was born in Mobile, Alabama, on February 5, 1934, the third of eight children. He attended Central High School as a freshman and sophomore, where he excelled in softball and football. After watching Jackie Robinson play baseball in Mobile, he decided to pursue a baseball career. In 1949, he tried out for the Brooklyn Dodgers, but the tryout didn't go well and he failed to make the team. He finished his high school years at the Josephine Allen Institute, a private school in Mobile.

During his junior year of high school, Aaron joined the Mobile Black Bears, a Negro League team. On November 20,

Aaron's dream of becoming a professional baseball player came true during his junior year of high school, when he secured a position on the Mobile Black Bears, a minor Negro League team. His performance during his first season led to his being signed by the Negro American League Indianapolis Clowns, on November 20, 1951. He went on to help the team win the 1952 Negro League World Series, while setting a league-leading .467 batting average.

Signed by the National League's Milwaukee Braves on June 14, 1952, Aaron spent his first season playing for the Eau Claire Bears, the Braves' Class-C farm team. Although he only played 87 games that season, he racked up 116 base hits, 89 runs, 9 home runs, 61 RBIs, and a batting average of .336, and was named the league's Most Valuable Player. In 1953, Aaron was moved up to the Class-A Jacksonville Tars, where he led the league with 115 runs, 208 base hits, 36 doubles, 125 RBIs, and .362 batting avera