Hank Aaron makes his big league debut
Aaron put together a solid rookie season batting .280, hitting 13 home runs and driving in 69 runs, earning him a fourth-place finish in the National League Rookie of the Year voting.
The Braves finished third in the National League in ’54 with an 89-65 record. Matthews, who had just broken into the league three years prior, had his second consecutive 40-home run season.
It took the Braves a few years after Aaron’s arrival to put it all together and reach the postseason. In 1957, he showed his immense talent by hitting .322 with 44 home runs and 132 RBI. He took home the National League MVP that year and made his first World Series.
No surprises, yet again, that Aaron’s consistency carried over to the Postseason as well. He helped the Braves not only in ’57 but in ’58, as well, to reach the World Series both times against the New York Yankees.
Both series went the maximum seven games. The Braves won in ’57 and the Yankees in ’58. Hammerin’ Hank hit better than .300 in each Series and connected for three home runs in 1957 en route to his only World Series title.