The Hammer by Egantx7

Geographic and team named needed

Aside from a few independent games he played in high school, this was the first professional team Aaron played for, and it was this team that sold Aaron's contract to the Boston Braves for US$10,000 in 1952. This team hailed from the Midwest, playing in a city that does not have a Major League franchise, and today is home to Pittsburgh's AAA affiliate. This team played in the Negro American League from 1943-55 before becoming independent and eventually a barnstorming team that lasted until the 1980s making them the last Negro Leagues team to cease operation. Identify this club that also mixed entertainment into their baseball playing, similar to the Harlem Globetrotters.

Geographic and team named needed

Geographic and team named needed

Aaron played in the National League, all with the Braves organization for 21 years. The final two seasons of his career came with which team which, at the time, was a member of the American League?

Geographic and team named needed

Over Aaron's amazing 23 year career, he set the all-time record for appearing on an All-Star Game roster. Within 1, how many All-Star Game rosters did he appear on?

Aaron did make more All-Star rosters than any player, but his single American League selection makes the difference. He is tied with two other players for the most National League roster selections. Name either of these players:

... one played his first games the summer before Pearl Harbor, and played his final game just two months before President Kennedy was assassinated (his 6134 total bases is more than 700 less than Aaron, but is second most in history).

The other player, like Aaron, played his entire career (except for the one year he went to serve Uncle Sam, leaving his team in an awful jam) with one club before finishing it with two forgettable years with another team, and is third on the all-time total bases career list.

Name either.

This guy was the Braves starting left fielder until he fractured his ankle sliding in to a base during a spring training game, clearing the way for Aaron to crack the starting lineup. While Wally Pipp is generally only notable for being the guy who Lou Gehrig replaced, this guy, whom Aaron replaced, is considerably more notable in his own right. Identify this Glasgow born outfielder nicknamed "The Staten Island Scot" who six years prior to giving way to Hank Aaron, ripped out and curb stomped the collective hearts of the people of Brooklyn, allegedly with the help of some sign stealing, thanks to one swing of his bat on the cool autumn afternoon of the 3rd of October, 1951.

Aaron's official Braves debut came on 13 April 1954 against the Cincinnati Reds. Aaron went 0-for-5 that day, facing this pitcher. This pitcher made his debut in 1944, but after '44 he did not return to the Bigs until 1952. He was 27 when he faced Aaron for the first time in that 1954 game. Identify this Cincinnati Reds legend, who in addition to holding an MLB record (thanks to the need for new players during WWII), also served as a Reds broadcaster for four decades.

In addition to power, Aaron had some speed (he was the third player in MLB history to have a 30-30 season), but only one of his 755 career home runs was of the inside the park variety, and it came on 10 May 1967 off of this noted scumbag. At the time, this guy was in his last season with the Phillies before setting off for the Pirates, and all 9 of his All-Star Game roster appearances were in the rearview mirror. This man's charity reportedly only ever gave 25% of the money they collected to charity, while he drew a six figure salary from it, and while he was a gung-ho union supporter when it benefitted him, he objected to the extension of COBRA in 2010 to help the unemployed. While he was correct to call Mitch McConnell a control freak, his retirement paved the way for fellow scumbag Rand Paul to be given too much power. With a resume that includes three no hitters (one of which was a perfect game) identify this man from a long list of terrible Kentucky senators who allegedly used his influence on the veterans committee to swing his 1996 election to the Hall of Fame.

Ironically, the Loma Prieto Earthquake that delayed the 1989 World Series damaged this man's Cy Young Award plaque when it fell off the wall. This four-time All-Star was on the mound on 14 July 1968 when he served up Aaron's 500th home run, only the 8th such home run in history to that point. Identify this then defending Cy Young Award winner who sported a "MR 500" license plate for some time after serving up the historic tater, the only Giant to win the award prior to Tim Lincecum in 2008.

The Braves started 1974 on the road, and made it clear that they would sit Aaron so that he could tie and break Babe Ruth's record at home. MLB Commissioner Bowie Kuhn forced the Braves to start Aaron in at least some of the games, and thus Hank Aaron tied the Babe at this forgettable stadium. In 1970, Aaron had hit the first home run in this stadium, the same year Sam Wyche scored the first touchdown here. In 1970, this abomination was the first to host a World Series game on artificial turf. Identify this cookie cutter style stadium "with the ambiance of a morgue" whose high point was likely an Eric Show pitch that resulted in a single on 11 September 1985.

8 April 1974. Aaron finally passes the Babe ... but not from a lack of trying by this guy who was playing left field for the Dodgers and tried scaling the wall for the ball. While mostly known today for his All-Star work at first base, this guy must have seriously pissed off the baseball gods because not only was he forced to play for the Cub, but he ended his career with a second stint with the Red Sox. Identify this generally respected baseball player who ended his career with over 2700 hits and a 0.289 batting average, but is, sadly, better remembered for another ball he could not put in his glove.

When Aaron launched the immortal 715th home run of his career, this guy was standing on first base, scoring ahead of the Hammer. This guy played basketball under Jerry Tarkanian at Pasadena City College before they both moved on to more lucrative things. This man's AL leading 40 home runs with the 1985 Tigers made him the first to have 40 HR seasons in both leagues, and his over 1600 walks gave him an on-base percentage over 100 points higher than his paltry 0.248 batting average. Only Reggie Jackson before him hit at least 100 home runs with three different clubs. Identify this 3B-1B-DH with the Braves, Giants, and Tigers who, with Dave Kingman, is the only person to hit 400 career home runs in the pre-steroids era to not get into the Hall of Fame. (edited at 3:09 pm, February 2, 2021 (PST))

Hank Aaron retired in 1976, but shockingly was not the oldest player in the American League that year. This guy who had the fifth highest WAR amongst outfielders in the 1950's (Aaron being 6th), played in three games in 1976 at age 50, becoming the oldest player to hit safely in a Major League game. Identify this Cuban born star who played his last two MLB games in 1980, but made minor league appearances into the 21st century - the only 7 decade professional baseball player in history.