Wisconsin History Day By Day

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"I Had A Hammer: The Hank Aaron Story" by Hank Aaron

"A Summer Up North: Henry Aaron and the Legend of Eau Claire Baseball" by Jerry Poling and Allan H. Selig

Vocabulary:

illustrious

official

Interesting Fact:

Henry Aaron started his first major league game during spring training on March 14, 1954, when he replaced Bobby Thomson in the outfield. Thomson, who hit the pennant-winning home run ("the shot heard around the world") as a member of the New York Giants against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1951, broke his ankle while sliding into second base on March 13. Aaron responded by hitting a towering home run.

Study Questions:

Where was Henry Aaron's first minor league team located after he signed with the Braves in 1952?

Henry Aaron's home run record was broken in 2007 by Barry Bonds. What was Aaron's reaction to the record being broken?

How many seasons did Henry Aaron hit 50 or more home runs?

U.S. historical events that occurred on July 20:

1881: Sitting Bull, a Sioux Indian leader, surrenders to U.S. troops.

1969: Apollo 11 lands on the moon with Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin.

July 20

July 20, 1976: Henry "Hank" Aaron hit his 755th home run at County Stadium in Milwaukee on July 20, 1976. The last home run of his illustrious career was hit off pitcher Dick Drago of the California Angels in the bottom of the seventh inning with two outs. His first official major league home run came on April 23, 1954, in St. Louis against the Cardinals.

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