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The Untold Truth Of Hank Aaron

Despite his advancing age, Aaron remained connected to both baseball and the African American community. According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Aaron won the Musial Lifetime Achievement Award for Sportsmanship in 2020 and had meant to accept it and speak in St. Louis. The ceremony for the award, named after Aaron's late longtime friend and fellow Hall of Famer Stan Musial, ended up being held virtually, with Aaron accepting the honor.

In an interview with Today in February 2020, Aaron said it was "hard to digest" that his record was broken by Barry Bonds. Bonds' name had been connected to steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs, and he admitted to unknowingly using them for a period of time. Still, he acknowledged Bonds, recognizing him as the true all-time home run leader.

On Friday, January 22, 2021, Henry Aaron passed away at the age of 86. Less than three weeks before his death, Aaron was vaccinated for COVID-19 and pleaded for others in the Black community to get vaccinated as well. His death led many to speculate it was linked to the vaccine, though the Fulton County Medical Examiner's office said he passed away from natural causes.

Henry Aaron's childhood involved episodes of hiding under his bed as KKK members marched through his neighborhood. When he passed eight decades later, Georgia governor Brian Kemp ordered flags flown at half-staff, according to ESPN, and citizens and celebrities alike all honored the legend in their own way. Hank Aaron transcended his sport to become an American icon.

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