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Hank Aaron Facts & Worksheets

Hank Aaron is best known for hitting more home runs than any other Major League Baseball player in history

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Hank Aaron is best known for hitting more home runs than any other Major League Baseball player in history.

See the fact file below for more information on Hank Aaron or alternatively, you can download our 26-page Hank Aaron worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

EARLY LIFE OF HANK AARON

  • Henry “Hank” Louis Aaron was born on February 5, 1934, in Mobile, Alabama, United States, to Herbert Aaron Sr. and Estella (Pritchett) Aaron.
  • He and his seven siblings grew up in a poor neighborhood of Toulminville. However, this did not deter him from taking an interest in baseball.
  • Using bottle caps and sticks and other materials to emulate the baseball bat and ball, Hank sought to become like his baseball hero, Jackie Robinson.
  • When he attended Central High School, Aaron joined the Mobile Black Bears team and played outfield and third base. He became a cross-handed batter and power hitter.
  • At 15, Aaron decided to try out with an MLB franchise, the Brooklyn Dodgers (now Los Angeles Dodgers), but failed.
  • He finished his secondary education at Josephine Allen Institute. He played for the Prichard Athletics and later the Mobile Black Bears, both independent Negro League teams.
  • In 1951, Aaron signed with the Indianapolis Clowns and led the Clowns to triumph in the 1952 Negro League World Series.

MINOR LEAGUE CAREER

  • Aaron’s outstanding performance led two major league teams to offer him a contract: the New York Giants and the Boston Braves.
  • The Braves purchased Aaron’s contract for $10,000 and he was soon sent to the Eau Claire Bears, the team’s Northern League Class-C farm team.
  • His 1952 minor league season proved his huge potential as he won Rookie of the Year despite playing in just 87 games.
  • The following year, Aaron was promoted to the Jacksonville Braves. He led the team to the league championship and won the Most Valuable Player award. He played in Puerto Rico in 1953 to avoid getting drafted into the Korean War effort.
  • In 1954, Hank Aaron made his Major League Debut with the Milwaukee Braves. He batted .280 with 13 homers in 125 games before he suffered a fractured ankle.
  • He changed his jersey number from 5 to 44 that same year.
  • From 1955 onwards, Hank Aaron’s batting average was above .300, a milestone for many baseball hitters even today.
  • He also won several major awards such as National League (NL) Player of the Year and three Gold Gloves.
  • Aaron also led his team to the World Series in 1957 and several Pennant wins in the following years.
  • In 1968, he became the eighth player ever to hit 500 career home runs.
  • Two years later, he collected his 3,000th hit, a rare feat even for major league players. Aaron also established the record for most seasons with forty or more home runs in the National League.
  • His most dramatic achievement came when he broke the legendary baseball player Babe Ruth’s homerun record. Several death threats were made against him from racist fans who didn’t want a black man to outdo MLB’s then-record holder. This however did not deter Aaron as he hit his 715th home run in 1974, surpassing Babe Ruth.

“In playing ball, and in life, a person occasionally gets the opportunity to do something great. When that time comes, only two things matter: being prepared to seize the moment and having the courage to take your best swing.”

~ Hank Aaron ~
  • That same year, Aaron hit his 733rd home run in his last at-bat as a Braves player. His contract expired so the Milwaukee Brewers signed him up through a trade for two years.
  • In 1975, he broke baseball’s all-time RBI record, previously held by Ruth, and played his final all-star game.
  • Aaron finished his 23-year baseball career with 755 home runs, 3,771 hits, .305 batting average,  163 hits a season, averaging just over 32 home runs and 99 RBIs a year, before retiring in 1976.

POST-BASEBALL HONORS

  • After retirement, Aaron joined the Braves’ management as an executive, and later the senior vice president and assistant to the Braves’ president.
  • On August 1, 1982, he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, a body in Cooperstown that recognizes the most renowned Major League Baseball players.
  • Hank Aaron’s number 44 was retired by the Atlanta Braves and the  Milwaukee Brewers, meaning the jersey number will not be used by any other player again.
  • In 1999, Major League Baseball announced the introduction of the Hank Aaron Award, honoring the best overall offensive performer in the American and National League per season.
  • He also received two Presidential Medals in 2001 and 2002 for his career, philanthropy, and humanitarian endeavors.

“I never doubted my ability, but when you hear all your life you’re inferior, it makes you wonder if the other guys have something you’ve never seen before. If they do, I’m still looking for it.”

 ~ Hank Aaron ~
  • Hank Aaron passed away peacefully in his sleep on January 22, 2021.
  • Fans paid tribute by placing flowers in front of the home run wall where he hit his 715th home run and several baseball players and teams sent their condolences to his family.
  • He left his wife Billye Suber Williams with one child and five others from his first wife, Barbara Lucas.

Hank Aaron Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about Hank Aaron across 26 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use worksheets that are perfect for teaching about Hank Aaron who is best known for hitting more home runs than any other Major League Baseball player in history.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Hank Aaron Facts
  • Baseball Terms
  • The Braves
  • Player Profile
  • Right Fielder
  • Number 44
  • Playing Pro
  • Hank Aaron Awards
  • Facing Racism
  • Black Men in Baseball
  • Words to Live By

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Hank Aaron known for?
Hank Aaron is best known for hitting more home runs than any other Major League Baseball player in history.

Who did Hank Aaron play for?
He played for a number of teams including the New York Giants, Boston Braves, the Eau Claire Bears, the Jacksonville Braves, and Milwaukee Braves.

Where was Hank Aaron born?
In Mobile, Alabama, United States

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Link will appear as Hank Aaron Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, April 22, 2022

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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