Milwaukee
Braves’ rookie outfielder Henry Aaron made his Major League debut on April 13,
1954 at Crosley Field in the season home opening game for the Cincinnati Reds.
Aaron, who was twenty
years old, had doubts about making it on the Braves roster that spring. Purchased from Negro League baseball’s Indianapolis
Clowns in 1952, he spent two years destroying pitchers in the Braves’ minor
league system. While one of the first
African Americans in the Southern Atlantic League (Sally League) in 1953, he
hit .362 with 22 home runs and won the league’s Most Valuable Player (MVP)
award. However, Aaron thought at best he
would be assigned to the Braves’ Triple A team in Toledo, Ohio.
However, Braves’ veteran outfielder Bobby Thomson broke his
ankle during an exhibition game in March and the team turned to Aaron. Exceeding his
expectations, the rookie left spring training as the Braves opening day left
fielder.
In his first Major League game, Aaron went hitless in five
at bats against Reds’ pitchers Bud Podbielan, Joe Nuxhall, and Frank Smith as
the Braves lost 9 – 8. However, two days
later in the Braves’ 7 – 6 home opening
victory against the St. Louis Cardinals he got the first of his 3,771 Major
League hits; a first inning double off
pitcher Vic Raschi. In St. Louis
on April 23, Raschi was also the pitching victim for the first of Aaron’s 755
Major League career home runs. Henry
Aaron finished his rookie season batting .282 with 13 home runs and 59 RBIs.
In
his first Major League game, Aaron played in the outfield next to what other
African American?
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