Henry Louis Aaron, born in 1934, grew up as one of eight children in Mobile, Alabama. As a youngster he worked hauling 25 pound blocks of ice, building strength in his wrists that would serve him well when he became a professional ball player. Like many resourceful children without money and material things, he did what he could do to hone his skills, including swatting bottle caps with a broomstick for hours on end. Though Hank never played for his high school baseball team (they did not have one), he participated in sandlot contests where he could, and by age 16 was good enough to join a semi pro club, the Mobile Black Bears. Aaron ascended through the negro league and minor league ranks with force and determination in spite of constant racial animosity, especially on road trips through the South. The baseball diamond proved to be Hank’s refuge and the game was his personal tonic.
In 1954 Hank made his big league debut with the Braves in Milwaukee where the team had recently moved. Soon, as history tells us, Hank became as formidable as any hitter in baseball, frustrating even the games most experienced pitchers. “Throwing a fastball past Henry Aaron is like trying to sneak the sun past a rooster”, said the St. Louis Cardinals fireballer Curt Simmons, speaking on behalf of shell shocked pitchers throughout the National League. Sheer ability, consistency and resilience were the hallmarks of Aaron’s prolific career. For 20 consecutive seasons he totaled more than 20 home runs; 15 times topping the 30 homer mark, and eight times he walloped 40 or more home runs. As Aaron biographer Lonnie Wheeler wrote, "(Hank) Aaron's excellence was not expelled in blinding bursts of energy, but rather played out, patiently and inexorably, over a whole generation." When he retired he was the all-time home run king with 755 and the holder of more major league and National League records than you could shake a Louisville Slugger at.
This remarkable jersey was worn by Aaron during the 1967 season in Atlanta, the Braves' second in the Deep South after moving from Milwaukee. Manufactured by Wilson (Size 40), the white flannel home shirt features the Braves' logo on front, blue piping, and the intricately embroidered “Screaming Brave” logo patch on left sleeve. Aaron’s famed No. 44 is stitched on the front and back in black and red tackle twill. A white tag on the back of the collar has “Aaron 67-2" in black stitching. This jersey is completely original and unaltered, showing solid usage wear with no significant structural faults. The jersey is accompanied by a signed letter from Aaron acknowledging the jersey as being his from the 1967 season as well as his signing of the jersey. Also included is a wire photo of Aaron with Joe Torre in the Braves dugout dated June 29, 1967 showing Aaron wearing a closely matching jersey. LOA from MEARS (Grade A9.5). Full LOA from PSA/DNA (auto.). A museum caliber original flannel from one of the game’s greatest living legends.