Hank Aaron Passes Away

     Former Major League Baseball all-time home run leader Hank Aaron passed away on Friday at the age of 86. He was two weeks short of his 87th birthday. 

     Aaron, a West Palm Beach resident, set the Major League Baseball record with his 715th home run passing Babe Ruth on April 8, 1974. He would hold that mark until August 7, 2007 when Barry Bonds surpassed him with his 756th homer. 

     Aaron played for the Braves organization in the majors from 1954 until 1974. He was with the Milwaukee Brewers in his final two seasons in 1975 and 1976. Aaron was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982. 

     He still holds the Major League Baseball records with 2,297 runs batted in, 1,477 extra base hits and 6,856 total bases. Aaron was second in base hits with 3,771 when he retired in 1976. 

     Aaron participated with the Braves for spring training at Municipal Stadium in West Palm Beach from 1963 to 1974. A road in front of the ballpark was renamed Hank Aaron Drive with the field address being 755 Hank Aaron Drive. Municipal Stadium was ripped down in 2002 and a Home Depot now resides at that spot.