The Braves unveiled plans Thursday for tributes to Hank Aaron throughout their new stadium.
SunTrust Park will honor the legendary Braves superstar with a bronze statue, a baseball-bats sculpture, silhouettes of his famous swing on the ends of each row of seats and a terrace displaying the bat and ball from his record-breaking 715th home run.
“Hank Aaron is one of the preeminent figures of all time not only in sport, but in history, and this organization is constantly humbled by the opportunity to call him one of our own,” Braves Chairman and CEO Terry McGuirk said in announcing the plans.
“In constructing SunTrust Park, it was a priority from the beginning to incorporate Hank’s legacy in a way that not only allowed fans to celebrate their idol, but also did justice to his unparalleled accomplishments.”
The new statue — previously announced — will capture the moment of impact between bat and ball on Aaron’s 715th home run, which broke Babe Ruth’s long-standing record for career homers on April 8, 1974, at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium.
Turner Field’s Aaron statue isn’t making the move to SunTrust Park, but will remain in downtown Atlanta.
RELATED
SunTrust Park gates, entrances and seating chart
Dimensions: how far is a home run at the new stadium?
The new statue is the creation of Atlanta-based artist Ross Rossin, who previously completed two portraits of Aaron.
Adjacent to the statue at SunTrust Park will be a sculpture featuring 755 baseball bats in honor of Aaron’s career home-run total. The sculpture will be almost six feet tall and 10 1/2 feet wide.
The Hank Aaron Terrace, open to the public on the upper left-field level, will display the bat and ball from his 715th home run. The terrace, which will have an inside bar and outdoor seating, will be decorated with 715 bat knobs, each inscribed with the date and opponent of an Aaron home run.
The end-seat filigrees on every row throughout the stadium will feature the silhouette of Aaron’s legendary swing.
The Braves' regular-season home opener at their new Cobb County stadium is scheduled for April 14 against the San Diego Padres. The first game in the stadium will be a March 31 exhibition against the New York Yankees.
READ MORE: Writer recalls Game 1 at Turner Field
About the Author
