• Celebrity
    • OTE – Screen Kings
    • Daniel Kaluuya Digital Cover
    • Digital Cover Method Man
    • Digital Cover Zazie
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
    • If Not For My Girls
  • Fashion
    • ESSENCE Fashion House 2022
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Best In Black Beauty 2023
    • ESSENCE Hair Awards 2022
    • AVEENO Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weave
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Black History Month
    • ESSENCE Gift Guide 2022
    • ESSENCE + smartwater Live Well Challenge
    • Build Your Legacy 2022
    • Dream & Plan with Confidence Prudential
    • AMEX Platinum Travel
    • Homecoming Season 2022
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
  • News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Sponsors Recognition Page 2022
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Video
  • Festival
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2022 Fest Videos
  • Events
    • 2023 Wellness House
    • 2023 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2023 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Girls United Summit
    • 2022 ESSENCE Fashion House
    • 2022 Homecoming Season
    • She Got Now
    • Dear Black Men
    • I Am Speaking
    • Power Tools
  • Studios
  • Girls United

WHERE BLACK CULTURE, COMMUNITY AND CONSCIOUSNESS MEET

Sign up for ESSENCE Newsletters the keep the Black women at the forefront of conversation.

Your email is required.
Your email is in invalid format.
Confirm email is required.
Email did not match.
Select the newsletters you'd like to receive:
Please select at least one option.
By clicking Subscribe Now, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Skip to content
SUBSCRIBE
  • MAGAZINE
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Celebrity
    • OTE – Screen Kings
    • Daniel Kaluuya Digital Cover
    • Digital Cover Method Man
    • Digital Cover Zazie
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
      • Paint The Polls Black
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
    • If Not For My Girls
  • Fashion
    • ESSENCE Fashion House 2022
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Best In Black Beauty 2023
    • ESSENCE Hair Awards 2022
    • AVEENO Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weave
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Black History Month
    • ESSENCE Gift Guide 2022
    • ESSENCE + smartwater Live Well Challenge
    • Build Your Legacy 2022
    • Dream & Plan with Confidence Prudential
    • AMEX Platinum Travel
    • Homecoming Season 2022
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
  • News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Sponsors Recognition Page 2022
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Video
  • Festival
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2022 Fest Videos
  • Events
    • 2023 Wellness House
    • 2023 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2023 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Girls United Summit
    • 2022 ESSENCE Fashion House
    • 2022 Homecoming Season
    • She Got Now
    • Dear Black Men
    • I Am Speaking
    • Power Tools
  • Studios
  • Girls United
Home · Celebrity

Baseball Legend Hank Aaron Dies At 86

His home run record, 755, went unbroken for over 30 years.
Baseball Legend Hank Aaron Dies At 86
By Essence · Updated April 28, 2022

Legendary baseball player Henry “Hank” Aaron has died at the age of 86, according to his daughter. JSOnline has reported that he passed from a stroke.

Aaron first began playing in the Negro Leagues in 1951 and ended his career in 1976 as a player for the Milwaukee Brewers, though he spent 20 years (1954-1974) with the Atlanta Braves. During his run, he hit a then-record setting 755 home runs, which stood until 2007.

The chairman of the Braves, Terry McGuirk, has spoken out about Aaron’s death. “We are absolutely devastated by the passing of our beloved Hank,” the statement begins. “He was a beacon for our organization, first as a player, then with player development and always with our community efforts…His success on the diamond was matched only by his business accomplishments off the field and capped by his extraordinary philanthropic efforts.”

Braves chairman Terry McGuirk on the passing of Hank Aaron: pic.twitter.com/BLtQGR4BkW

— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) January 22, 2021

Aaron was born in Mobile, Alabama in 1934 and was one of eight children born to Herbert and Estella Aaron. As an adult, he followed in the footsteps of his mentor, Jackie Robinson (who became the first Black player in the major leagues in 1947), and became the last player from the Negro Leagues to be selected for the majors. He began playing for the Milwaukee Braves in 1954 and moved with the team when they relocated to Atlanta in 1966.

Baseball Legend Hank Aaron Dies At 86
(Original Caption) This is a waist-up portrait of Hank Aaron of the Atlanta Braves baseball team in uniform.

As a Black baseball player in the Deep South, Aaron experienced extreme racial discrimination, even within the major leagues. “There was a lot of prejudice;” he said to HistoryNet in 1999. I don’t know if it was across the board, but there was enough of it. There was a lot of it there with just about every team in the major leagues.”

In 1974, Aaron hit his 715th home run, breaking Babe Ruth’s record that had been in place for 39 years. His accomplishment was met with hate from white baseball supporters and he had been receiving written death threats as it became clear he was gearing up to surpass Ruth. Through it all, he remained focused on his passion for the sport.

Aaron was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers in 1974 and hit his 755th home run two years later. He retired in 1976 and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982.

“I’m actually kind of a loner, a guy that has stayed to himself,” Aaron said during a 2006 interview with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “I would just want to be remembered as somebody who just tried to be fair with people.”

Aaron is survived by his wife, Billye, and five children, Gaile, Hank Jr., Lary, Dorinda and Ceci. He also leaves behind grandchildren.

TOPICS:  News
COMPANY INFORMATION
  • Our Company
  • Customer Service
  • Essence Ventures
  • Change Your Address
  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Internships
  • Media Kit
  • tag
SUBSCRIBE
  • Newsletters
  • Give a Gift of ESSENCE
  • Magazine Tablet Edition
FOLLOW US
MORE ON ESSENCE
  • Home
  • Love
  • Celebrity
  • Beauty
  • Hair
  • Fashion
  • ESSENCE festival

ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc.

Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.

©2023 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms

Get The ESSENCE Newsletter and
Special Offers delivered to your inbox

By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Get The ESSENCE Magazine
by subscribing below
subscribe now