Hank Aaron bust, mural unveiled in his former southwest Atlanta neighborhood
Hank Aaron’s family and Atlanta officials introduced a new bust and mural in his old southwest Atlanta neighborhood on Thursday.
Mayor Andre Dickens, Billye Aaron, Atlanta Braves and other city officials attended a ribbon-cutting in Adams Park for the baseball legend. Billye Aaron still lives in the neighborhood.
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There, city officials also renamed the baseball complex in honor of Aaron.
“This is a special honor. It didn’t have to take place, if someone had not pushed for it, advocated for it and saw to it that it would happen,” Billye Aaron said.
Aaron, who hit 755 home runs in his career, is considered the best Brave of all time and one of the best players in major league history.
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Aaron’s bust at Adams Park will sit in front of a small building with a mural listing his accomplishments.
“It is my hope that having the bust here in the community will prompt young people who make use of this park to want to know more about him and how he lived his life, and not just the sports headlines,” Dickens said. “The greatness came from his tremendous courage, his tremendous grace and the strength of his character.”
A few baseball players who looked up to Aaron and played at the park were also there for the event.
“Hank Aaron broke barriers so that these young men could receive equal opportunity and walk proudly,” Camille Russell Love said.
Aaron passed away in January 2021 at age 86.
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