Sadness expressed over death of baseball legend Hank Aaron

MILWAUKEE - Baseball great and one-time home run king Hank Aaron died Friday, Jan. 22. He was 86 years old. A news release from the Atlanta Braves said Aaron passed away peacefully in his sleep.

Aaron is survived by his wife, Billye, and five children, Gaile, Hank Jr, Lary, Dorinda and Ceci.

Aaron started his MLB career in Milwaukee, a member of the Braves for more than a decade before the team moved to Atlanta. His career came to an end in Milwaukee, too, with the Brewers.

Before he was "Hammerin' Hank" he was Henry Aaron. Born in Mobile, Alabama in 1934, he left a big imprint on Milwaukee, across Wisconsin and around the world.

At 18 years old, Aaron signed with the Braves and was assigned to their minor league team in Eau Claire. Just two years later, he made his Major League debut.

Aaron helped lead the Braves to a World Series championship in 1957 and to the brink of another the following season. To this day, it is the only World Series title Milwaukee has seen.

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Hammerin' Hank hit 398 home runs and had over 1,300 runs batted in while playing in Milwaukee before the 1966 move to Atlanta.

"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 made a lot of mistakes," Aaron said. "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."

In Atlanta, Aaron pursued and eventually overtook Babe Ruth's career home run record. No. 715 came on April 8, 1974 at the start of Aaron's last season with Atlanta.

Throughout the home run chase, Aaron was the subject of racist comments, even death threats, but was able to rise above the strife.

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

The Milwaukee Brewers traded for Aaron and he returned to Cream City in 1975. On July 20, 1976, Aaron hit his final home run -- no. 755 -- at Milwaukee County Stadium. The record stood for 31 years before being broken in 2007.

The 25-time All-Star still holds records for runs batted in, total bases and extra-base hits. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982.

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He was a home run hitter off the field. In 2002, he was presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his contributions to baseball and America.

"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.

Reaction to the death of Hank Aaron

President Joe Biden

"When I watched Henry Aaron play baseball, I knew I was watching someone special. It wasn't just about watching a gifted athlete master his craft on the way to a Hall of Fame career as one of the greatest to ever play the game. It was that each time Henry Aaron rounded the bases, he wasn’t just chasing a record, he was helping us chase a better version of ourselves. 

"With courage and dignity, he eclipsed the most hallowed record in sports while absorbing vengeance that would have broken most people. But he was unbreakable. He stemmed the vicious force of white supremacy, in death threats, hate mail, and in hardened hearts. What I deeply admired and respected about him is that each time he rounded those bases — an astonishing 755 trips home — he melted away more and more of the ice of bigotry to show that we can be better as a people and as a nation.

"Henry Aaron became, in the words of President Carter, 'the first Black man for whom white fans in the South cheered.' It was not only his bat, but his character that won over those hearts and minds. For generations of athletes and civil rights advocates who followed, he showed how to be proud and be unafraid to stand up for what is right and just. 

"Jill and I count ourselves among the many millions of Americans who are grateful for the memories he gave us and our families. As a nation, we will still chase the better version of ourselves that he set for us. As we do, we mourn his passing and send our prayers to his beloved Billye, their children and grandchildren, and the entire Aaron family.

"God bless, Henry 'Hank' Aaron, an American hero."

Barack Obama

Allan H. (Bud) Selig

"My wife, Sue, and I are terribly saddened and heart broken by the passing of the great Henry Aaron, a man we truly loved, and we offer our love and our condolences to his wonderful wife, Billye.

"Besides being one of the greatest baseball players of all time, Hank was a wonderful and dear person and a wonderful and dear friend. Not long ago, he and I were walking the streets of Washington, D.C together and talking about how we’ve been the best of friends for more than 60 years. Then Hank said: "Who would have ever thought all those years ago that a black kid from Mobile, Alabama would break Babe Ruth’s homerun record and a Jewish kid from Milwaukee would become the Commissioner of Baseball?"

"Aaron was beloved by his teammates and by his fans. He was a true Hall of Famer in every way. He will be missed throughout the game, and his contributions to the game and his standing in the game will never be forgotten."

Baseball Commissioner Robert Manfred

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers

"I’m saddened to hear about the passing of a great athlete, a great man, and one of my own personal heroes. When I was a kid, Hank Aaron actually came to Plymouth to meet and visit with my Cub Scouts group—something I cherished then and even still today. Hammerin’ Hank was a role model to so many both on and off the field, and he’ll be remembered as a legend to the sport and to our state. What a loss."

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett

"We lost a legend. Hank Aaron was my childhood hero of heroes. He was an amazing person and a fantastic baseball player. He was such a big part of Milwaukee."

Terry McGuirk, Atlanta Braves Chairman

'We are absolutely devastated by the passing of our beloved Hank. He was a beacon for our organization first as a player, then with player development, and always with our community efforts.  His incredible talent and resolve helped him achieve the highest accomplishments, yet he never lost his humble nature. Henry Louis Aaron wasn’t just our icon, but one across Major League Baseball and around the world.  His success on the diamond was matched only by his business accomplishments off the field and capped by his extraordinary philanthropic efforts.

"We are heartbroken and thinking of his wife Billye and their children Gaile, Hank, Jr., Lary, Dorinda and Ceci and his grandchildren."

Congressman Ron Kind (D)

"I am deeply saddened by the passing of Hank Aaron. He was a legendary figure and a hero to so many, especially here in Wisconsin. Hank played for the Eau Claire Bears where today there is a statue of him to greet all visitors to Carson Park. I had the pleasure of spending time with him on a number of occasions. I’ve never met a person who was a better ambassador for the game of baseball and for the goal of equal opportunity for all our citizens. He will always be for me a dear friend and the true Major League home run record holder. Today I’m praying for his loved ones as they mourn this great loss."  

Milwaukee County Sheriff Earnell Lucas

"I am deeply saddened by the passing of Major League Baseball great Henry "Hank" Aaron. Starting as a humble young boy from Mobile, AL, Hank rose to become a giant on the baseball field and legend in the hearts and minds of those who knew the many passions and pursuits of this great man. Hank learned to play the game of baseball on the sandlots in his hometown, which was also home to other Major League greats including Satchel Paige, Billy Williams, Ozzie Smith and Willie McCovey.

"Hank arrived in Eau Claire, WI, in pursuit of his goal of playing in the Major Leagues five years after baseball’s color barrier was broken by Jackie Robinson. Because of his race, Hank suffered numerous indignities while pursuing his dream, before reaching the big leagues in 1954 with the Milwaukee Braves. Known for his speed and agility, Hank began racking up career numbers in hits, runs batted in and home runs, earning him the National League’s Most Valuable Player Award in 1957. Hank led the Braves to back-to-back World Series in 1957 and 1958, bringing the title home to Milwaukee in 1957. Hank went on to pursue one of the most hallowed records in all of sports, the Major League Baseball home run record of 714 held by Babe Ruth, which he surpassed on April 4, 1974. Hank played 23 seasons in the Major Leagues before retiring in 1976 with the Milwaukee Brewers. He was a first ballot selection to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982 with the second highest vote total ever at the time. Hank later became an executive with the Atlanta Braves, entrepreneur and ambassador for the game of baseball

"I had the privilege of spending many hours with this genteel man and admire him for his grace and dignity. He will always be remembered for the humanity he showed in some of the darkest times for our country and the integrity with which he always comported himself. He leaves a legacy for young boys and girls all over the world of overcoming life’s most difficult challenges to achieve their goals and dreams. I send my sincerest condolences to his wife Billye, his family, friends and loved ones and his dear friend former Major League Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig. Legions of people all over the world mourn the passing of this great man who will forever live in our hearts."