hank aaron home run record
"And he'll hit almost anything, so you have to be careful. Of a time his team was in Washington, D.C. Aaron recalled: We had breakfast while we were waiting for the rain to stop, and I can still envision sitting with the Clowns in a restaurant behind Griffith Stadium and hearing them break all the plates in the kitchen after we finished eating. After his retirement, Aaron held front office roles with the Atlanta Braves, including the senior vice president. [63], At the end of the 1973 season, Aaron received a plaque from the U.S. [8], In 1999, major league baseball created the Hank Aaron Award, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Aaron's surpassing of Babe Ruth's career home run mark of 714 home runs and to honor Aaron's contributions to baseball. Meanwhile, Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully addressed the racial tensionor apparent lack thereofin his call of the home run: What a marvelous moment for baseball; what a marvelous moment for Atlanta and the state of Georgia; what a marvelous moment for the country and the world. Instead of congratulations, Aaron received mounds of vile, racist and threatening hate mail which helped to ultimately make Aaron a bitter man. After the game, Aaron said his only fear was that he might not live to see the 1974 season. "[90][91], Aaron was Catholic, having converted in 1959 with his family. [49], In 1963, Aaron nearly won the triple crown. "[45], Aaron hit .314 with 27 home runs and 106 RBIs, in 1955. And for the first time in a long time, that poker face of Aarons shows the tremendous strain and relief of what it must have been like to live with for the past several months.. [65] As the 1974 season began, Aaron's pursuit of the record caused a small controversy. His daughter told. [11] During his minor league experience, he was very homesick and faced constant racism, but his brother, Herbert Jr., told him not to give up the opportunity. In 1974, after tying Ruth on Opening Day in Cincinnati, Ohio, Aaron came home with his team. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2002. On October 6, Aaron and Lucas married. Newspaper cartoonist Charles Schulz created a series of Peanuts strips printed in August 1973 in which Snoopy attempts to break the Ruth record, only to be besieged with hate mail. Hoping to lift the country out of the crippling Great Depression, Congress allowed the president to use the funds at his discretion. The fireworks are going. Aaron Judge broke the A.L. But it was Hammerin' Hank's sweet home run swing for which he was best known. Rankings of Negro League players should consider that Negro League data is not complete. Actor: MacGyver. [136], In 2002, Aaron was honored with the "Lombardi Award of Excellence" from the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation. He signed a two-year contract with the Brewers for $240,000 per year. But the Braves offered fifty dollars a month more. After touching home plate he was carried off the field by his teammates. But for Aaron, the journey to 715 home runs was much more complex. [46][47] In 1956, Aaron hit .328 and captured the first of two NL batting titles. Yankees outfielder growing golf profile alongside Tiger Wo Daniel Jones needs to see big picture in Giants negotiations, Red-hot Jon Rahm no match for wind-swept Bay Hill: 'F--king hard', The Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast, The Show with Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman, Amazin' But True: A NY Mets Baseball Podcast, Gangs All Here: A NY Jets Football Podcast, Kellyanne Conway and George Conway to divorce, Canadian teacher with size-Z prosthetic breasts placed on paid leave. In 1988, Aaron was inducted into the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame. Aaron was 34 years, five months, and nine days old. On January 5, 2021, Aaron publicly received a COVID-19 vaccination with the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine[99] at the Morehouse School of Medicine at Atlanta, Georgia. In 1986, Hank Aaron made a guest appearance in "Just Another Fox in the Crowd", episode 30 of Crazy Like a Fox. Baseball Hall of Famer Hank Aaron, who battled racial prejudice and hatred on his way to breaking the major leagues' career home run record, has died at the age of 86, the Atlanta . Aaron was the first player to reach both Hall-worthy batting thresholds of 3,000 hits and 500 home runs. Baseball's all-time home run king, Hank Aaron did more than hit home runs. 06-14-1952 | Aaron is signed by Boston Braves as a slick fielding second baseman and wins the Northern . Aaron was known to frequently read Thomas Kempis' 15th-century book The Imitation of Christ, which he kept in his locker. SCP Auctions reports that Barry Bonds' record 756th home run ball to pass Hank Aaron for first on the all-time home run list went for $752,467 in 2007, while No. Where Hank Aaron does stand out is in the total number of hits. Getty Images Aaron reportedly received 930,000 pieces of mail in 1973 the year before he broke Ruth's record with enough including threats that the. That record would stand until 2007 when Barry Bonds . In 1957, Aaron won his only NL MVP Award,[11] as he had his first brush with the triple crown. "He taught me what life was all about. Aaron holds the MLB records for the most career runs batted in (RBIs) (2,297), extra base hits (1,477), and total bases (6,856). [132] In July 2000 and again in July 2002, Aaron threw out the ceremonial first pitch at the Major League Baseball All-Star Game, played at Turner Field and Miller Park now named American Family Field, respectively. Throughout the past century, the home run has held a special place in baseball and I have been privileged to hold this record for 33 of those years. Postal Service for receiving more mail (930,000 pieces) than any person excluding politicians. Braves' public relations director Don Davidson, observing Aaron's quiet, reserved nature, began referring to him publicly as "Hank" in order to suggest more accessibility. That year, he also played in his last and 24th All-Star Game (25th All-Star Game selection[47]); he lined out to Dave Concepcin as a pinch-hitter in the second inning. Although Hammerin Hank specialized in home runs, he was also an extremely dependable batter, and by the end of his career he held baseballs career record for most runs batted in: 2,297. He was with the Braves from 1954 to 1974first in Milwaukee and then in Atlanta, when the franchise moved in 1966and closed it out with two seasons back in Milwaukee for the Brewers. He had finished 1973 with 713 career home runs, one shy of the all-time record set by Babe Ruth. [11] His family could not afford baseball equipment, so he practiced by hitting bottle caps with sticks. [146][147], The Elite Development Invitational, a youth baseball tournament organized by the Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association to increase diversity in the sport, was renamed the Hank Aaron Invitational for the 2019 season. [122] The award is given annually to the baseball hitters voted the most effective in each respective league. On April 4, Opening Day, a 39-year-old Aaron sent the very first pitch he saw over the wall,. [22] On August 1, 1982, he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, having received votes on 97.8 percent of the ballots, second only to Ty Cobb, who had received votes on 98.2% of the ballot in the inaugural 1936 Hall of Fame election. All that hatred left a deep scar on me. He added 22 more in 1975 and 1976, finally calling it a career with 755 career home runs. Although he was on the roster of its farm club, Milwaukee manager Charley Grimm later stated, "From the start, he did so well I knew we were going to have to carry him. If dogs had eaten off those plates, they'd have washed them. Sports Illustrated pointedly summarized the racist vitriol that Aaron was forced to endure: Is this to be the year in which Aaron, at the age of thirty-nine, takes a moon walk above one of the most hallowed individual records in American sport? [55] As the year came to a close, Aaron broke Stan Musial's major-league record for total bases (6,134),[56] the record he was the most proud of since it reflected his overall performance as a hitter and team player. [52] Aaron was, at the time, the second-youngest player to reach the milestone. [139], He was named a 2010 Georgia Trustee by the Georgia Historical Society, in conjunction with the Governor of Georgia, to recognize accomplishments and community service that reflect the ideals of the founding body of Trustees, which governed the Georgia colony from 1732 to 1752. [76] Minor league right-handed pitcher Roger Alexander was sent to the Braves to complete the transaction at the Winter Meetings one month later on December 2. He was 86. Aaron had not played well at second base, but Owen noted that Aaron could catch fly balls and throw them well from the outfield to the infield. Aaron's record was . In a statement, the Braves said Aaron died peacefully. [71] Aaron commented after the game that it was his last time as a player in Atlanta as his contract had expired. [30], In 1953, the Braves promoted him to the Jacksonville Braves, their Class-A affiliate in the South Atlantic League. [41], At this point, Aaron was known to family and friends primarily as "Henry". Aaron resided near Atlanta until his death. He divorced Barbara in 1971 and married Billye Suber Williams on November 13, 1973. He was 86. I had nowhere to go except home and to the ballpark, home and to the ballpark. Swinging. He died on January 22, 2021, at age 86. [9] In 1982, he was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. [124], When the city of Atlanta was converting Centennial Olympic Stadium into a new baseball stadium, many local residents hoped the stadium would be named for Aaron. [127], On February 5, 1999, at his 65th birthday celebration, Major League Baseball announced the introduction of the Hank Aaron Award. Hank Aaron, who endured racist threats with stoic dignity during his pursuit of Babe Ruth but went on to break the career home run record in the pre-steroids era, died early Friday. The Braves were able to speak to the draft board, making the case that Aaron could be the player to integrate the Southern Association the following season with the Atlanta Crackers. [89], Despite being publicly and professionally known as "Hank," Aaron preferred to go by his given name, "Henry. Hank Aaron & Barry Bonds Retirement (2002)", "Hank Aaron, Home Run King Who Defied Racism, Dies at 86", "Famous Religious Conversions Hank Aaron", "Baseball's home run king Hank Aaron fought racism on and off the field", "Hall of Famer Hank Aaron's death unrelated to Covid-19 vaccination", "Health experts urge confidence in vaccine after superstar's death", "Baseball legend Hank Aaron got virus vaccine earlier in January", "Hall of Famer Henry "Hank" Aaron dies at 86", "Hank Aaron, baseball legend and former home run king, dies at 86", "Private funeral service for Hank Aaron announced", "Tributes pour in honoring the legendary Hank Aaron", "Players, celebrities and fans react to the death of baseball legend Hank Aaron", "Gov. This All-Star Game, like the first one he played in 1955, was before a home crowd at Milwaukee County Stadium. Bonds broke Mark McGwire's single-season record by hitting 73 in 2001 and while he's no longer such a force,. He was 86. harvnb error: no target: CITEREFBraunsteinWolpin2006 (, Last edited on 23 February 2023, at 14:06, List of Major League Baseball annual doubles leaders, List of Major League Baseball annual home run leaders, List of Major League Baseball annual runs batted in leaders, List of Major League Baseball annual runs scored leaders, List of Major League Baseball batting champions, List of Major League Baseball career doubles leaders, List of Major League Baseball career hits leaders, List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders, List of Major League Baseball career runs batted in leaders, List of Major League Baseball career runs scored leaders, List of Major League Baseball career stolen bases leaders, List of Major League Baseball career triples leaders, List of Major League Baseball doubles records, List of Major League Baseball home run records, List of Major League Baseball individual streaks, List of Major League Baseball runs batted in records, "For single seasons, From 1876 to 2008, (requiring HR30), sorted by greatest Seasons matching criteria", "For single seasons, From 1876 to 2008, (requiring H150), sorted by greatest Seasons matching criteria", "Hank Aaron's searing words on the racism he faced should never be forgotten", "Hank Aaron: Baseball icon and civil rights activist dies aged 86", Wisconsin Sports Development Corporation 2013, "Dunbar Creative And Performing Arts Magnet School", "This date in Braves history: Hank Aaron's only inside-the-park homer", "Vin Scully's Call of Hank Aaron's 715th Home Run", "Aaron Gets Reception, Mets Get Trounced, 81", "The Braves Trade Henry Aaron to the Brewers", "July 15, 1975: In Milwaukee, NL wins fourth straight All-Star Game", "Game Over for Liberty's Purchase of Braves from Time Warner", "Braves' Sale Approved by Baseball Owners", "Charles Schwab Super Bowl XXXVI ad feat. When the stadium was instead named Turner Field (after Atlanta Braves owner Ted Turner), a section of Capitol Avenue running past the stadium was renamed Hank Aaron Drive. [74] Playing in the American League would allow Aaron to serve as a designated hitter rather than play in the field. What a marvelous moment for baseball, what a marvelous moment for Atlanta and the state of Georgia, what a marvelous moment for the country and the world, Scully said. On April 15, Aaron collected his first major league hit, a double off Cardinals' pitcher Vic Raschi. Aaronhung up his cleats in 1976 with 755 career home runsa record that stood until 2007, when it was broken by controversial slugger Barry Bonds(Bonds admitted to using steroids in 2011). ", "There was a big catch holding on to No. Aaron spent his 23-year big league career with two organizations. Michael Sablica, with helping him grow as a person in the 1950s. On April 8, 1974, Hank Aaron of the Atlanta Braves hits his 715th career home run, breaking Babe Ruths legendary record of 714 homers. Aaron grew up in a poor family. On April 8, 1974, Aaron hit his 715th home run, breaking Ruth's record and in doing so, received the undying support of the fans. On April 8, 1974, Hank Aaron of the Atlanta Braves hits his 715th career home run, breaking Babe Ruth 's legendary record of 714 homers. [11] Over the next 122 games, Aaron batted .280 with 13 homers before he suffered a fractured ankle on September 5. A seven-time NL MVP, the 43-year-old Bonds hit his 22nd home run of the year. His RBI total remains the big league standard for career runs batted in. About 755HomeRuns.com. Hank Aaron hits home run No. But two other men were enshrined in history with him - Clifford Courtenay and Britt Gaston. On April 8, 1989, California Angels rookie pitcher Jim Abbott, who was born without a right hand, makes his Major League Baseball debut in a 7-0 loss to the Seattle Mariners. Obituary: Hank Aaron, baseball great who became voice for civil rights, dies at 86 Photos: The life and . Our gratitude, thoughts and prayers are with the Aaron family. [109], Georgia governor Brian Kemp ordered flags in the state of Georgia to be lowered half-staff in honor of him. [73] The Braves offered Aaron a position with the team when he retired, but the role would be more in public relations, rather than one where he could evaluate talent.[74]. Henry Aaron is coming around third. [94][96], Aaron was a long-time fan of the Cleveland Browns, having attended many games in disguise in their "Dawg Pound" seating section.[97]. Bonds surpassed Aaron in 2007 with his 756th home run. This one has been a long time in the making. Google Barry Bonds before and after and tell us thats all moms cooking. In spite of all of the things that I went through Ive always been able to separate the two, Aaron said in a 2014 interview with CNN. Milwaukee went on to win the World Series against the New York Yankees, the defending champions, 4 games to 3. [37] On April 13, Aaron made his major league debut and was hitless in five at-bats against the Cincinnati Reds' left-hander Joe Nuxhall. Aaron attended the dedication. Hank Aaron wore this jersey when he hit his 715th home run on April 8, 1974. At the end of the season, Aaron, who had a prior relationship with Brewers owner Bud Selig, requested a trade to Milwaukee. 02-05-1934 | Aaron is born on a Monday in Mobile, Alabama. The Dodgers responded in the third by starting with three straight hits: Steve Garvey singled, Bill Russell doubled, and then Downing drove a single into center field, plating Garvey and sending Russell to third. His closest competition is Hank Aaron who "only" hit home runs in every possible ballpark during nine seasons! 755", "Bonds Hits No. [11][12] He had seven siblings. Aaron reportedly received 930,000 pieces of mail in 1973 the year before he broke Ruths record with enough including threats that the FBI got involved to protect him and his family. It should have been the most enjoyable time in my life, and instead it was hell. Here's the pitch by Downing. Aaron was elected to baseball's Hall of Fame in 1982, and now works in the front office for the Atlanta Braves. Years later, Aaron remembered: I had the Giants' contract in my hand. [31] He was the corporate vice president of community relations for Turner Broadcasting System, a member of the company's board of directors, and the vice president of business development for The Airport Network. The night they met, Lucas decided to attend the Braves' game. [54] Aaron established the record for most seasons with thirty or more home runs in the National League. "[143][144], In January 2016, Aaron received the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette from Akihito, the Emperor of Japan. Entdecke Hank Aaron and the Home Run That Changed America Paperback Tom St in groer Auswahl Vergleichen Angebote und Preise Online kaufen bei eBay Kostenlose Lieferung fr viele Artikel! He broke the long-standing MLB record for home runs held by Babe Ruth and remained the career leader for 33 years. Hank Aaron Timeline. [129] Later that year, he ranked fifth on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players,[130] and was elected to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team. [31] On January 21, 2007, Major League Baseball announced the sale of the Atlanta Braves. If you break Babe Ruth's record, it'll be a disgrace!" This is a considerable loss for the entire city of Atlanta. Aaron helped lead the Clowns to victory in the 1952 Negro League World Series. [75] He was acquired by the Milwaukee Brewers for Dave May thirty-one days later on November 2. The spot sits outside American Family Field, where the Milwaukee Brewers currently play. During the 2006 season, San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds passed Babe Ruth and moved into second place on the all-time home run list, attracting growing media coverage as he drew closer to Aaron's record. He again finished third in National League MVP voting. [83] Aaron founded the Hank Aaron Rookie League program.[84]. On May 10, 1967, he hit an inside-the-park home run against Jim Bunning in Philadelphia. [39] Aaron hit his first major league home run on April 23, also off Raschi. [11] On September 23, 1957, in Milwaukee, Aaron hit a two-run walk-off home run against the St. Louis Cardinals, clinching the pennant for the Braves. [26], The Braves purchased Aaron's contract from the Clowns for $10,000,[27] which GM John Quinn thought was a steal, as he stated that he felt that Aaron was a $100,000 property. [31], In December 1980, Aaron became senior vice president and assistant to the Braves' president. [36], The stint in Puerto Rico also allowed Aaron to avoid being drafted into military service. 1:28. I resented it, and I still resent it. We've received your submission. Additionally, Aaron owned a chain of 30 restaurants around the country. His average was .319, .007 behind the leader. Every home run Hank Aaron hit over the course of his big league career appears below in chronological order, along with the date of the home run, his age at the time he homered, the pitcher who surrendered the home run, the inning (Inn), his batting order position (BOP) in the lineup, and where he was playing that day (Pos). [36], In 1954, Aaron attended spring training with the major league club. He then changed his number to 44, which would turn out to look like a "lucky number" for the slugger. He would create his own bats and balls out of materials he found on the streets. All Rights Reserved. He was named to the NL All-Star roster for the first time; it was the first of a record 21 All-Star selections and first of a record 25 All-Star Game appearances. [11] Helped by Aaron's performance, the Braves won the league championship that year. He was also named The Sporting News NL Player of the Year. The 20 home runs Aaron hit in 1974 were the third-most ever by a player 40 or older. Henry Louis Aaron Jr., born in Mobile, Alabama, on February 5, 1934, made his Major League debut in 1954 with the Milwaukee Braves, just seven years after Jackie Robinson broke baseballs color barrier and became the first African American to play in the majors. The act was unprecedented and read more, On April 8, 1994, rock star Kurt Cobain was found dead in his home in Seattle, Washington, with fresh injection marks in both arms and a fatal wound to the head from the 20-gauge shotgun found between his knees. Even as a kid, the irony of it hit me: here we were in the capital in the land of freedom and equality, and they had to destroy the plates that had touched the forks that had been in the mouths of black men. On May 1, 1975, Aaron broke baseball's all-time RBI record, previously held by Ruth with 2,213. 2023 A&E Television Networks, LLC. [14] His boyhood idol was baseball star Jackie Robinson. [135] In 2001, a recreational trail in Milwaukee connecting American Family Field with Lake Michigan along the Menomonee River was dedicated as the "Hank Aaron State Trail". 714. Aaron went on to play through the end of the 1976 season, finishing with 755 career home runs, 3,771 hits and 2,297 RBI. The moment became an iconic one, with the indelible image of Hank Aaron rounding the bases, being joined by two fans between second and third, and then mobbed by his teammates and family at home plate, after breaking Babe Ruths home run record in 1974. [150], In 2022, a recording of the WSB broadcast of the April 8, 1974, BravesDodgers game in which Aaron hit his 715th home run was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Recording Registry. He keeps that mail as a reminder. He went on to become one of baseballs first African American executives, with the Atlanta Braves, and a leading spokesperson for minority hiring. [81] Aaron was then named the Braves' vice president and director of player development. [118], In 1982, Aaron was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame during his first year of eligibility. Aaron played the vast majority of his MLB games in right field, though he appeared at several other infield and outfield positions. [112][113] He also received tributes from former presidents Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama. Serving from 1979 to 1990, Thatcher was the longest-serving British prime minister of the 20th century. In 1935, Babe Ruth hit his final and 714th home run, a record that would stand for 39 years. [2] Aaron is also third all-time for career hits (3,771) and fifth in runs scored (2,174). There's a drive into left-center field. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! Aaron owned Hank Aaron BMW of south Atlanta in Union City, Georgia, where he included an autographed baseball with every car sold. But he was more than just a religious friend of mine, he was a friend because he talked as if he was not a priest sometimes." [123] In 2002, scholar Molefi Kete Asante listed Aaron on his list of 100 Greatest African Americans. It is expected the Gwinnett County professional teams, the AAA Gwinnett Stripers (2021 season) and AA Atlanta Gladiators (202122 season), will also be involved in temporarily retiring Aaron's 44. It is as of yet the only pennant-clinching walk-off home run in major league history in a non-playoff regular-season game. MLB forced them to make him play and Aaron hit a home run in his first at bat in Cincinnati, but saved 715 for a few games later. Aaron also drove in the 2,000th run of his career and hit a home run in the first All-Star game played in Atlanta. Hank Aaron. The high-profile incident drew worldwide attention to the problem of piracy, commonly believed to be a thing of read more, On April 8, 1990, 18-year-old Ryan White dies of pneumonia, due to having contracted AIDS from a blood transfusion. During the strike-shortened season of 1972, Aaron tied and then surpassed Willie Mays for second place on the career home run list. The Hall of Famer holds a host of records, from the most runs batted in (2,297), the most seasons as an. I move over now and offer my best wishes to Barry and his family on this historical achievement. Hank, the superstar outfielder for the Atlanta Braves, was approaching what was then considered the greatest record in sports: the career home-run record of 714, held by the legendary. The naked body of the blonde homecoming queen was found washed up on the shore wrapped in plastic in the shows read more, On April 8, 1904, with war in Europe a decade away, Britain and France sign an agreement, later known as the Entente Cordiale, resolving long-standing colonial disputes in North Africa and establishing a diplomatic understanding between the two countries. The book's title is a play on his nickname, "The Hammer" or "Hammerin' Hank", and the title of the folk song "If I Had a Hammer". [3] Aaron's ability as a hitter can be illustrated by his still having over 3,000 hits even without counting any of his home runs. Aaron finished third in the MVP race and he received his first of three Gold Glove Awards. A black man is getting a standing ovation in the Deep South for breaking a record of an all-time baseball idol. Note that seasons prior to 1876 are not included in single-season marks, but are included in career marks. [35], Aaron spent the winter of 1953 playing in Puerto Rico. As a result, in 1949, at the age of 15, Aaron had his first tryout with an MLB franchise, the Brooklyn Dodgers; however, he did not make the team. FILE- In this July 12, 2004, file photo, home run record holder Hank Aaron greets San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds before the start of the All-Star Home Run Derby in Houston. However, some observers looked back on Aaron's personal history, pointing out that he had downplayed his own breaking of Babe Ruth's all-time record and suggesting Aaron was simply treating Bonds in a similar fashion. She curbed the power of Britains labor read more, On April 8, 1935, Congress votes to approve the Works Progress Administration (WPA), a central part of President Franklin D. Roosevelts New Deal. Hank Aaron was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982. The manner of death was listed as natural causes. Hank. With 755 career home runs, Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth's record by more than 40 home runs. Cobains suicide brought an end to a life marked by far more read more, Who killed Laura Palmer? was the question on everyones mind on the night of April 8, 1990, when David Lynchs surreal television drama Twin Peaks premiered on ABC. On the Dodgers broadcast for Aarons 715th home run, Vin Scully took note of the momentous occasion both for baseball and society. ATLANTA It's one of the most iconic sports photos of all time: Hammerin' Hank Aaron running the bases after hitting the record-breaking 715th home run at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. [44], Sal Maglie recommended throwing low curveballs to Aaron. The award was created to honor Vince Lombardi's legacy and is awarded annually to an individual who exemplifies the spirit of the coach. Hank Aaron, one of the greatest baseball players of all time, died Friday at age 86. This made him one of the first minorities in Major League Baseball upper-level management. [60], He was the recipient of death threats and a large assortment of hate mail during the 19731974 offseason from people who did not want to see Aaron break Ruth's nearly sacrosanct home run record. During the 1936 season, Lou Gehrig of the New York Yankees terrorized the Cleveland Indians by slamming fourteen home runs against the club a Major League record for most home runs against the same team in a season. [42], Considerably later in his career, Aaron coined "Stone-fingers", which would prove a popular handle for one of baseball's more colorful characters, the famously distance-hitting but defensively challenged first baseman Dick Stuart,[43] reportedly "delight[ing]" even its recipient. [116][117] After the Braves won the 2021 World Series, Aaron was honored in the design of the team's World Series championship ring, which includes 755 total diamonds to commemorate Aaron's career home runs, and 44 emerald-cut diamonds to represent Aaron's jersey number with the Braves.