ATLANTA — Main League Baseball and the Atlanta Braves honored the late legend Henry “Hank” Aaron on Tuesday evening earlier than the seventh inning of the All-Star Sport, 5 years after his 2021 dying.
The capstone of Aaron’s exceptional profession was his 715th profession residence run, breaking Babe Ruth’s document. Aaron hit it, some of the well-known residence runs in baseball historical past, on April 8, 1974, however the quantity 715 is what endures. Tuesday’s All-Star Sport got here on July 15 (or 7/15), so there was a bit serendipity there.
The Corridor of Famer nonetheless holds the document for RBI and extra-base hits, although Barry Bonds broke his residence run document in 2007.
Aaron’s widow, Billye, was in attendance at Truist Park for the unimaginable honor.
Main League Baseball put collectively a really cool present, together with a firework shot from residence plate out towards the outfield to simulate that legendary No. 715 residence run. The middle discipline scoreboard confirmed digital steps being taken across the bases as if Aaron had simply homered and visuals have been displayed on the diamond displaying a few of his most iconic moments.
Let’s additionally be aware that Aaron holds the document for All-Star Video games, as he was a 25-time All-Star in the course of the course of his profession. That does not really feel like a document that may ever be damaged, so honoring him at an All-Star Sport is becoming.
Nationwide League gamers took batting apply in No. 44 jerseys earlier than the sport, one other touching honor for the baseball icon.
The All-Star Video games all the time have additional bells and whistles to create an air of it being an additional particular occasion, however this was among the finest touches the league has ever put collectively.