Maris talks with Hank Aaron on July 17, 1973, in Atlanta. Maris says he knows the pressure that Aaron in under as the Braves star is shy seventeen home runs of Babe Ruth's career record of 714.BJ/APShow MoreShow Less13of14Hank Aaron smiles after being presented with the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette by the Consul General of Japan at his official residence Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016, in Atlanta. Japan has honored the former home run king with one of its highest awards, bestowing the Order of the Rising Sun for bringing young people and countries together through baseball.David Goldman/APShow MoreShow Less14of14San Francisco Giants' Barry Bonds watches as a home run hit by Los Angeles Dodgers' Jeff Kent goes over the wall as he stands in front of a sign that bears the photos of, from left, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, and Willie Mays, Sunday, May 14, 2006, at AT&T Park in San Francisco during a MLB baseball game. Bonds remained one home run away from hitting his 714th career home run and tying Babe Ruth for second place behind Hank Aaron in career home runs.DINO VOURNAS/APShow MoreShow Less
