Community Corner
Today In Sports History: Hank Aaron Breaks Home Run Record
On April 8, 1974, Hank Aaron hits 715th home run to break Babe Ruth's all-time record.
OCEANSIDE, CA — On this date in 1974, Hank Aaron hits his 715th career home run while playing for the Atlanta Braves, breaking Babe Ruth’s record of 714 homers.
Born in Mobile, Alabama, on February 5, 1934, Hank Aaron made his Major League debut in 1954 with the Milwaukee Braves, just seven years after Jackie Robinson broke baseball’s color barrier.
In 1957, with characteristically little fanfare, Aaron, who primarily played right field, was named the National League’s Most Valuable Player as the Milwaukee Braves won the pennant. Although “Hammerin’ Hank” specialized in home runs, he was also an extremely dependable batter, and by the end of his career he held baseball’s career record for most runs batted in: 2,297.
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Aaron hung up his cleats in 1976 with 755 career home runs—a record that stood until 2007, when it was broken by controversial slugger Barry Bonds (Bonds admitted to using steroids in 2011). He went on to become one of baseball’s first African American executives, with the Atlanta Braves, and a leading spokesperson for minority hiring. Hank Aaron was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982. He died on January 22, 2021, at age 86. Visit History.com for more about Hank Aaron
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