Trivia tribute to a towering figure: Hank Aaron

For more than two decades, Hank Aaron was a remarkable model of consistent excellence. It all added up to eye-popping offensive numbers, most notably 755 home runs - a record that would stand for more than three decades.

To many, because of the performance-enhancing cloud that looms over Barry Bonds' final decade of play, Aaron is regarded as the rightful Home Run King. His final four-bagger came on July 20, 1976 - 44½ years ago for the man who wore number 44 for all but his first season in the Major Leagues.

See how you fare with the following 10-question trivia quiz inspired by Aaron's storied 23-year career.

Q1. As a 20-year-old rookie for the Milwaukee Braves in 1954, Aaron hit 13 home runs while playing in 122 games. He was in 61 home games and 61 on the road. How many of his home runs came at home?

Q2. Over the last two months of his final season, 1976, Hank Aaron scored only two runs while going 6-for-42 in 13 games. As a result, his career ended in a highly improbable second-place tie with Babe Ruth for runs scored (2,174), a ranking that has since slid to a fourth-place deadlock.

The Brewer whose single brought Aaron home for that 2,174th run died in 1980 in the same city where Aaron was born: Mobile, Ala. Who was it?

Q3. Other than Hank and Tommie Aaron, only two other players in MLB history have had last names that begin "Aa." Both, Don Aase and David Aardsma, were A-grade relief pitchers with 30-save seasons to their credit.

Which one pitched back-to-back years for the Cubs and White Sox early in his career?

Q4. Five years younger than his more accomplished brother, Tommie Aaron's first MLB hit came on April 10, 1962, at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. After entering the game as a pinch-runner a few innings earlier, he singled in his only at-bat against a man who fanned Hank three times in the contest.

Who was this future Hall of Fame hurler whom Aaron would wind up 5-for-15 against?

Q5. On Aug. 18, 1965, Aaron had a home run against the St. Louis Cardinals disallowed, and he was ruled out. The home plate umpire agreed with the Cards' catcher, later a longtime baseball sportscaster, who hopped up and down and argued that Aaron's front (left) foot was not in the batter's box.

Who was the catcher?

Q6. In 1969, the first year of Divisional Playoffs, Aaron's Atlanta Braves were swept by eventual World Series champion New York Mets. Who was the only player in the series to hit a home run in each of the three games?

Q7. In addition to Hank and Tommie Aaron, that 1969 Braves team had five other players with brothers who also played in the Major Leagues. Only one has joined Aaron in Cooperstown as a Hall of Famer. Who was it?

Q8. What pop music cultural icon, because of his facial resemblance to Aaron, got his nickname from Reggie Jackson during his time in the 1970s performing a variety of roles for Oakland A's owner Charlie Finley?

Q9. Mired in a 2-for-22 slump to start his 1975 season with the Milwaukee Brewers, Aaron on April 18 smacked his first American League home run against Gaylord Perry of the Cleveland Indians. While playing in the National League, did Aaron ever hit a home run against Cleveland?

Q10. In the same July 1976 game in which Aaron hit his final career home run against the California Angels, two other players - both former AL home run champions - likewise hit four-baggers. Who were they?

Answers: 1. One; 2. Dan Thomas; 3. Dave Aardsma; 4. Juan Marichal; 5. Tim McCarver; 6. Hank Aaron; 7. Phil Niekro; 8. MC Hammer; 9. Not the team from that city, but he did homer three times against St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Reggie Cleveland, once in 1971 and twice in 1973; 10. George Scott and Bill Melton.

• Matt Baron supplements his baseball brainpower with Retrosheet.org for research.