Remembering how Hank Aaron got his start ...

On this day in 1954, Braves outfielder Bobby Thomson broke his ankle sliding into third base during a Spring Training game against the Pirates.

Milwaukee had acquired Thomson -- whose Shot Heard 'Round the World won the pennant for the Giants in 1951 -- for four players a month earlier and was counting on him to repeat the .288 average, 26 homers and 106 RBIs he posted in 1953.

With Thomson sidelined for several months, the Braves had no choice but to hand over their Opening Day left field job to a 20-year-old rookie: Henry Louis Aaron.