County of statue: Fulton County
Location of statue: Capital Ave. & Georgia Ave., Memorial Grove, Turner Field, Atlanta
Artist: Ed Dwight, 1933 --, Sculptor
Plaque text:
HENRY LOUIS "HANK" AARON
715th Home Run
April 8, 1974
ATLANTA-FULTON COUNTY STADIUM
Dedicated
September 7, 1982
Sculptor - Ed Dwight, JR.
Proper Description: "A portrait of baseball player Hank Aaron depicted just after hitting a baseball, his bat swung over his proper left shoulder. He is dressed in his baseball uniform adorned on the front with the number 44. The sculpture is mounted on a square base." ~ Smithsonian American Art Museum
"Considered one of the best baseball players of all time, Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth's home-run record when he hit his 715th home run in 1974. He later set a new MLB record with 755 career home runs.
"Born into humble circumstances on February 5, 1934, in Mobile, Alabama, Hank Aaron ascended the ranks of the Negro Leagues to become a Major League Baseball icon. Aaron played as an outfielder for the Atlanta Braves for nearly 23 years, during which time he broke many of baseball's most distinguished records, including most career home runs (755)—a record that stood for more than two decades.
"In 1974, after tying the Babe on Opening Day in Cincinnati, Ohio, Aaron came home with his team. On April 8, he banged out his record 715th home run at 9:07 p.m. in the fourth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers. It was a triumph and a relief. The more than 50,000 fans on hand cheered him on as he rounded the bases. There were fireworks and a band, and when he crossed home plate, Aaron's parents were there to greet him.
"Overall, Aaron finished the 1974 season with 20 home runs. He played two more years, moving back to Milwaukee to finish out his career to play in the same city where he'd started.
"After retiring as a player, Aaron moved into the Atlanta Braves front office as executive vice-president, where he has been a leading spokesman for minority hiring in baseball. He was elected to baseball's Hall of Fame in 1982. His autobiography, I Had a Hammer, was published in 1990.
"In 1999, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of breaking Ruth's record, Major League Baseball announced the Hank Aaron Award, given annually to the best overall hitter in each league.
"Hank Aaron was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2002." ~ A&E Television Network
Monument Grove
Adjacent to the Grand Entry Plaza on the north side are the Ivan Allen Jr. Braves Museum and Hall of Fame, Braves ticket windows, and a non-ticketed, free-to-the-public area called Monument Grove. The Hank Aaron, Phil Niekro and Ty Cobb statues from Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium have been relocated to Monument Grove along with the bust of Hank Aaron. In 2003, a statue of Warren Spahn, the winningest pitcher in Braves history, was added to the collection. Trees, park benches and picnic tables are scattered throughout the Grove, an ideal meeting place for fans and friends. Additional attractions include the retired number statues from Braves History.