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The baseball community is mourning the loss of one of the greats. Henry Louis Aaron, known affectionately as “Hank,” died Friday at the age of 86.

Aaron, who was born in Alabama, began his baseball career at the age of 17 during his junior year of high school. After graduation, Aaron joined the Pritchett Athletics, followed by the Mobile Black Bears, an independent Negro League team.

After a few years of playing for various Negro League teams, Aaron was signed to the Braves, making him one of the first African Americans to play in the major leagues.

In 1957, the Braves moved from Milwaukee to Atlanta, where Aaron played for 23 years.

During his time with the Atlanta Braves, Aaron beat Babe Ruth’s home run record with 715 home runs. Ruth previously held the record for 40 years.

Braves announcer Milo Hamilton called the game and summed up the historic moment, stating;

“Henry Aaron, in the second inning walked and scored. He’s sittin’ on 714. Here’s the pitch by Downing. Swinging. There’s a drive into left-center field. That ball is gonna be-eee … Outta here! It’s gone! It’s 715! There’s a new home run champion of all time, and it’s Henry Aaron! The fireworks are going. Henry Aaron is coming around third. His teammates are at home plate. And listen to this crowd.”

He continued, “what a marvelous moment for baseball; what a marvelous moment for Atlanta and the state of Georgia; what a marvelous moment for the country and the world. A black man is getting a standing ovation in the Deep South for breaking a record of an all-time baseball idol. And it is a great moment for all of us, and particularly for Henry Aaron … And for the first time in a long time, that poker face in Aaron shows the tremendous strain and relief of what it must have been like to live with for the past several months.”

Aaron went on to play for the Milwaukee Brewers, where he hit his 733rd home run, which stood until it was broken by Barry Bonds in 2007. Over the course of his record-breaking 23-year career, Aaron had a batting average of .305 with 163 hits per season, while hitting an average of just over 32 home runs a year and 99 runs batted in (RBI) a year.

During his retirement, Aaron joined the Braves’ executive team and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1982. His 2,297 RBIs are still the most in the history of the sport.

In recent months, Aaron had become active in the charge to get African Americans vaccinated with the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.

Getting vaccinated “makes me feel wonderful,” Aaron told The Associated Press. “I don’t have any qualms about it at all, you know. I feel quite proud of myself for doing something like this. It’s just a small thing that can help zillions of people in this country.”

Aaron leaves behind his daughter, Billye Aaron, and their daughter, Ceci. He also leaves behind five children – Gary, Lary, Dorinda, Gaie and Hank Jr. –  from his first wife, Barbara Lucas.

A cause of death has not been reported at this time. Our prayers go out to his family.

RIP to one of the Greatest of All Times. #GOAT