Milwaukee Brewers History: Hank Aaron Hits Final Career Homer

Hank Aaron was set to finish his major league career where it began, albeit with a different franchise. On this day in 1976, while playing for the Milwaukee Brewers, Aaron hit his final career home run.

When picturing Hank Aaron’s career, one automatically associates him with the Atlanta Braves. After all, it was in Atlanta that he hit his 715th career homer, breaking Babe Ruth‘s illustrious record. However, it was in Milwaukee, where the Braves spent 13 years, that Aaron started his career.

On November 2, 1974, Aaron returned to the city where his journey to stardom began. Aaron was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers for Dave May and a player to be named later, who turned out to be a minor leaguer by the name of Roger Alexander. It was a chance for the still new ballclub to bring back one of the city’s legendary players, and a chance to put fans into the stands.

While Aaron still had a bit of pop, he was nowhere near the slugger that he was with the Braves. After a below average 1975 campaign, Aaron returned for one more year in 1976. That year, he held his own with the bat, producing a .229/.315/.369 batting line, a far cry from his glory days, but still worth an OPS+ of 102.

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Despite playing in just 85 games, Aaron still hit ten homers. It was on this day in Milwaukee, facing Dick Drago and the California Angels, that Aaron hit what would prove to be his final home run. In the bottom of the seventh, just after George Scott homered, Aaron sent Drago’s pitch over the wall for his 755th homer.

That would be one of the final highlights of his season. He barely played after July, with just 15 appearances over the final two months of the season. It was apparent that Aaron’s time as a player was rapidly coming to an end, as he had just 11 hits in his final 81 plate appearances.

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Hank Aaron may be an Atlanta Braves legend, but it was with the Milwaukee Brewers that he played out his final days. On this day in 1976, he hit his last home run, a parting gift for the home town fans.