Hammering Hank Dies at 86

Hank Aaron, Home Run King Who Defied Racism, Dies at 86

He held the most celebrated record in sports for more than 30 years.



Hank Aaron was among the greatest all-around players in baseball history, earning his home run record in the face of hate mail and even death threats.Credit...Mark Rucker/Transcendental Graphics, via Getty Images


By Richard Goldstein



  • Jan. 22, 2021Updated 1:17 p.m. ET


Hank Aaron, who faced down racism as he eclipsed Babe Ruth as baseball’s home run king, hitting 755 homers and holding the most celebrated record in sports for more than 30 years, has died. He was 86.

The Atlanta Braves, his team for many years, confirmed the death on Friday in a message from its chairman, Terry McGuirk. No other details were provided.


Playing for 23 seasons, all but his final two years with the Braves in Milwaukee and then Atlanta, Aaron was among the greatest all-around players in baseball history and one of the last major league stars to have played in the Negro league


https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/22/s...aron-dead.html