Hank Aaron Congressional Gold Medal Act

Henry Louis Hank Aaron was born in Mobile, Alabama, on February 5, 1934, to Herbert and Estella Aaron.

One of baseball’s greatest players, Hank Aaron broke many of the sport’s most distinguished records including the career home run record, which he held for over 33 years.

Hank Aaron began his baseball career while still in high school, playing semi-professionally for the Mobile Black Bears. He continued on to the Indianapolis Clowns whom he helped lead to victory in the Negro League World Series.

Hank Aaron rocketed through the Minor Leagues, being named the Northern League Rookie of the Year playing for the Eau Claire Bears in 1952 and MVP of the South Atlantic League playing for the Jacksonville Tars in 1953.

In 1954 Hank Aaron started his 23-year career in Major League Baseball playing for the Milwaukee Braves. He played with the Braves for 21 years, following them to Atlanta when they moved in 1966. In his final two years in the Major League, he played for the Milwaukee Brewers.

To this day, Hank Aaron holds several Major League records, including most career RBIs (2,297), most career extra base hits (1,477), most career total bases (6,856), and most consecutive seasons with 150 or more hits (17).

On April 8, 1974, Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth's career home run record. At the end of his career, Hank Aaron had 755 home runs, a record that was not beaten until 2007 by Barry Bonds.

Hank Aaron made the All Star Team for 21 consecutive years, from 1955 to 1975.

Hank Aaron has received numerous awards for his prowess in Major League baseball, including 3 Golden Gloves, 2 National League batting titles, 4 National League home run champion titles, and the Major League Lou Gehrig Memorial Award. He was also named National League MVP in 1957.

Hank Aaron has been recognized for his success by many people and institutions. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982, received a Presidential Citizens Medal from President Bill Clinton, and a Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George W. Bush. He was awarded the Spingarn Medal from the NAACP (’76) for outstanding achievement by an African-American.

A great sportsman who constantly pushed the limits of the game, as well as the cultural limits of the time, Hank Aaron is a true American role model and will inspire Americans for generations to come.

Presentation authorized— The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate shall make appropriate arrangements for the presentation, on behalf of the Congress, of a gold medal of appropriate design to Hank Aaron, in recognition of his contributions to the national pastime of baseball and his perseverance in overcoming discrimination and adversity to become a role model for all Americans.

Design and striking— For purposes of the presentation referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury (hereafter in this Act referred to as the Secretary) shall strike a gold medal with suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions, to be determined by the Secretary.

National medals— The medals struck pursuant to this Act are national medals for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United States Code.

Numismatic items— For purposes of section 5134 of title 31, United States Code, all medals struck under this Act shall be considered to be numismatic items.

Authority To use fund amounts— There is authorized to be charged against the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund, such amounts as may be necessary to pay for the costs of the medals struck pursuant to this Act.

Proceeds of sale— Amounts received from the sale of duplicate bronze medals authorized under section 4 shall be deposited into the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.