He started and ended his career in Milwaukee: Hank Aaron reflects on his finest moments here

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- It's no surprise that when Milwaukee's Vel Phillips was honored for her work in the women's and civil rights movements last Thursday, January 29th, baseball legend Hank Aaron was there -- quietly and without fanfare. What this humble American hero has done off the diamond speaks volumes.

Long before steroids tarnished some of the most cherished records in Major League Baseball, there was Henry Louis Aaron, "Hammer," "Hammerin' Hank," "Bad Henry." The 25-time All-Star's numbers are staggering, including 755 career homers -- an all-time mark that stood for 33 years.

The Mobile, Alabama native spent his first 12 seasons in a Milwaukee Braves uniform -- leading them to a World Series championship, and to the brink of a second before that heartbreaking move to Atlanta in 1966. Aaron's finest memories here?

"I think about all of the things that the people of Milwaukee really did for me as a young kid growing up. I came here when I was 19 years old, and made a lot of mistakes, but I've never once been in this city and the fans have booed me. They accepted me for what I am and I'm just so grateful," Aaron said.

Like his baseball records, Hank Aaron's accomplishments off the field are far too many to mention. President Bush presented him with the presidential Medal of Freedom for his contributions to baseball and American in 2002. President Obama awarded Aaron the national Medals of Arts and Medals of Humanities in 2010.

"All of the home-runs and all of the things that I've done in baseball doesn't compare to what it makes me feel like when I see a young kid that has done something that I've had my hands on," Aaron said.

When he was chasing Babe Ruth's home-run record in the early 1970s, Aaron was the victim of racist comments -- even death threats. But the man who spoke softly and carried a big stick was never bitter. He rose above all the ignorance, just as he rose above on the field.

"My mother always taught me 'do unto others as you would have them do to you,' you know, and I grew up with that philosophy. Whatever I personally have achieved in life, it's not just because of me. It's because of people around me," Aaron said.

As an agent for social change, the 80-year-old Aaron sees progress, but he feels there is still a long road ahead.

"You can see it every day in television. You see it every day in life. We still need to grow up as a society, as people to understand that color's only skin deep, and if you learn to love each other, this would be a better place," Aaron said.

With that conviction, it's no wonder that at age 80, Hank Aaron is still swinging for the fences.

"I always thought that if I just keep pushing and keep doing the right thing, that God will bless me. As much as I have achieved in baseball or in life, I just feel like I still need to do more," Aaron said.

If Hank Aaron isn't the number one ballplayer of all time, he's in the conversation. Yet, the game doesn't begin to define the man.

"I think I'd like (people) to remember me as someone that came along, played the game of baseball -- but that's only part of his life. I think I'd like them to remember me as someone who gave back to life, gave back to society and also understand my fellow man," Aaron said.

In addition to starting his career in Milwaukee with the Braves, Hank Aaron ended it in Milwaukee with the Brewers, when then-team owner Bud Selig brought him back in 1975. Aaron says Selig should go down as baseball's number one commissioner.