Best all-time player for each MLB team
Atlanta Braves: Hank Aaron
In the eyes of many baseball fans, Henry Aaron is still the rightful all-time leader in home runs, dogged by PED controversy as Barry Bonds is. Hammerin’ Hank spent 21 of his 23 years in the big leagues with the Braves, playing his first 12 years in Milwaukee before making the move down to Atlanta. Aaron was the model of consistency during his time in the league, and it was that more than anything else that made him the Home Run King.
The Braves were able to sign Aaron out of the Negro Leagues by offering him $50 more per month than the San Francisco Giants — not an insignificant amount back in the 1950s. Just imagine Aaron and Willie Mays spending the prime of their careers in the same lineup.
Aaron hit 733 of his 755 home runs with the Braves, slashing .310/.377/.567 while winning four home-run titles, two batting titles, and an MVP. Aaron was only given the opportunity to play in the postseason three times with the Braves, but he did not disappoint. He batted .362/.405/.710 in 17 career postseason games with six home runs and 16 RBI. Aaron’s Braves won the World Series in 1957, with the NL MVP batting .393/.414/.786.
Throughout his MLB career and into retirement, Aaron has been nothing but class. He remains one of the best ambassadors for the league and the most iconic player for one of the sport’s best franchises. Aaron could have sought out an opportunity to force his way to a better team at many times in his career, but he was always loyal to the Braves.