Today is a sad day in the world of sports, the world of baseball, our nation in general.
Former Atlanta Braves great, Major League Baseball hall of famer Hank Aaron has passed away at the age of 86. Hank Aaron is revered for breaking the MLB home run record in 1974.
Hank Aaron is the all-time leader in MLB RBI’s with 2,297 runs batted in. Hank Aaron is also second in Major League Baseball history with 755 home runs.
According to ESPN,
Aaron finished his career with a host of accolades. He was the National League MVP in 1957 — the same year the Braves won the World Series — a two-time NL batting champion (1956, ’59), a three-time Gold Glove winner in right field (1958-60) and a record 25-time All-Star.
He was enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982, receiving 97.8% approval in his first year on the ballot. In 1999, MLB created the Hank Aaron Award, given annually to the best hitter in both the AL and NL.
Off the field, Aaron was an activist for civil rights, himself being a victim of racial inequalities. Aaron was born in Mobile, Alabama, and didn’t play organized high school baseball because only white students had teams. During the buildup to his passing of Ruth’s home run mark, threats were made on his life by people who did not want to see a Black man break the record.
The Atlanta Braves and Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms have both released a statement regarding the passing of Hank Aaron.
Braves:
“We are absolutely devastated by the passing of our beloved Hank. He was a beacon for our organization first as a player, then with player development, and always with our community efforts. His incredible talent and resolve helped him achieve the highest accomplishments, yet he never lost his humble nature. Henry Louis Aaron wasn’t just our icon, but one across Major League Baseball and around the world. His success on the diamond was matched only by his business accomplishments off the field and capped by his extraordinary philanthropic efforts. We are heartbroken and thinking of his wife Billye and their children Gaile, Hank, Jr., Lary, Dorinda and Ceci and his grandchildren.”
Atlanta Braves chairman Terry McGuirk
Keisha Lance Bottoms:
“This is a considerable loss for the entire city of Atlanta.While the world knew him as ‘Hammering Hank Aaron’ because of his incredible, record-setting baseball career, he was a cornerstone of our village, graciously and freely joining Mrs. Aaron in giving their presence and resources toward making our city a better place. As an adopted son of Atlanta, Mr. Aaron was part of the fabric that helped place Atlanta on the world stage. Our gratitude, thoughts and prayers are with the Aaron family.”
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms
Hank Aaron was much more than a baseball player. He was a living legend who changed the game of baseball and fought the fight for equality. Hank Aaron was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2002.
Watch the video above and see the reaction as Hank Aaron broke the home run record in 1974.
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