Hank Aaron: The baseball icon who broke Baby-Ruth's 39-year-old record

Hank Aaron was a baseball icon who shattered Babe Ruth’s 39-year-old home run record of 714, becoming a symbol of excellence and perseverance. Known as 'Hammerin' Hank', Aaron ended his remarkable career with 755 home runs - an MLB record that stood for over three decades.

Ruth, who hit his 714th and final home run on May 25, 1935, held the title of baseball’s all-time home run king for close to four decades, standing alone atop the record books until Aaron's historic rise.

ALSO READ: Aaron’s iconic 715th homer recreated in a touching tribute at All-Star Game


Aaron's most iconic moment came on April 8, 1974, when he smashed his 715th home run at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, surpassing Babe Ruth’s long-standing record before 53,775 fans.


Aaron, who had been building toward his historic moment for two decades, hit his first major league home run on April 23, 1954, during his rookie season with the Milwaukee Braves.

Playing for the Atlanta Braves, Aaron’s pursuit of Ruth’s milestone was marred by racism, hate mail, and death threats. Yet, his calm determination never wavered. He remained focused, letting his bat speak for itself.


Aaron’s 715th homer off Dodgers pitcher Al Downing wasn’t just a record-breaker - it was a defining moment of courage, grace, and unshakable perseverance.


The remarkably consistent Aaron was selected to the All-Star Game for 21 consecutive years and hit 30 or more home runs in 15 different seasons. By the time he retired in 1976, Aaron ranked second in major league history in both hits (3,771) and runs scored (2,174).


Aaron, who passed away in 2021, remains one of the most revered figures in baseball history. A 25-time All-Star and Hall of Famer, he still holds records for RBIs (2,297), extra-base hits (1,477), and total bases (6,856). His career total of 755 home runs stood as the MLB record until 2007.

In 2024, MLB marked the 50th anniversary of Aaron’s achievement with the announcement of a new Hall of Fame statue and a commemorative US Postal Service stamp.