Photos: Hank Aaron’s Life And Career

WABE

January 22nd, 2021

Georgia Gov. Jimmy Carter, right, and Delaware Gov. Sherman Tribbitt say hello to Atlanta Braves Hank Aaron, left, following a rain canceled game with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Thursday, Sept. 27, 1973, Atlanta, Ga. The cancellation slowed Aaron’s opportunity to tie or break Babe Ruth’s home run record.

(AP Photo)

Baseball legend Hank Aaron has died at the age of 86.

Nicknamed “Hammerin’ Hank,” Aaron is considered one of the greatest baseball players in history. He surpassed Babe Ruth’s record for most home runs of all time in 1974 and held onto that title for the next 33 years.

Aaron was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982. He was awarded the Presidental Medal of Freedom in 2002 by President George W. Bush.

Atlanta Braves teammates Felipe Alou (29), Joe Torre (15) and Hank Aaron (44) perform conditioning exercises during spring training in West Palm Beach, Fla., March 1, 1968.

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(AP Photo)
Atlanta Braves, Hank Aaron started his spring training drills on March 4, 1972 in West Palm Beach in the batting cage, and he clouted many long drives to the fences.

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(AP Photo)
Georgia Gov. Jimmy Carter, right, and Delaware Gov. Sherman Tribbitt say hello to Atlanta Braves Hank Aaron, left, following a rain canceled game with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Thursday, Sept. 27, 1973, Atlanta, Ga. The cancellation slowed Aaron’s opportunity to tie or break Babe Ruth’s home run record.

Photo Credit
(AP Photo)
Hank Aaron holds aloft the ball he hit for his 715th home run in Atlanta, Ga., on April 8, 1974.

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(AP Photo)
Atlanta Braves’ Hank Aaron hits his 715th career home run in Atlanta Stadium, April 8, 1974, to break the all-time record set by the late Babe Ruth. The ball is a blur as it leaves the bat.

Photo Credit
Joe Holloway, Jr.
/ AP Photo
Baseball player Hank Aaron waves to the crowd as grand marshal of the 1975 Tournament of Roses parade in Pasadena, Ca., Jan. 1, 1975. Riding with him in the open car is his wife, Billye.

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AP Photo
Former Atlanta Braves slugger Hank Aaron is shown with an Associated Press photo of his record-breaking 715th career home run in New York on April 21, 1982. Aaron, now the team’s vice president and director of player development, says the Braves record winning streak “is no freaking accident,” adding that owner Ted Turner hasn’t gotten his share of the credit.

Photo Credit
Dave Pickoff
/ AP Photo
Atlanta Braves baseball legend Hank Aaron limbers up prior to his turn at bat at the Old-Timers game against the 1964 Philadelphia Phillies at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia on August 19, 1989.

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Charles Krupa
/ AP Photo
In this Nov. 12, 2013 file photo, a statue of Hall of Fame baseball player Hank Aaron stands outside Turner Field, the home of the Atlanta Braves in Atlanta.

Photo Credit
David Goldman
/ AP Photo
Atlanta Braves Hank Aaron in his baseball uniform shown in 1967.

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(AP Photo)
Hank Aaron smiles after being presented with the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette by the Consul General of Japan at his official residence Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016, in Atlanta. Japan has honored the former home run king with one of its highest awards, bestowing the Order of the Rising Sun for bringing young people and countries together through baseball.

Photo Credit
David Goldman
/ AP Photo