When it comes to first ceremonial pitches, it does not get much more emotional then this. On the 50th anniversary of his 715th home run, Hank Aaron ‘s great-grandson King Aaron threw out the first pitch during the divisional matchup between the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves.
It was on 8th April 1974, that the late great Hank Aaron smashed his 715th MLB home run. This saw him overtake the legendary Babe Ruth for the most home runs in major leagues.
Also known as “Hammerin Hank“, Aaron would go on to hit a total of 755 home runs. He would hold the record of the most home runs hit for 33 years until Barry Bonds overtook him with his 756th homer in July 2007. With the allegations of PEDs against Bonds, many still consider Aaron as the true leader of the most home run records.
So to celebrate the 50th anniversary of this special occasion, the Atlanta Braves, the team Aaron represented, called upon his great-grandson for the first pitch ceremony. This ceremony was attended by several of Aaron teammates, his widow Billye Aaron, and Gov. Brian Kemp of Georgia.
The US Postal Service announced that Aaron’s life will be honored through stamps which will be released later this year.
This stamp celebrates the life and career of Aaron (1934–2021), a giant both on and off the field, who rose from humble beginnings to rewrite the record books while prevailing in the face of racism. The USPS said in a statement
As for the Atlanta Braves, the team painted the outfield with the numbers ‘715’ to honor this. This was because he spent majority of his career as an outfielder and a designated hitter.
Baseball Hall of Fame to unveil statue of Hank Aaron in Cooperstown
On the 50th anniversary of Hank Aaron surpassing Babe Ruth with his 715th home run, the Baseball Hall of Fame made a major announcement. While he is already a Hall of Famer, he will now also have a statue in Cooperstown.
A bronze statue of the 25-time MLB All-star will now be standing on the first floor of the Cooperstown Museum in New York. This statue will be unveiled on May 23 this year.
The legacy of Hank Aaron has always been about so much more than just his incredible baseball achievements. His philanthropic vision, his support of youth empowerment efforts and his pioneering work as an executive have opened the doors of opportunity for millions throughout the United States and around the world. We are extremely privileged to care for and preserve his entire personal collection in Cooperstown, and this statue will stand forever as a tribute to an American hero. Hall chair Jane Forbes Clark said
At the moment, the main hall of Cooperstown consists of statues of Lou Gehrig, Roberte Clemente and Jackie Robinson. The addition of Hank Aaron in this would be a fitting tribute from the Hall of Fame to a man who inspired millions around the world.
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