The world lost a legend in more ways than one today. Baseball remembered Hank Aaron’s life today after news of his passing. First, the Braves:
It is with great sadness we share the passing of our home run king, Hank Aaron. pic.twitter.com/ZdRuhqIaet
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) January 22, 2021
I can’t imagine what Hank Aaron went through in his lifetime. He had every right to be angry or militant.....but never was! He spread his grace on everything and every one he came in contact with. Epitome of class and integrity. RIP Henry Aaron! #HammerinHank
— Chipper Jones (@RealCJ10) January 22, 2021
Nancy and I pass our condolences to all of Hank's family today. So saddened to hear the news of Hank's passing. There was a certain spirit, even a reverence, when in Hank Aaron's presence that you could feel. Grace, strength, integrity. We were blessed to have known him. @Braves
— Dale Murphy (@DaleMurphy3) January 22, 2021
From MLB:
We are devastated by the passing of Hammerin’ Hank Aaron, one of the greatest players and people in the history of our game. He was 86. pic.twitter.com/bCvLOydGBZ
— MLB (@MLB) January 22, 2021
Commissioner Manfred issued the following statement today regarding the passing of Hall of Famer Hank Aaron: pic.twitter.com/0Sy2G4Olm9
— MLB Communications (@MLB_PR) January 22, 2021
Commissioner Manfred tells MLB Tonight what he'd like the younger generation to know about Hank Aaron. pic.twitter.com/17cqmu3873
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) January 22, 2021
The world also remembers:
BREAKING: Hank Aaron, the baseball legend who endured racist threats with stoic dignity as he broke Babe Ruth's career home run record, has died at 86. https://t.co/Re0rtZ0a79
— The Associated Press (@AP) January 22, 2021
Hank Aaron was not only one of baseball’s greatest players, he was also a remarkable American hero, whose perseverance and forbearance in the face of unspeakable racism is a testament to the human spirit. We will miss him.https://t.co/JtGbnOmLnO
— Ken Burns (@KenBurns) January 22, 2021
STATEMENT FROM FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER ON THE PASSING OF HANK AARON pic.twitter.com/Bp4Jh21MZ3
— The Carter Center (@CarterCenter) January 22, 2021
Baseball is game of threes. Three strikes, three outs, three sets of three innings. Sometime other things, like remembering greatness, has to occur in threes as well. We lost Phil Niekro, Don Sutton, and now Hank Aaron in the last month. Please 2021, let it end at three.
While we are forced to think of threes, remember this. There are 31 other members of the 3,000 hit club. If you remove all of his 755 MLB home runs from his totals, Hank Aaron would still be #30 on that list, instead of #3.
And yes, that is record-breaking 763 home runs overall. Aaron hit at least eight home runs in the Negro League, which now are included in Major League Baseball stats.