Hank Aaron Honored At Funeral In Atlanta: ‘Just His Presence … Changed This City’

People arrive Wednesday with a painting of Hank Aaron as others attend the Baseball Hall of Famer’s funeral at Atlanta’s Friendship Baptist Church.

John Bazemore / Associated PRess

Former U.N. Ambassador and Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young remembered when Henry “Hank” Aaron came to Atlanta prior to the Braves’ first game in the city in 1966.

Young said he overheard a group of white men standing on the street watching Aaron riding in a convertible saying, “We got to be a big league city now.”

“Just his presence, before he hit a hit, changed this city,” said Young.