Hank Aaron hits his first homerun
On April 23, 1954 – 1954: At spring training, it didn’t look like 20-year-old Hank Aaron would make the Milwaukee Braves. But then Bobby Thomson (yes, that Bobby Thomson of Ralph Branca fame) suffered a broken ankle sliding into second base. The Braves needed a starting outfielder to replace Thomson and the 6-foot, 160-pound Aaron won the competition.
Today, playing in just his seventh major-league game, Aaron hits his first home run. It’s a solo shot off the Cardinals’ Vic Raschi, the veteran right-hander who is in his first year in the National League after eight seasons with the Yankees. Playing right-field and batting sixth, Aaron also gets two singles in the Braves’ 7-5, 14-inning victory in Sportsman’s Park in St. Louis.
Aaron will connect for 754 more home runs in his career.
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