The Legend: Hank Aaron

Hall of Fame slugger and longtime MLB home run king, Henry Louis “Hank” Aaron, whose 755 career home runs long stood as baseball’s golden mark, who rose up from the depts of Southern poverty to become one of the legends in baseball history as well as a bittersweet symbol of both American racial intolerance and triumph, has died. He was 86. Aaron, nicknamed the “Hammer”, was inducted into Baseball’s Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY, in 1982 and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George W. Bush 20 years later. Aaron played 23 seasons with the MLB, serving 21 seasons with the Braves and two seasons with the Brewers before his retirement in 1976. His achievements in the game came against the backdrop of racial prejudice. Hate mail, death threats, and even threats to his family meant security around him was tightened as he drew closer to breaking Babe Ruth’s famous record in 1974. When he struck the record-breaking home run, Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully said: “What a marvelous moment for the country and the world. A black man is getting a standing ovation in the deep South for breaking the record of an all-time baseball idol. And it is a great moment for all of us.” In 1999, on the 25^th anniversary of Aaron’s breaking Ruth’s record, the MLB created the Hank Aaron Award to honor the best offensive player in baseball. Boxing legend Muhammad Ali once called Hank Aaron “the only man I idolize more than myself.” For many people, Aaron was everything an athlete – and a human being – should be.

Article compiled from following sources: Baseballhall.org, ESPN and BBC