Jan. 22, 2021 – Henry “Hank” Aaron, whose dramatic hunt for the 1974 Major League home run record made him a baseball legend, died Friday at his Atlanta home.
The Atlanta Braves, his former team, announced Aaron’s death at the age of 86. He died in his sleep, The Associated Press reported, and no cause of death was disclosed immediately.
Aaron, born in Mobile, AL to Jim Crow, was last seen publicly on January 5 when he and former UN ambassador and civil rights activist Andrew Young and former US Health Secretary Louis Sullivan received COVID-19 vaccinations together in Atlanta .
Aaron’s greatness didn’t just come about on the baseball field, where he set records for career home runs, run batted-in, extra base hits and total bases. He also became a symbol of dignity and grace as he battled violent racism as he pursued Babe Ruth’s record of 714 home runs.
As he neared Ruth’s target, Aaron faced death threats from whites who objected to a black man who kept such a revered record. But Aaron never showed anger or fear. He just kept hitting home runs.
Aaron’s career began in 1951 when she signed with the Indianapolis Clowns of the Negro Leagues at the age of 17. He was later offered roster positions by both the New York Giants and the then Boston Braves. While the Giants offer was for a higher rated league, Aaron signed up with the Braves and the extra $ 50 per month the team was offering.
The Braves moved to Atlanta in 1966.
“To be honest, I was scared of going to a high-profile city like Atlanta,” Aaron said in a previous interview on WSB-TV / Channel 2. “I know Dr. King was here, Andy Young and some of the other great civil rights activists who made their homes here, and I’m from Milwaukee, where there has been no activity at all. … you think about what it is, what you can do and what role you can play. And you feel like you’ve really understaffed everyone, you didn’t do your job. “
Aaron was aware that Atlanta was becoming the center of the civil rights movement, but was unsure of his place in it.
“To be honest, I was a little ashamed because I was so far back in the sticks, in the forest, that I didn’t know what was going on. It made me think that I still had a role to play regardless of what I’d accomplished in life, whether it was baseball, soccer, basketball, life, lawyers, whatever it was, ”he said.
Later, after his playing career ended in 1976, Aaron became an executive with the Braves and a community icon. Although he was never in the limelight, he still drew it. President Bill Clinton praised Aaron’s work on racial relations in paving the way for Barack Obama’s 2008 election.
While his career record fell from 755 home runs in 2007, many continue to regard Aaron as the true home run king as Barry Bonds, who has exceeded Aaron’s mark, has used performance enhancing drugs across the board.
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The Associated Press: “Hank Aaron, Georgia civil rights activist to be vaccinated,” “Hank Aaron, once the king of baseball, dies at the age of 86.”
WSBTV.com: “The brave legend Hank Aaron dies at the age of 86, says daughter.”
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