The former home run king in Major League Baseball, Henry "Hank" Aaron, is dead at 86. "Hammerin' Hank" was born in Mobile in 1934 and spent time in the Negro Leagues and the Minor Leagues on his way to debuting in the Majors at the age of 20 in 1954.
Aaron spent the majority of his Major League career with the Braves organization, in Milwaukee from 1954 to 1965 and Atlanta from 1966-1975. He would return to Milwaukee to play for the Brewers his final two seasons. He was a 25-time All-Star from 1955 to 1975, and won three gold gloves, two National League batting championships, and led the league in home runs and RBIs four times each.
The slugger passed the iconic Babe Ruth in home runs against the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 8, 1974. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982 with 755 career home runs. Even after his playing days, Aaron remained active in the game and was an ambassador for baseball throughout his life.
I never met Hank Aaron, though I spent many a day and night at the stadium named after him. The one with his childhood home out front.
He visited Hank Aaron Stadium a few times... and one of those times, my husband was able to get our son Mike in to MEET the legend.
You have to understand that Mike is, and always has been, crazy about baseball. Since he was a toddler and dressed up like a "catcherman" (embarrasing photo below!)
For him to meet THE Hank Aaron was huge. You can see it in his eyes.
Here's that little boy, all grown up and finished with his college baseball career, attending the very last Baybears game at Hank Aaron Stadium. Still crazy about baseball after all these years.
And the embarrasing photo I promised....