Hank Aaron is a Major League Legend

Henry “Hank” Aaron was born on February 5, 1934, in Mobile, Alabama, at the height of the Great Depression. When he was a boy, he was inspired to pursue his baseball dreams after seeing a speech given by his idol, Jackie Robinson, who happened to be visiting town.

In 1951, Aaron signed his first professional contract with the Negro Leagues. It didn’t take long for him to attract the attention of the Boston Braves, who signed him to a major league contract. This was the beginning of a legendary career that would reach its apex in Atlanta, Georgia, on April 8, 1974, when Aaron broke Babe Ruth’s all-time home run record.

As it became clear that he would beat the Babe’s record, Aaron began to receive death threats—but he never wavered. This video tells the story leading up to that defining event, and captures the footage of Aaron as he rounds the bases after the 715th home run of his career while receiving a standing ovation from a southern crowd. It remains one of the sport’s most iconic and moving moments.

Yes, Aaron will go down in history as a baseball player of legendary skill, but he also deserves to be celebrated as a man who overcame humble beginnings and went on to defy the overt racism of the time. Learn more about Hank Aaron’s incredible journey on MAJOR LEAGUE LEGENDS, February 29 at 8PM ET/PT on the Smithsonian Channel.