(ATLANTA)  The man who broke Babe Ruth's historic RBI record died in Atlanta on January 22, 2021. Atlanta Braves and Major League Baseball legend, Hammer'n Hank Aaron, was 86.

He was one of eight children born in Mobile, Alabama to Herbert and Estella Aaron. Henry Louis Aaron was born February 5, 1934. His family allegedly was so poor that they couldn’t afford balls and bat, so the youngster fine-tuned his talents by hitting bottle caps with a stick.

Aaron was 15 when he had his first major league tryout with the Brooklyn Dodger in 1949. He was not selected, and decided to return to school and get his diploma.

He began in the minor league career at age 18 with the negro leagues’ Indianapolis Clowns in November, 1951.   

And in June, 1952, Aaron signed with the Boston Braves. He got an offer from the New York Giants as well, but chose Boston because it was $50 more per month.

One year later, the Braves moved to Milwaukee.

In 1955, Hank received the first of his record 21 All-Star selections and the legend’s 25 All-Star appearances.  Plus, he won the National League’s batting title in 1956.

The “Hammer” capped his 1957 MVP season with home run 393 in a seven game world Series victory over the Yankees.

The team moved to Atlanta in 1966, and that’s where his Southern fame exploded.

In Atlanta, Hank became the first player in Major League history to have 500 homers and 3,000 hits.

He was still shy of one run to beat Babe’s record, and the pressure was on. The post office documented that he received over one-million pieces of mail that year, more than any politician. He and his family also received threats of violence if he broke Ruth’s record.

In 1974, the Braves wanted to open the season at home, but the Major League scheduled a 3-game opening season in Cincinnati.  The “Hammer” slugged home run 715 there an tied the Babe’s record.

On Oct. 2, 1974, he hit #733, his final one as a Brave.

The Braves trade Hank Aaron to the Milwaukee Brewers prior to the 1975 season, and “The Hammer” broke Ruth’s RBI as a Brewer.

He hit his final home run (#755) as a Brewer and retired in 1976.  

The Milwaukee Brewers retired Aaron’s #44 uniform in 1976, and the Braves did the same with a year later.

He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982 and in 2002 was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

He returned to the city he loved, and spent many years in the front office of the Atlanta Braves.

After retiring, Aaron said, “God put you here for a reason, and the reason is not to stand still.”

He was always active in his community, and on January 5, 2021, encouraged people to get the COVID-19 vaccination by joining his close friends Ambassador Andrew Young and Dr. Louis Sullivan to get their shots together.

He said, “It makes you feel like you are doing something not only to help yourself, but to help your community.”

WGNS has been this area’s Atlanta Braves' affiliate for 40-years, and when the season opens this spring, tune-in for tributes honoring this great American.