Milwaukee Common Council Reacts To Hank Aaron's Death
MILWAUKEE, WI — Hank Aaron, who endured racist threats with stoic dignity during his pursuit of Babe Ruth’s home run record and gracefully left his mark with 755 homers and a legacy 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.
After learning of the baseball legend's death, members of the Milwaukee Common Council issued the following statement:
We are stunned and saddened to learn of the passing today of baseball legend Henry “Hank” Aaron, who started his career with the Milwaukee Braves in the 1950s, and ended his career with the Brewers by hitting an RBI single in his final at-bat on October 3, 1976.
Hank Aaron played 21 seasons for the Braves in Milwaukee and Atlanta, after the team moved there in 1966. He was a key player when the Braves won the World Series in 1957, bringing joy and glory to Milwaukee and forever etching his name in the hearts of baseball fans here and across Wisconsin.
Known as “Hammer” and “Hammerin’ Hank,” his name adorns the Hank Aaron State Trail as it meanders along in the shadows of where his early and great playing days shined at then County Stadium.
Enshrined forever in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY, Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth’s home run record – a record many thought would never be broken – but never sought personal recognition or fame.
Hank Aaron was a kind and generous man who led by example and who sought to serve others. In fact he and his wife Billye would help charities and causes on a regular basis. Hank Aaron seemed to be happiest when helping others.
In 2018 he told an interviewer that he wanted to be remembered “as not someone who hit 700 home runs or someone who had a .300 batting average, but someone who did a little bit more than just — did some other things to help mankind.”
We send our sincere condolences to the loved ones and friends of Mr. Aaron, and we cherish the fact that he called Milwaukee home for a time, and that he thrilled us with his talent, his booming home runs, and especially his kindness and humanity.
Rest in peace, Hammer.
Aaron made his last public appearance just 2 1/2 weeks ago, when he received the COVID-19 vaccine. He said he wanted to help spread the word to Black Americans that the vaccine was safe.
Aaron’s death follows that of seven other baseball Hall of Famers in 2020 and two more -- Tommy Lasorda and Don Sutton — already this year.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
This article originally appeared on the Milwaukee Patch
