Editing Hank Aaron (section)

== Death ==
Aaron died in his sleep in his Atlanta residence on January 22, 2021, at the age of 86.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sundby |first1=Alex |title=Hank Aaron, baseball legend who broke Babe Ruth's career home run record, has died at 86 |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hank-aaron-dies-age-86/ |work=[[CBS News]] |date=January 24, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Goldstein |first=Richard |author-link=Richard Goldstein (writer, born 1942) |date=January 22, 2021 |title=Hank Aaron, Home Run King Who Defied Racism, Dies at 86 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/22/sports/baseball/hank-aaron-dead.html |access-date=2025-04-27 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> The manner of death was listed as [[natural causes]].<ref name="Vivlamore">{{cite news |last=Vivlamore |first=Chris |date=January 25, 2021 |title=Hank Aaron cause of death determined |work=[[The Atlanta Journal-Constitution]] |url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-braves/hank-aaron-cause-of-death-determined/ALZSF5LYJBGWVKXCQSBDKSZTRE/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126084814/https://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-braves/hank-aaron-cause-of-death-determined/ALZSF5LYJBGWVKXCQSBDKSZTRE/ |archive-date=January 26, 2021}}</ref>

His funeral was held on January 27 at the Friendship Baptist Church. Amongst the attendees were former President [[Bill Clinton]], former baseball commissioner [[Bud Selig]], and former Atlanta mayor [[Andrew Young]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bowman |first1=Mark |date=January 28, 2021 |title=Memories of Aaron shared at funeral service |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/hank-aaron-funeral-service |work=[[MLB.com]] |publisher=[[MLB Advanced Media]]}}</ref> After the funeral, Aaron's body was interred at [[South-View Cemetery]] in Atlanta.<ref name="fox5">{{cite news |date=January 25, 2021 |title=Private funeral service for Hank Aaron announced |url=https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/private-funeral-service-for-hank-aaron-announced |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125151010/https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/private-funeral-service-for-hank-aaron-announced |archive-date=January 25, 2021 |website=[[WAGA-TV|Fox 5 Atlanta]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref>

=== Tributes ===
Upon Aaron's death, the sports world expressed their condolences to him. Many current or former athletes and team owners such as MLB Commissioner [[Rob Manfred]], [[Magic Johnson]], [[David Ortiz]], [[Dusty Baker]], [[Eduardo Pérez]], [[Mike Trout]], and [[Baseball Hall of Fame]] chairman [[Jane Forbes Clark]] paid tribute to him.<ref>{{cite web |date=January 22, 2021 |title=Tributes pour in honoring the legendary Hank Aaron |url=https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/tributes-pour-in-honoring-the-legendary-hank-aaron |access-date=March 2, 2022 |website=[[WAGA-TV|Fox 5 Atlanta]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Logan |first=Anna |date=January 22, 2021 |title=Players, celebrities and fans react to the death of baseball legend Hank Aaron |url=https://cbs12.com/sports/content/players-celebrities-and-fans-react-to-the-death-of-baseball-legend-hank-aaron |access-date=March 2, 2022 |website=[[WPEC]]}}</ref> Fans paid tribute to Aaron by placing flowers in front of the home run wall where he hit his 715th home run at the former site of [[Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium]] and in front of his statue at [[Truist Park]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Her |first=Chenue |date=January 24, 2021 |title=Fan tributes to Hank Aaron |url=https://www.11alive.com/article/sports/mlb/atlanta-braves/fans-tribute-atlanta-hank-aaron/85-1688b90b-c8bf-480c-a27c-925f62ddd2c7 |access-date=March 2, 2022 |website=[[WXIA-TV]]}}</ref>

Politicians also paid tribute to him. The [[Mayor of Atlanta]], [[Keisha Lance Bottoms]] released the following statement on his death:

{{blockquote|"Derek, our family and I join the nation in sending heartfelt condolences to Mrs. Billye Aaron, the beautiful wife of Henry "Hank" Aaron for nearly 50 years, and the entire family. This is a considerable loss for the entire city of Atlanta. While the world knew him as ‘Hammering Hank Aaron’ because of his incredible, record-setting baseball career, he was a cornerstone of our village, graciously and freely joining Mrs. Aaron in giving their presence and resources toward making our city a better place. As an adopted son of Atlanta, Mr. Aaron was part of the fabric that helped place Atlanta on the world stage. Our gratitude, thoughts and prayers are with the Aaron family."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.atlantaga.gov/Home/Components/News/News/13579/672?backlist=/|title=Press Releases &#124; Atlanta, GA|website=[[Atlanta]]|access-date=March 2, 2022}}</ref>}}

Georgia governor [[Brian Kemp]] ordered flags in the state of Georgia to be lowered [[half-staff]] in honor of him.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 23, 2021 |title=Gov. Kemp orders flags to fly at half-staff to honor Hank Aaron. |url=https://www.wtxl.com/news/local-news/gov-kemp-orders-flags-to-fly-at-half-staff-to-honor-hank-aaron |access-date=March 2, 2022 |website=[[WTXL-TV]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=McKee |first=Cristi |date=January 22, 2021 |title=Georgia Governor Brian Kemp: flags to fly at half-staff in honor of Hank Aaron |url=https://www.wctv.tv/2021/01/23/georgia-governor-brian-kemp-flags-to-fly-at-half-staff-in-honor-of-hank-aaron/ |access-date=March 2, 2022 |website=[[WCTV]]}}</ref>

U.S. [[President Joe Biden]] paid tribute to Aaron by releasing a statement calling him "an American hero".<ref>{{cite web |date=January 22, 2021 |title=Statement of President Joe Biden on the Passing of Henry Louis "Hank" Aaron |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/01/22/statement-of-president-joe-biden-on-the-passing-of-henry-louis-hank-aaron/#:~:text=As%20a%20nation%2C%20we%20will,%E2%80%9D%20Aaron%2C%20an%20American%20hero |access-date=March 2, 2022 |website=[[White House]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Selbe |first=Nick |url=https://www.si.com/mlb/2021/01/23/president-joe-biden-hank-aaron-passing-american-hero |title=President Joe Biden calls Hank Aaron 'an American hero' |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]] |date=January 22, 2021}}</ref> He also received tributes from former presidents [[Jimmy Carter]], [[Bill Clinton]], [[George W. Bush]], and [[Barack Obama]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harrigan |first=Thomas |date=January 22, 2021 |title=US Presidents honor Hammerin' Hank |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/us-presidents-remember-hank-aaron |website=[[MLB.com]] |publisher=[[MLB Advanced Media]]}}</ref>

The [[Atlanta Braves]] honored Hank Aaron during the [[2021 MLB season|2021 season]] by including his jersey number 44 on the back of the team [[Baseball cap|caps]] along with [[Phil Niekro]]'s jersey number, 35 (who died one month earlier in December 2020). They also painted 44 in the midfield at [[Truist Park]].<ref> {{cite web |last=Tucker |first=Tim |date=March 31, 2021 |title=Atlanta Braves 44: Hank Aaron's number painted on the field |url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-braves/aaron-niekro-numbers-will-be-on-braves-caps-this-season/ML3HNDDXINBI3HLVH4MNGDQFA4/ |access-date=March 2, 2022 |website=[[The Atlanta Journal-Constitution]]}} The Milwaukee Brewers also honored Aaron by wearing a 44 patch on their jerseys.</ref>

At Game 3 of the [[2021 World Series]] in Truist Park, a [[Pre-game ceremony|pregame ceremony]] was held honoring Aaron where his son Hank Aaron Jr. threw out a [[ceremonial first pitch]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Lacques |first=Gabe |date=October 30, 2021 |title=World Series Game 3: Braves hold emotional tribute to Hank Aaron |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/braves/2021/10/29/braves-tribute-hank-aaron-world-series/6202093001/ |access-date=March 2, 2022 |website=[[USA Today]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Castrovince |first=Anthony |date=October 30, 2021 |title=Aaron's spirit lives on in World Series tribute |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/hank-aaron-pregame-tribute-world-series-game-3 |access-date=March 2, 2022 |website=[[MLB.com]] |publisher=[[MLB Advanced Media]]}}</ref> After the Braves won the [[2021 World Series]], Aaron was honored in the design of the team's World Series [[championship ring]], which includes 755 total diamonds to commemorate Aaron's career home runs, and 44 emerald-cut diamonds to represent Aaron's jersey number with the Braves.<ref>{{cite web |last=Harvey |first=Coley |date=April 9, 2022 |title=Atlanta Braves receive World Series rings featuring 18.71-karat white gold, 755 diamonds and, yes, pearls |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/33709431/atlanta-braves-receive-world-series-rings-featuring-1871-karat-white-gold-755-diamonds-yes-pearls |access-date=April 9, 2022 |website=[[ESPN]]}}</ref>