Baseball Hall of Famer, Atlanta Braves legend, and one time home-run king Hank Aaron has passed away at the age of 86, according to his daughter (h/t WSB-TV Atlanta).
Aaron reportedly passed away on Friday morning, although no further details are currently available.
Aaron started off in the Negro Leagues, signing with the Indianapolis Clowns in 1951 before signing with the Atlanta Braves in 1952, and playing in the minor leagues until 1954.
Aaron, who earned the nickname “Hammerin”, made 25 All-Star teams, won 3 Gold Glove awards 2 National League batting titles, and was named the National League MVP in the 1957 season, the same year he led his team to a World Series championship.
Aaron is best known for breaking Babe Ruth’s home run record of 714 career homer runs back in 1973. Aaron retired in 1976 and was inducted into the baseball Hall of Fame in 1982. Aaron led the National League in home runs in 4 separate seasons. Aaron’s career home run record of 755 stood until 2007, when San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds broke it.
Aaron last made news last month when he and his wife visited the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta to receive their COVID-19 vaccine shots, an act they hoped would inspire other Black Americans to do the same.
