Bobby Thomson Breaks His Ankle and Opens the Door for Hank Aaron

On March 13, 1954, Milwaukee Braves outfielder Bobby Thomson broke his ankle sliding into second base during a spring training game against the New York Yankees. Thomson, best known for hitting the "Shot Heard 'Round the World" to win the 1951 National League pennant for the New York Giants, had been acquired by the Braves to play left field. His injury opened a roster spot that went to a 20-year-old prospect from Mobile, Alabama, named Henry Aaron.

The Braves had signed Aaron out of the Negro Leagues' Indianapolis Clowns in 1952. He spent two minor league seasons tearing through Southern Association pitching, batting .362 in Jacksonville in 1953 and earning a spring training invitation. Aaron was talented enough to make the team on his own, but Thomson's presence had blocked his path to everyday playing time. The broken ankle removed that obstacle overnight.

The very next day, March 14, Aaron started in left field for the Braves in an exhibition game against the Boston Red Sox. He homered. Manager Charlie Grimm kept him in the lineup, and Aaron never relinquished the job. He made his major league debut on April 13, 1954, going hitless against the Cincinnati Reds, then collected his first big league hit two days later.

Aaron hit .280 with 13 home runs as a rookie. Within a few years he established himself as one of the most consistent hitters in the National League. Twenty years after Thomson's ankle gave him his chance, Aaron broke Babe Ruth's career home run record with his 715th blast on April 8, 1974. He retired in 1976 with 755 home runs. The greatest career in the history of the long ball began because a teammate caught his cleats in the loose spring training turf.