DENVER - Major League Baseball honored Braves icon, Hall of Famer and civil rights activist Henry “Hank” Aaron before the All-Star game Tuesday in Denver. Aaron died in January at age 86.
A tribute video was shown on the Coors Field video board before the national anthem. The video showed Aaron highlights, including his record-breaking 715th homer, and commemorated his impact on social and civil rights, and sports.
Aaron’s wife, Billye, was honored on the field and given a standing ovation. She was presented with two items in her husband’s honor: A framed Aaron jersey, with each All-Star’s signature around the border, and a painting showing Aaron’s journey from his young days to becoming a Hall of Fame major leaguer.
Billye was escorted to home plate by Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman and Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge. Freeman hugged Billye after the gifts were presented.
Every player wore No. 44 in Aaron’s honor during workouts and the home run derby Monday. A “44” was etched in right field for the game, as well.
Aaron, a 25-time All-Star, homered off A’s pitcher Vida Blue in the 1971 All-Star game exactly 50 years ago Tuesday.
“I don’t think anything we do would be enough to honor Hank Aaron and what he means to baseball and what he meant to the United States,” Freeman told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution before the game. “As long as you keep doing it and keep honoring the man, there’s nothing we could ever do where it’s like, ‘OK, that’s enough.’ There’s nothing that will be enough to honor him.
“It was special to put on No. 44. We have Hank Aaron weekend coming up in a couple weeks, so it’s going to be awesome. (Former players) Curtis Granderson and C.C. (Sabathia) are coming down. It’s going to be a great event so hopefully we can keep honoring him because he deserves it.”
Hank Aaron weekend is July 30-Aug. 1 at Truist Park. The weekend will “showcase the standard of excellence Aaron established through his on-and-off-the field endeavors, honoring his place in the game of baseball and his work to advance social, civil, and human rights,” according to the Braves.
