Aaron Brothers Still Hold Record
Hank and Tommie Combined to Amass a Total of 768 Career Home Runs
Although Hank Aaron has been surpassed as the game’s all-time home-run king, it will be quite some time, if ever, that anyone replaces Hank and Tommie Aaron as the brother tandem with the most home runs in major league history.
Tommie hit 13 home runs during a seven-year career that stretched from 1962-71. Of course, it was his older brother, Hank, who hit the bulk of the home runs between them. Together, Hank and Tommie combined for 768 career home runs.
Hank held the individual record for career home runs from 1974 until Barry Bonds passed Hank’s total of 755 homers in 2007. Still, the Aaron brothers’ record seems safe into the foreseeable future.
When Tommie made the Milwaukee Braves’ roster in 1962, Hank already was a star with the Braves and had helped them reach the World Series in 1957 and 1958. Tommie made an immediate impact with eight home runs that year, but it would be the most homers he would hit in any one season.
That same season, Hank slugged 45 home runs, which was typical of the disparity between the brothers, who hailed from Mobile, Ala.
Tommie was a versatile performer, appearing in the outfield and at first, second and third base. Not only did Tommie and Hank patrol the same outfield from time to time, but they hit a home run in the same inning of a game on July 11, 1962. The last time brothers accomplished such a feat was 30 years earlier when Lloyd and Paul Waner did so.
Tommie and Hank also homered in the same game, but not in the same inning, earlier in the 1962 season against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Hank far overshadowed his brother’s accomplishments, although Tommie did participate with the Atlanta Braves in the 1969 National League Championship Series against the New York Mets. Thus, he Aarons became the first siblings to appear as teammates in a League Championship Series.
Tommie was on the Braves’ coaching staff when he succumbed to leukemia in 1984 at the age of 45.
In addition to his 13 home runs, Tommie batted .229 in 437 career games with the Braves.
Tommie spent his entire career with the Braves, while Hank hit the bulk of his home runs with the same franchise from 1954-74. Hank completed his career with the Milwaukee Brewers in 1975-76.
Hank hit his 100th home run in 1957, the same year he won the National League Most Valuable Player Award while guiding the Braves to their first World Series title.
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