Hank Aaron Net Worth, Wife, Cause of Death, Family, Children, Obituary, Wiki, First Wife, Family Members, Photos

January 23, 2021January 24, 2021 Editor

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Hank Aaron Biography – Hank Aaron Wiki

Hank Aaron (born Henry Louis Aaron) was an American professional baseball right fielder. He played 23 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB), from 1954 through 1976. He spent 21 seasons with the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves in the National League (NL) and two seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers in the American League (AL).

He debuted with the Braves as a 20-year-old in 1954 and spent the next 21 seasons in a Braves uniform. “Hammerin’ Hank,” who also had a record 20 seasons of 20 or more homers, homered off 310 different pitchers, including 13 fellow Hall-of-Famers. When he retired, he held major-league career records in extra-base hits (1,477), total bases (6,856) and RBI (2,297) – the latter two he still holds today.

He collected 3,000 hits, a milestone he would have still achieved without any home runs. Aaron finished his career with 3,771 hits, batting .305 and winning two batting titles. With his 3,000th hit on May 17, 1970, he was the first player in history to join the 3,000-hit, 500-home run club.

Aaron was named the National League MVP in 1957 and helped Milwaukee win the World Series that season, the franchise’s second of three World Series’ titles.

Aaron, who was an All-Star a record 25 times and won three Gold Gloves, was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982, falling nine votes shy of becoming the first unanimous inductee.

Aaron had worked in the Braves front office since retiring from his playing career in 1976. He most recently was a Senior Vice President, a role he held since December 1989. In the first 13 years of his front office tenure he was the club’s Vice President and Director of Player Development. In that position, he oversaw the development of many players instrumental in the Braves’ 1982 N.L. West Division championship, including two-time MVP Dale Murphy.

Along with his accomplishments on the field, Aaron also gave back to society. In 1995, his Chasing the Dream Foundation was established with the goal of helping children between the ages of nine and 12 realize their dreams. The foundation has provided grants to more than 755 children, or ‘Dream Chasers,’ in six cities across the country, enabling them to seek advanced study in music, art, writing, dance and sports.

Through the generous support of Major League Baseball, the foundation transitioned into the Hank Aaron Chasing the Dream “44 Forever” program, honoring Aaron’s retired Braves jersey number. The program annually provides financial assistance to 44 young people with limited opportunities so they can further develop their talents and pursue their dreams, exclusively at Boys and Girls Clubs across the country.

In 2010, the Hank Aaron Chasing the Dream Four-to-Four Scholarship program was created, endowing four-year scholarships for the benefit of deserving students who have chosen to pursue their dreams by attending college.

Aaron’s accomplishments as a player, in addition to his humanitarianism, were recognized in 1999 with the introduction of Major League Baseball’s Hank Aaron Award. The award is presented annually to the best hitter in the National and American Leagues. The announcement was made at Aaron’s 65th birthday celebration in Atlanta with President Bill Clinton in attendance, and it coincided with the 25th anniversary of Aaron hitting his 715th home run to break Babe Ruth’s all-time record.

In February 2003, Aaron received the first Jackie Robinson Lifetime Achievement Legacy Award from the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, honoring his “career excellence in the face of adversity.” The heroism the Mobile, Ala. native displayed throughout his career led boxing icon and philanthropist Muhammad Ali to call him the “the only man I idolize more than myself.”

Hank Aaron Age

Hank Aaron was born on February 5, 1934, in Mobile, Alabama. He died on January 22, 2021, in Atlanta, Georgia. He was 86 years old.

Hank Aaron Wife

Hank Aaron was married to his first wife Barbara Lucas from 1953 until their divorce in 1971. He then married his second wife, Billye Aaron on November 13, 1973.

Hank Aaron Children

How many children did Hank Aaron have? He had five children: Gary, Lary, Dorinda, Gaie, and Hank Jr., from his first marriage to Barbara Lucas, and one child, Ceci, from his second marriage to Billye Suber Williams.

Hank Aaron Family

He was the third of eight children born to a tavern owner. He is survived by his wife, Billye, and five children, Gaile, Hank Jr, Lary, Dorinda and Ceci.

Hank Aaron Death

Hank Aaron passed away peacefully in his sleep on January 22, 2021, at the age of 87. “It is with great sadness we share the passing of our home run king, Hank Aaron, who passed away peacefully in his sleep. He was 86,” the Atlanta Braves announced.

The Atlanta Braves Chairman Terry McGuirk issued the following statement on the passing of Aaron: “We are absolutely devastated by the passing of our beloved Hank. He was a beacon for our organization first as a player, then with player development, and always with our community efforts. His incredible talent and resolve helped him achieve the highest accomplishments, yet he never lost his humble nature. Henry Louis Aaron wasn’t just our icon, but one across Major League Baseball and around the world. His success on the diamond was matched only by his business accomplishments off the field and capped by his extraordinary philanthropic efforts. We are heartbroken and thinking of his wife Billye and their children Gaile, Hank, Jr., Lary, Dorinda and Ceci and his grandchildren.”

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said in a statement on behalf of the Aaron family: “Our family is heartbroken to hear the news of Hank Aaron’s passing. Hank Aaron was an American icon and one of Georgia’s greatest legends. His life and career made history, and his influence was felt not only in the world of sports, but far beyond — through his important work to advance civil rights and create a more equal, just society. We ask all Georgians to join us in praying for his fans, family, and loved ones as we remember Hammerin’ Hank’s incredible legacy.”

Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement: “Hank Aaron is near the top of everyone’s list of all-time great players. His monumental achievements as a player were surpassed only by his dignity and integrity as a person. Hank symbolized the very best of our game, and his all-around excellence provided Americans and fans across the world with an example to which to aspire. His career demonstrates that a person who goes to work with humility every day can hammer his way into history — and find a way to shine like no other. Hank eagerly supported our efforts to celebrate the game’s best and to find its next generation of stars, including through the Hank Aaron Award, which recognizes offensive excellence by Major League players, and the Hank Aaron Invitational, which provides exposure to elite young players. He became a close friend to me in recent years as result of his annual visit to the World Series. That friendship is one of the greatest honors of my life. I am forever grateful for Hank’s impact on our sport and the society it represents, and he will always occupy a special place in the history of our game. On behalf of Major League Baseball, I extend my deepest condolences to Hank’s wife, Billye, their family, the fans of Atlanta and Milwaukee, and the millions of admirers earned by one of the pillars of our game.”

Former Commissioner Bud Selig issued the following statement on Aaron’s passing: “My wife, Sue, and I are terribly saddened and heartbroken by the passing of the great Henry Aaron, a man we truly loved, and we offer our love and our condolences to his wonderful wife, Billye. Besides being one of the greatest baseball players of all time, Hank was a wonderful and dear person and a wonderful and dear friend.

“Not long ago, he and I were walking the streets of Washington, D.C. together and talking about how we’ve been the best of friends for more than 60 years. Then Hank said: ‘Who would have ever thought all those years ago that a Black kid from Mobile, Alabama, would break Babe Ruth’s home run record and a Jewish kid from Milwaukee would become the Commissioner of Baseball?’

“Aaron was beloved by his teammates and by his fans. He was a true Hall of Famer in every way. He will be missed throughout the game, and his contributions to the game and his standing in the game will never be forgotten.”

Baseball Hall of Fame chairman Jane Forbes Clark said in a statement: “Hank Aaron’s incredible talent on the baseball field was only matched by his dignity and character, which shone brightly, not only here in Cooperstown, but with every step he took. His courage while pursuing the game’s all-time home run record served as an example for millions of people inside and outside of the sports world, who were also aspiring to achieve their greatest dreams. His generosity of spirit and legendary accomplishments will live in Cooperstown forever. On behalf of the Board of Directors and the entire staff of the Hall of Fame, we send our deepest sympathies to his wife, Billye, and his entire family.”

Hank Aaron Cause of Death

Hank Aaron’s cause of death was not announced. The Atlanta Braves said Aaron died peacefully in his sleep.