The world of baseball suffered a huge loss when one of the sport’s legends, Henry “Hank” Aaron passed away, aged 86. This legend was known for breaking plenty of records during a long and illustrious 23-year career, and his work in civil activism etched himself into American history.
In his early life, Aaron grew up in Alabama in a segregated neighborhood, where the Ku Klux Klan represented a real threat to his safety. Aaron was also subjected to tremendous racist abuse throughout his playing career, but he persevered and became a fan favorite and one of the finest to have ever played the sport.
What made Hank Aaron special?
Aaron’s long career saw him break the then-record for most home runs by iconic baseball legend, Babe Ruth. He also achieved 624 doubles, 2,293 RBI, 2,174 runs scored, 755 home runs, 3,771 hits and 240 stolen bases.
This consistent run of excellence was matched by his activism, where he helped pave the path for black athletes to view baseball as a viable career option.
How will he be remembered?
Hank Aaron used his experiences to lobby for black athletes, hold a senior management position in the NAACP and was the initiator of the Chasing The Dream Foundation to mentor and finance underprivileged youth, across the nation.
He will be remembered not just for baseball, but American society as a whole. He was an outlier who turned to sport and used it to answer the bigger questions that plagued America.