Legendary slugger Hank Aaron dies at age 86

New York - Aaron began his career in the Negro Leagues in 1951 with the Indianapolis Clowns

Major League Baseball icon Hank Aaron died on Friday morning, WSB-TV 2 in Atlanta is reporting, citing his daughter.

Aaron, who was a senior vice president for the Atlanta Braves, was 86.

The longtime Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves slugger held the record for most career home runs for more than three decades before Barry Bonds broke it in 2007. Aaron finished his 23-year career with 755 home runs, including an 18-year stretch where he hit at least 24 every season.

Aaron began his career in the Negro Leagues in 1951 with the Indianapolis Clowns, before the Braves picked up his contract. He made his MLB debut in 1954 and spent the next 21 seasons with the Braves before ending his career with the Milwaukee Brewers (1975-76).

Aaron was in the news two weeks ago when he publicly received the first dose of Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine with his wife Billye, with the aim of easing doubts about the vaccine.

“I feel quite proud of myself for doing something like this,” said Aaron at the time. “It’s just a small thing that can help zillions of people in this country.”

Aaron was elected to the Hall of Fame on his first ballot in 1982. Both the Braves and Brewers retired his No. 44.

On April 8, 1974, Aaron hit his 715th home run off Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Al Downing to break Babe Ruth’s long-standing record.

A 25-time All-Star and the 1957 National League MVP, Aaron also won three Gold Gloves and still holds the all-time records for RBIs (2,297) and total bases (6,856). He ranks second in homers, third in hits (3,771) and fourth in runs scored (2,174).