Hank Aaron's Contribution To The Game Of Baseball

Hank Aaron, one of the greatest baseball players of all time, influenced many by his actions on and off the diamond. Hank Aaron was born in Mobile, Alabama on February 5, 1934. He was the the third of eight children in his family and the child of Herbert and Estella Aaron. Hank grew up fascinated about the sport of baseball. Any amount of free time Hank had he was playing some type of baseball. He grew up playing with only a stick and bottle caps. Herbert would occasionally make him baseballs out of nylon socks and rocks (source 1). After playing with only sticks and bottle caps he found soft pitch softball because he wasn 't accepted to play baseball. Hank played softball all the way through his middle school years. It wasn 't until he entered high school where he could play baseball. Hank was so uneducated on the sport of baseball before he entered high school that he batted cross-handed (source 1). He went to his hometown …show more content…
The dedication and determination is what drove him to be an icon of the sport of baseball. Along Hank’s journey his magnificent and a “one of a kind” swing earned the attention of fans all around the world. Fans weren’t the only Hank caught the attention of. Muhammad Ali, one of the greatest fighters of all time, idolized Hank. Ali said, “The only man I idolize more than myself is Hank”(source 4). Hank inspired athletes in every sport. Hank even inspired former Hall of Famers like Mickey Mantle. Mickey Mantle said, “As far as I’m concerned, Aaron is the best baseball player of my era”(source 4). After Hank’s career was all said and done he was later named to baseball’s all century-team (source 2). With the “perfect” swing and the legacy Hank created he will not be forgotten for a long time. Hank Aaron influenced people all around the world by his actions on and off the