With the 50th season in Atlanta coming to a close for the Braves, this photo is an appropriate one, showing two of the city’s great leaders.
This was shot after the Braves clinched the National League West in 1969, showing Hank Aaron, who soon would become the home run king, and then-Atlanta mayor Ivan Allen Jr.
During a turbulent time in the city’s civil rights history, Aaron and Allen were huge role models and a sign of what was right about the city.
In 1969, Aaron was still a ways away from break Babe Ruth’s record. He finished the season with 44 home runs, 161 shy of the record of 714. He was 35 that season, leading the Braves to a 93-69 record as baseball split into divisions for the first time.
Allen served two terms as the city’s mayor, which ended in 1970. He was instrumental in bringing the Braves to town, at the forefront of building Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium back in 1965.
But Allen was also key into transforming the city into progressive one and had a strong relationship with Aaron. He fought hard for civil rights for African-Americans and was the only white southern politician of his stature to testify before Congress of what became the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In his first mayoral election in ’61, he beat noted segregationist Lester Maddux.
The Ivan Allen Jr. Braves Museum at Turner Field houses Aaron’s jersey that he wore in 1974 to break Babe Ruth’s home run record.
Allen, who passed away in 2003, also felt strongly about Aaron’s role off the field, once saying, “There was a lot of subtle apprehension about how the South’s first major league sports franchise and its black player would go over. Hank played a major role in smoothing the transition and confirming the end of segregation in the South through his thoughtful consideration and cooperative attitude with everyone in his exemplary conduct. He taught us how to do it.’’
