Swing into History: Top 7 Captivating Fun Facts About Hank Aaron You Never Knew!

1. Cross-handed Grip

You could say that Hank Aaron had a real "hands-on" approach to baseball: The home run king started his career using a cross-handed batting stance, which he only changed upon entering the minor leagues, attributing his ability to wait on pitches and quick wristwork to this unique grip. Collectively, Aaron's hits totaled 4,136, accounting for his stints in the Negro Leagues (41 hits), Minor Leagues (324 hits), and Major Leagues (3,771 hits).
Source => negroleagueshistory.com

2. Rookie Home Run

Knock, knock. Who's there? It's Hank Aaron, swinging his way into baseball history: On April 23, 1954, during his rookie season, Hank hit his first major-league home run against St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Vic Raschi, marking the beginning of a legendary career that ultimately shattered Babe Ruth's all-time home run record.
Source => sabr.org

Did you know Babe Ruth could out-homer entire teams and wore up to 7 silk shirts a day? Discover more about this legendary baseball icon's extravagant lifestyle and record-smashing achievements! 🏆⚾👕

=> Fun Facts about Babe-Ruth

3. Breaking Barriers

Stepping up to the plate and knocking racism out of the park with the same swing he used on baseballs: Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth's home run record on April 8, 1974, amidst death threats and racism, and eventually finished his career with a whopping 755 career home runs. He played in 24 All-Star Games, scored the MVP title in 1957, and even has a statue in Atlanta to commemorate his barrier-shattering achievement.
Source => mississippitoday.org

4. Sports Virtuoso

Ladies and gentlemen, step right up and behold Hank Aaron, the versatile sports virtuoso: not just a legendary baseball slugger but also an ace football player during high school, leading his team to the Mobile Negro High School Championship in his freshman and sophomore years, and a skilled softball player who grabbed the attention of a scout at the tender age of 14 while playing for a semi-pro team. Hank was no one-trick pony, that's for sure!
Source => sabr.org

5. Golden Glove Web

Though he might not have been Spider-Man, Hank Aaron certainly had a web of his own when it came to catching fly balls: Aaron demonstrated prowess in both offense and defense, as evident by his three Gold Glove Awards and only 21 errors in over 3,000 chances during his impressive career in the field.
Source => mlb.com

6. Burger-preneur

From sliding into home base to flipping burgers like a pro: Hank Aaron didn't just hit home runs on the diamond, but in the world of entrepreneurship after retiring from baseball, successfully opening 17 fast-food franchises and founding the Hank Aaron Automotive Group, which ranked 15th on Black Enterprise's Auto Dealers list in 2006, generating $136.7 million in revenue, and solidifying his advocacy for civil rights with a Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2002.
Source => autonews.com

7. 20-Homer King

Much like a dedicated baker perfecting their signature cake, Hank Aaron consistently knocked it out of the park, stuffing his career with scrumptious home run layers: He hit 20 or more homers in 20 consecutive seasons between 1955 and 1974, making him the only player to have 20+ home runs in 20 different years and one of only five players with eight or more 40-homer seasons.
Source => mlb.com