The 50th anniversary of Braves slugger Hank Aaron’s 715th home run was marked Monday with announcements of a new statue at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and a new commemorative stamp from the U.S. Postal Service.
The homer, which Aaron hit on April 8, 1974, topped the record 714 hit by Yankees great- Babe Ruth in a career from 1914-35.
Aaron launched No. 715 off Dodgers left-hander Al Downing in Atlanta.
He finished with 755 home runs from 1954-76, a mark that stood until Barry Bonds hit 762 from 1986-2007, a feat assisted by performance-enhancing drugs.
Aaron was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1982. A 25-time All- Star, he set a record with 2,297 RBIs. He continues to hold the records of 1,477 extra-base hits and 6,856 total bases.
“The legacy of Hank Aaron has always been about so much more than just his incredible baseball achievements,” Hall chair Jane Forbes Clark said in a statement. “His philanthropic vision, his support of youth empowerment efforts and his pioneering work as an executive have opened the doors of opportunity for millions throughout the United States and around the world.
We are extremely privileged to care for and preserve his entire personal collection in Cooperstown, and this statue will stand forever as a tribute to an American hero.”
The Hall of Fame will unveil a bronze statue of Aaron on May 23 on the first floor of its museum in Cooperstown, New York.
The Postal Service announced it will release a stamp picturing Aaron in his batting stance wearing his Atlanta Braves uniform.
The date of issue and dedication ceremony will be revealed later.