The legend of the Major Leagues (MLB), Hank Aaron, who made history on baseball fields and in civic battles in the United States, died this Friday at the age of 86.
Aaron found death peacefully while he slept, according to the Atlanta Braves, the team where he played almost his entire career as a professional baseball player.
“It is with great sadness that we share the passing of our home run king, Hank Aaron,” the Braves said on Twitter, to which team president Terry McGuirk also added his personal condolences.
Aaron is the second player with the most home runs in MLB history, with 755, only surpassed by Barry Bonds and preceded by the 714 hit by the also legendary player Babe Ruth. Although for a notable majority of baseball fans, Aaron is still the Home Run King, due to the steroid scandal that tarnished Bonds' record.
The feat of home run 715 was achieved on April 8, 1974, defying death threats and racist insults to move toward the top of home run hitters in Major League history.
Due to his condition as a black man, Aaron had to face his time in baseball in a society marked by segregation and racial prejudice, but he always imposed his commitment to civil rights and his sporting quality.
His legacy has included him among the great icons of sports in the United States, along with Ruth himself, Mohamed Ali and Michael Jordan.
Born in the southern city of Mobile, Alabama, he played for the Atlanta Braves (1954-1974) and with the Milwaukee Brewers the final two years of his career until his retirement in 1976.
With the Braves he won the World Series in 1957 and was elected the league's most valuable player (MVP) that same year. He was elected to the All-Star Game 25 times and was elected to the Cooperstown Hall of Fame in 1982.
"Of everyone I've played with, Hank was the biggest influence on my career. The way Hank, the greatest player of all time, played and carried himself on and off the field, and remained humble, was which impacted me the most when I was 10 years old,” Brewers star and former Aaron student Robin Yount wrote on Twitter.
The Dominican MLB home run hitter,David Ortiz, also expressed his condolences and admiration for the deceased star: “A legend on and off the baseball field, the best to ever do it... RIP Mr Hank Aaron,” he said on Twitter.
In addition, Hank Aaron holds other all-time records for runs batted in (2,297) and total bases (6,856), and ranks third in hits connected (3,771).
He also won three Gold Gloves as an outfielder and won two batting titles, in 1956 and 1959.
Aaron also stood out in his civic battle, enrolled in the civil rights movement that ended with the end of racial barriers in the 60s.
On January 5, he was among the first community leaders in the state of Georgia to receive the coronavirus vaccine to encourage citizens to get immunized in the fight against the pandemic.
In the early 90s, Aaron visited Havana as a business executive, linked to magnate Ted Turner.
The Dominican MLB home run hitter also expressed his condolences and admiration for the deceased star: “A legend on and off the baseball field, the best to ever do it... RIP Mr Hank Aaron,” he said on Twitter.
In addition, Hank Aaron is the holder of other records such as runs batted in (2,297), and extra base hits (1,477), he went on to win 3 Gold Glove titles and was included in the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982.
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