The AJC remembers the life of baseball legend Hank Aaron

Braves legend Hank Aaron strikes a familiar pose during an interview in the living room of his home on the eve of his 80th birthday in 2014. Aaron died Jan. 22 at the age of 86. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM

Braves legend Hank Aaron breaks into laughter while reflecting on his life and career during an interview in the living room of his home on the eve of his 80th birthday in 2014. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM

Braves legend No. 44 Hank Aaron pauses before answering a question while reflecting on his life and career on the eve of his 80th birthday at his home in Atlanta. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM

Braves legend Hank Aaron autographs a baseball on the eve of his 80th birthday for the upcoming celebration at his home in Atlanta. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM

Braves legend Hank Aaron shows his form during an interview about his life and career in the living room of his home on the eve of his 80th birthday in Atlanta. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM

Braves legend Hank Aaron sits for an interview in the living room of his home on the eve of his 80th birthday in Atlanta. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM

Braves legend Hank Aaron holds a 715 limited edition Henry Aaron Louisville Slugger bat during an interview at his home in Atlanta. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM

Braves legend Hank Aaron reflects on his life and career on at his home on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2014, in Atlanta. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM

From left, former broadcaster, Pete Van Wieren, Braves President John Schuerholz, Braves great, Hank Aaron, Chipper Jones, Dan Uggla and Brian McCann joined for the new uniform unveiling.. John Spink, jspink@ajc.com

From left, Ruby Lucas, Atlanta Braves legend Hank Aaron, his wife Barbara and Tirrell Whittley pose before a private screening of "42" at Regal Cinema 16 in Atlantic Station in Atlanta on Tuesday April 2nd, 2013. PHIL SKINNER / PSKINNER@AJC.COM

Atlanta Braves' Hank Aaron looks over the program to honor former third baseman Chipper Jones with a Hall of Fame luncheon during a ceremony at the Marriott Marquis on Friday, June 28, 2013, in Atlanta. (David Tulis / AJC Special)

Atlanta Braves Hall of Famer Hank Aaron presents certain future Hall of Famer Chipper Jones with third base during his tribute night at Turner Field in Atlanta on Friday , Sept. 28, 2012. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM

Hank Aaron and Bobby Cox share a conversation in the tunnel as they arrive for the Chipper Jones tribute at Turner Field in Atlanta on Friday , Sept. 28, 2012. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM

Longtime Marriott employee Albert "Smitty" Smith greets Hank Aaron at the Marriott Marquis for the annual Mayor's Masked Ball to benefit the United Negro College Fund on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2013, in Atlanta. Smith said he served Aaron back in the baseball player's Atlanta Braves days. (David Tulis / AJC Special)

Former Braves greats Hank Aaron (left) and Eddie Matthews sit during their induction ceremonies of the Atlanta Braves Hall of Fame at Turner Field. STAFF PHOTO BY W.A. BRIDGES JR. for SPORTS.

Baseball home run king and Mobile, Ala. native Hank Aaron throws out the first pitch before the Team China-Team USA baseball game Sunday, July 22, 2007, at Hank Aaron Stadium in Mobile, Ala.(AP Photo/Press-Register, Chip English)

Home run king Henry Aaron and President Bill Clinton share a laugh during Aaron's gala 65th Birthday Party at Atlanta's Hyatt Regency Hotel in 1999. (AJC Staff Photo/David Tulis)

Atlanta Braves batting great Hank Aaron honors former third baseman Chipper Jones at a Hall of Fame luncheon during a ceremony at the Marriott Marquis ballroom on Friday, June 28, 2013, in Atlanta. David Tulis / AJC Special

Atlanta Braves third baseman Chipper Jones, right, talks with baseball great Hank Aaron, center, during a spring training baseball workout Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009 in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Hank Aaron, right, and his wife Bille Aaron arrive at the unveiling of director and producer Tyler Perry's new motion picture and television studio in Atlanta on Saturday Oct. 4, 2008. (AP Photo/W.A.Harewood)

"He's just been held with such reverence by everybody," said baseball commissioner Bud Selig, who knew Aaron in Milwaukee. "I run into people who don't know him as well as I do, and they just say, 'Wow, what a wonderful person.' "

Baseball Hall of Famer Henry Aaron, left, back in his hometown, escorts his mother Estella Aaron, center, of Mobile, Ala. to the Greater Morning Star Baptist Church Sunday, Sept 15, 1996 in Mobile. Mrs. Aaron was named the Church's 1996 Woman of the Year. At right is Henry Aaron's niece, Joyce Brown of Birmingham, Ala. (AP Photo/Mobile Register, G.M. Andrews)

Braves legend Hank Aaron and Jason Heyward during spring training in March. File photo

Historic Hank Aaron photo. File photo

Aaron's locker. Calvin Cruce / Staff

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Braves legend Hank Aaron strikes a familiar pose during an interview in the living room of his home on the eve of his 80th birthday in 2014. Aaron died Jan. 22 at the age of 86. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM (Curtis Compton)

AJC

By Leo Willingham

Updated Jan 22, 2021

Here’s a look at the stories, photo galleries and videos compiled by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution remembering the life of baseball great Hank Aaron, who died Friday, Jan. 22, 2021. He was 86.

Henry ‘Hank’ Aaron: Passes into history

Photos: Hank Aaron through the years

AJC Editor Kevin Riley: Aaron - A humble Atlanta hero

Michael Cunningham: A hero to many, especially Black people

Mark Bradley: A great player, a greater man

Mike Luckovich: AJC editorial cartoonist remembers Hank Aaron

‘I lost a hero’: Braves mourn Aaron

Class act: Aaron’s humility surpassed his greatness

RIP to a legend: America pays tribute to Hank Aaron

Sports world pays tribute to Aaron: Braves ‘absolutely devastated’

Nique’s view: Dominique Wilkins says Aaron was a ‘gentle soul’

Hawks release statement on Aaron’s passing

No. 44 was No. 1: Falcons, Atlanta United retire No. 44 for one season

Brian Snitker: ‘Very blessed’ to have had friendship with Aaron

By the numbers: A look at Aaron’s legendary career

No. 715: A look back at Aaron’s historic home run

Vin Scully’s call of Hank Aaron’s 715th home run

Video: Hank Aaron ‘was more than baseball’

‘Forever iconic’: Atlantans on Hank Aaron’s ties to the city

Bill Rankin: Watching my childhood idol make history

Video: Hank Aaron fan inspired by the legend

Pay tribute to Aaron: Monument Garden open for fans at Truist Park

Guest book: Sign Aaron’s guest book on ajc.com

More: Complete coverage on ajc.com