Images: Remembering baseball legend Hank Aaron
Hank Aaron, who endured racist threats with stoic dignity during his pursuit of Babe Ruth's home run record and gracefully left his mark as one of baseball's greatest all-around players, died Friday. He was 86.
In this April 8, 1974 file photo, Atlanta Braves baseball player Hank Aaron speaks during a press conference after hitting his 715th home run during a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, in Atlanta. The 40th anniversary of Hank Aaron's 715th home run finds the Hall of Famer, now 80, coping with his recovery from hip surgery. The anniversary of his famous homer on April 8, 1974 will be celebrated before the Braves' home opener against the Mets on Tuesday night, April 8.
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In this April 8, 1974 file photo, Atlanta Braves baseball player Hank Aaron holds the ball he hit for his 715th home run during a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, in Atlanta. The 40th anniversary of Aaron's 715th home run finds the Hall of Famer, now 80, coping with his recovery from hip surgery. The anniversary of his famous homer on April 8, 1974 will be celebrated before the Braves' home opener against the Mets on Tuesday night.
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Atlanta Braves slugger Hank Aaron (44) starts to run after hitting a home run off Cincinnati Reds pitcher Jack Billingham to tie Babe Ruth's all-time home run record in the first inning on Opening Day at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, in this April 4, 1974 photo. San Francisco Giants' Barry Bonds moved within one home run of tying Babe Ruth on baseball's career home run list at 714. Hank Aaron holds the all-time record with 755 home runs.
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Outfielder Hank Aaron, shown at bat, as he hits his 713th home run, en route to breaking Babe Ruth's lifetime record of 714, Sept. 19, 1973, Atlanta, Ga.
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In this 1954 file photo, Milwaukee Braves' Hank Aaron poses for a photo at Ebbets Field during an exhibition season in New York. Hank Aaron, who endured racist threats with stoic dignity during his pursuit of Babe Ruth but went on to break the career home run record in the pre-steroids era, died early Friday, Jan. 22, 2021. He was 86. The Atlanta Braves said Aaron died peacefully in his sleep. No cause of death was given.
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Atlanta Braves' Hank Aaron (44) heads to the dugout at the end of the first inning after tying Babe Ruth's record of 714 career home runs in Opening Day game against the Cincinnati Reds at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, April 4, 1974.
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Baseball commissioner Bowie Kuhn, right, presents Atlanta Braves slugger Henry "Hank" Aaron with a trophy after he tied Babe Ruth's all-time home run record in this April 4, 1974 file photo in Cincinnati. Former commissioner Bowie Kuhn, who lorded over baseball during 15 tumultuous years that saw players gain free agency and start the spiral of multimillion salaries, died Thursday, March 15, 2007. He was 80.
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A fan runs with Hank Aaron as he rounds bases on his fourth inning homer against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Atlanta Stadium in Atlanta, Tuesday, April 9, 1974.
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Hank Aaron of the Atlanta Braves is congratulated near home plate by Eddie Mathews and the Braves bat boy after Aaron hit his 399th home run in the first inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Connie Mack Stadium, April 20, 1966.
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Atlanta's Hank Aaron (44) ducks back and loses his helmet as a pitch by New York's Gary Gentry comes close in the third inning of the third game of the National League playoffs at New York's Shea Stadium, Oct. 6, 1969. Catcher is Mets' Jerry Grote and umpire is Ed Sudol. At bottom is Mets first baseman Ed Kranepool (7).
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Hank Aaron, rookie outfield sensation with the Milwaukee Braves last season, gets a look at his right ankle in Milwaukee on Nov. 9, 1954, which he broke sliding into third base, in late season game. Dr. Bruce Brewer, orthopedic specialist of Milwaukee hospital removes cast.
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Atlanta Braves' Hank Aaron smiles during a press conference at Atlanta Stadium, Ga., after the game in which he hit his 715th career home, in this April 8, 1974, file photo. With him is his wife Billye, partially obscured. Hank Aaron, who endured racist threats with stoic dignity during his pursuit of Babe Ruth's home run record and gracefully left his mark as one of baseball's greatest all-around players, died Friday. He was 86. The Atlanta Braves, Aaron's longtime team, said he died peacefully in his sleep. No cause was given.
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Atlanta Braves' Hank Aaron is greeted at the plate by teammates Tony Gonzalez (43) and Rico Carty (25) after hitting a two-run homer in the first inning during the third National League playoff game with the New York Mets in New York's Shea Stadium, Oct. 6, 1969. Gonzalez scored ahead of Aaron.
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Atlanta? s Milt Pappas, left, winning pitcher against the Mets in New York? s Shea Stadium, poses with teammate Hank Aaron after the game, Aug. 1, 1968. Aaron, now in his 15th major league season, had three hits and drove in all of the Braves? runs in their 3-2 victory.
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Henry Aaron of the Milwaukee Braves, the National League's Most Valuable Player of 1957, received a champagne bucket at a luncheon in his honor in Milwaukee on Nov. 25, 1957. Making the presentation is Norman R. Klug, president of the Miller Brewing Co., Aaron's off-season employer. The presentation was made in recognition of Aaron's MVP award.
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In this May 17, 1970, file photo, Atlanta Braves' Hank Aaron, center, who became the ninth player in Major League history to get 3,000 hits, kisses a baseball alongside Famer Stan Musial and Braves owner Bill Bartholomay, in Cincinnati. Bartholomay, the former Braves owner who moved the team from Milwaukee to Atlanta in 1966, died Wednesday, March 25, 2020, at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, according to his daughter, Jamie. He was 91. Bartholomay sold the Braves to Ted Turner in 1976 but remained as chairman of the team's board of directors until 2003, when he assumed an emeritus role.
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A trio of heavy hitting Milwaukee Braves shown before taking a workout at Yankee Stadium of opening game of the World Series against New York Yankees in New York on Oct. 1, 1957. From left to right are: outfielder Henry Aaron, third baseman Eddie Mathews and first baseman Joe Adcock.
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Hank Aaron, slugging right fielder of the Milwaukee Braves, left, receives a silver bat and the John Hillerich memorial award from National League president Warren Giles before Braves-Giants game in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on May 19, 1957. Aaron received the honor for being batting champion of 1956, with an average of .328.
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In this July 14, 1968, file photo, Atlanta Braves' Hank Aaron smiles as he looks at the trophy presented him by Braves President Bill Bartholomay, after Aaron hit his 500th career home run in Atlanta. Hank Aaron, who endured racist threats with stoic dignity during his pursuit of Babe Ruth but went on to break the career home run record in the pre-steroids era, died early Friday, Jan. 22, 2021. He was 86. The Atlanta Braves said Aaron died peacefully in his sleep. No cause of death was given.
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Hank Aaron, left, star outfielder for the Milwaukee Braves, was joined by his brother, Tommie as the team began their spring training drills at Bradenton, Fla., March 2, 1962. The twenty-one-year old Tommie is a first baseman and battled 299 with Austin last season.
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Hank Aaron of the Milwaukee Braves, right, receives a silver bat and the John Hilleric plaque award from National League president Warren Giles before the Braves-Giant game in Milwaukee on May 20, 1957. Aaron hit for an average of .328 for the 1956 season to lead the National League in that department.
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Hank Aaron hits the first of the Cracker Jack Classic's five home runs and puts the National League Old Timers ahead in 1985.
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These four swung big bats last season and won top honors at the eighth annual Houston Baseball Writers Assn. dinner at night, Jan. 23, 1968, Houston, Texas. From left to right: Henry Aaron of the Atlanta Braves won the Johnny Keane Award as? Baseball? s Greatest Slugger,? Ron Santo, Chicago Cubs, the Eddie Dyer Award for outstanding performance and determination; Orlando Cepeda, St. Louis Cardinals, the Tris Speaker Award as? Player of the Year?; Houston Astros? Rusty Staub, the Jim Umbricht Award as the Astros? most valuable player of the season.
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In this Sept. 23, 1957, file photo, Milwaukee Braves' Hank Aaron is carried from the baseball field by teammates after they won the National League pennant with a 4-2 victory against the St. Louis Cardinals, in Milwaukee. Hank Aaron, who endured racist threats with stoic dignity during his pursuit of Babe Ruth but went on to break the career home run record in the pre-steroids era, died early Friday, Jan. 22, 2021. He was 86. The Atlanta Braves said Aaron died peacefully in his sleep. No cause of death was given.
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Hank Aaron of Atlanta Braves is shown in an undated photo.
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In this April 5, 2010 file photo, Atlanta Braves executive and Hall of Famer Hank Aaron tosses a baseball prior to the start of the team's opening day baseball game against the Chicago Cubs at Turner Field in Atlanta. Aaron predicts that hitters will bounce back this season following the year of the pitcher. The Hall of Famer also tells the AP he thinks that barring injuries, there's a good chance of a Red Sox-Giants World Series.
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Chicago Cubs vs Milwaukee Brewers, Opening Day 2008. The famous Hank Aaron is given a few pointers on his batting from former Cubs great Erine banks after the presentation.
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Chicago Cubs vs Milwaukee Brewers, Opening Day 2008. Hank Aaron, Jessie Jackson and Ernie Banks at the presentation this morning.
Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
Baseball great, Hall-of-Famer Hank Aaron arrives for the dedication ceremony of the Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture on the National Mall in Washington, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016.
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Hank Aaron looks on during a ceremony presenting him the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette, by the Consul General of Japan at his official residence Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016, in Atlanta. Japan has honored the former home run king with one of its highest awards, bestowing the Order of the Rising Sun for bringing young people and countries together through baseball.
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Former Atlanta Braves great Hank Aaron looks on as pitcher Tom Glavine puts home plate from Atlanta Fulton County Stadium on top of the plate at Turner Field before the Braves opened thier new home against the Chicago Cub Friday, April 4, 1997 in Atlanta.
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Hank Aaron, right, is presented with a framed certificate for the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette, by Takashi Shinozuka, left, Consul General of Japan in Atlanta, during a ceremony at the consul general's home, Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016, in Atlanta. Japan has honored the former home run king with one of its highest awards, bestowing the Order of the Rising Sun for bringing young people and countries together through baseball.
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Baseball Hall of Famer Hank Aaron, center, smiles during a reception in his honor, Friday, Feb. 7, 2014, in Washington. Aaron turned 80 this week and is being celebrated with a series of events in Washington.
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Hank Aaron is introduced before the MLB All-Star baseball game, Tuesday, July 14, 2015, in Cincinnati.
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In this Oct. 23, 2019, file photo, Hank Aaron is flanked by Alex Rodriguez, right, and David Ortiz as they take a selfie before Game 2 of the baseball World Series between the Houston Astros and the Washington Nationals in Houston. The photo was part of a series of images by photographer David J. Phillip which won the Thomas V. diLustro best portfolio award for 2019 given out by the Associated Press Sports Editors during their annual winter meeting in St. Petersburg, Fla.
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Hank Aaron, right, and his wife Bille Aaron arrive at the unveiling of director and producer Tyler Perry's new motion picture and television studio in Atlanta on Saturday Oct. 4, 2008.
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Hall of Famer Hank Aaron waves to the crowd during the MLB All-Star baseball Home Run Derby, Monday, July 9, 2012, in Kansas City, Mo.
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Hank Aaron answers questions from the crowd during the Hank Aaron Invitational at SunTrust Park in Atlanta, Aug. 2, 2019.
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