MLB: Top Ten players of all-time – Part 4
Henry Louis Aaron, renowned as Hank Aaron, continues to be the most prolific hitter ever to play baseball. He made his Major League Debut with the Milwaukee Braves on April 13, 1954 and after dominating the ballpark for 23 seasons with his ruthless hitting,
retired on October 3, 1976 while playing for the Milwaukee Brewers.
The right-handed player was a sensation in the outfield apart from a force to reckon on the plate. His defensive abilities were highlighted when he won three consecutive Gold Glove Awards from 1958 to 1960.
Nicknamed “Hammerin’ Hank”, Aaron produced home-runs at will. He is the only player to have recorded 30 or more home-runs in at least 15 seasons and rose to glory when he surpassed Babe Ruth’s record of 714 home-runs. Aaron’s 755 home-runs are placed second
in the list of most home-runs of all-time.
The right-handed sensation holds the record for most RBIs in the Majors with 2297 to his credit. His 2174 career-runs are tied at Number four with Babe Ruth and he is in the elite-group of the 28 players who have crossed 3000 career-hits. His 3771 hits place
him at Number three in the prestigious list. Aaron recorded 150 or more hits in 17 consecutive seasons.
Aaron was an instant favourite among the fans and his 25 appearances in the All-Star Game are a healthy proof of his star stature. Hank featured regularly in the All-Star Game from 1955 to 1975. 1957 saw Aaron reach the prime of his career when he was named
National League’s Most Valuable Player and won the World Series too.
Hank was inducted to the Hall of Fame in 1982 with a record 97.83 percent votes. He retired from the Milwaukee (Atlanta) Braves after the 1974 season and moved to the Milwaukee Brewers where he played for the 1975 and 1976 season. Both teams have retired
the Number 44 Aaron wore while playing for them.
As an honour, MLB created the Hank Aaron Award which is given annually to the most effective hitter in each league. Hank held the record for most home-runs for 33 years before Barry Bonds surpassed him on August 7, 2007. Aaron famously said that baseball
is not about breaking records but playing to the best of one’s potential.
Lou Gehrig is regarded as the best player to play at first base. He made his debut in MLB with the New York Yankees on June 15, 1923 and played his entire career for the Yankees before retiring, after 17 seasons of excellence, in 1939.
The left-handed player was born on June 19, 1903 and lived for only 37 years before he died on June 2, 1941.
Gehrig’s batting average stood impressive at .340 and he finished just five-short of 2000 runs batted in. Had his career not been affected by disease, he would have gone on to bag many records. His home-run tally totalled 493, just seven shy of 500.
Lou played 2130 consecutive games for the Yankees from 1925 to 1939 and it was his illness which brought an end to the streak. This streak remained a record for 56 years until Cal Ripken, Jr. surpassed this in 1995.
He is by far the best first baseman ever that baseball has produced. He has 23 Grand Slams to his credit and was inducted to the Hall of Fame in 1939.
Continued in Part 5
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