The Unbreakable Henry Aaron
Bonds got one, but no one will break this record
On a warm Georgia evening on April 8, 1974, with generous anticipation in the air and a franchise record 53,775 history buffs on the edge of their seats, with Darrell Evans on first via an error, with veteran lefthander Al Downing on the hill, Henry Aaron stepped to the plate in the bottom of the fourth inning with Atlanta trailing the Dodgers, 3-1.
"He’s sitting on 714. Here’s the pitch by Downing. Swinging. There’s a drive into left center field. That ball is gonna be … outta here! It’s gone! It’s 715! There’s a new home run champion of all time, and it’s Henry Aaron!" announced Milo Hamilton to the world.
“The fireworks are going! Henry Aaron is coming around third, his teammates are at home plate, and listen to this crowd!”
One of the most hallowed--and, heretofore, perceived unbreakable records in sports--was broken. 39 years after the unbreakable record was set, Henry Aaron shattered Babe Ruth's career home run standard.
The slugger finished with 755 home runs for his 23-year career, a mark that now was thought to be the new unbreakable.
However, in 2007, 33 years later, Barry Bonds surpassed Aaron's mark, compiling 762 home runs in his 22-year career. The new unbreakable. Maybe.
While his home run record proved attainable, Aaron holds one Major League Baseball career record that may truly be unbreakable.
RBIs? Probably, with 2,297.
The real Mount Olympus is total bases. A stunning 6,856 in his career.
Only four players in MLB history have exceeded 6,000 total bases in a career. Willie Mays is fourth with 6,080, Stan Musial third with 6,134 and Albert Pujols second with 6,211.
In a sport where records are often set in miniscule percentages, Aaron is more than 9% ahead of the second place mark! Or, expressed another way--162 home runs.
So, how unbreakable is Aaron's total bases standard?
A player would need to average 400 total bases in a season for more than 17 seasons. That season mark of 400 has only been achieved 29 times in MLB history by 18 different players in 150+ MLB seasons. Only 7 players have exceeded 400 total bases two or more times with Lou Gehrig hitting the mark an amazing 5 times and Chuck Klein 3 times.
Of the 18 players who have tallied 400 total bases in a season, 11 have done so once, including Aaron (400 in 1959).
How about averaging 350 total bases a season? 19+ seasons. 258 times by 137 players. 83 or 61% did it once, 28 or 20% twice and 12 or 9% three times. That means 90% compiled 350 total bases 3 or fewer times.
Three players achieved 350 total bases in 2023--Ronald Acuna Jr. (383), Matt Olson (367) and Freddie Freeman (361)--all first-time achievers. None in 2022.
Only 5 players have tallied 350 or more total bases 7 or more times in their career. Alex Rodriguez, Albert Pujols and Willie Mays did it 7 times and Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig 9 times each.
His limited appearances in the 400 and 350 total bases achievements highlights Aaron's secret sauce--power, production, consistency, and health. Hammerin' Hank is second in home runs with 755 home runs, third in hits with 3,771, thirteenth in doubles with 624 and top 175 in triples with 98. The longtime Atlanta power plant is the all-time leader in extra base hits with 1,477.
Aaron exceeded 300 total bases in a record 15 seasons. He led the National League in total bases a record eight times. And, the Mobile, Alabama-born star played in at least 145 games in 16 seasons.
While many players experience a precipitous decline or have trouble staying healthy as they enter seasons 13 through 20 (see Miguel Cabrera, Ken Griffey, Jr.), Aaron compiled 331 total bases in his 18th season and 252 total bases in his 20th season.
How about 330 total bases a season? 21 seasons. Only Mays did the deed 11 times. Aaron eclipsed that mark 10 times.
Aaron's continued excellence and stunning consistency as he aged stamps him as an outlier in MLB history.
Bonds may have eclipsed his home run record but, Aaron has at least one career record that will not be broken…ever.
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