Baseball legend Hank Aaron, who began and ended his big-league career in Milwaukee, dies at 86 [View all]
Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Legendary baseball player Hank Aaron, who began and ended his major-league career in Milwaukee, reportedly has passed away in Atlanta at age 86.
After playing with the Indianapolis Clowns of the Negro League and the minors, beginning in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, he debuted with the Milwaukee Braves in 1954 at the age of 20. Aaron actually accepted a $10,000 signing bonus from the Boston Braves in ’52, before the team relocated to Milwaukee.
Playing at first in the infield, Aaron broke his habit of hitting cross-handed and batted .336 for Eau Claire, a Class C entry in the Northern League. In 1953, the year the Braves moved to Wisconsin, he was assigned to Class A Jacksonville, Fla., where he endured the indignity of racial segregation to be named MVP of the South Atlantic League. Aaron then was sent to winter ball in Puerto Rico to learn how to play the outfield, a watershed moment in his career.
Known as “Hammer” or “Hammerin’ Hank” for his ability to sock home runs, Aaron played 21 seasons for the Braves in Milwaukee and Atlanta, after the team moved there in 1966. At the bequest of team owner Bud Selig, who forged a long-term friendship with Aaron, the slugger returned to Milwaukee to finish his career with the Brewers in 1975-’76.
Read more: https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/mlb/brewers/2021/01/22/baseball-legend-hank-aaron-who-played-braves-and-brewers-dies/6670475002/
One of the best of all time, and one of the nicest people in or out of baseball.
This is very sad news.
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