[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] Henry Hank Aaron, the home run king of American professional baseball, passed away on the 22nd (local time), CNN reported. He was 86 years old.
African American Aaron overcame racial discrimination and recorded a total of 755 home runs in Major League Baseball, surpassing Babe Ruth's record and being recognized as the true home run king.
He entered the Major Leagues in 1954 after playing in the Negro leagues and was active until 1976. In 1974, he broke Babe Ruth's all-time record of 714 home runs and became the greatest home run hitter in history. At that time, despite threats from white supremacists demanding that Ruth's record not be broken, he set the historic record.
His record was only broken in 2007 by Barry Bonds (San Francisco Giants), but he still ranks second in all-time Major League home runs. Especially as Bonds became embroiled in a drug scandal, Aaron's record is regarded as even more valuable.
Hank Aaron is holding a press conference after hitting his 715th home run in 1974, surpassing Babe Ruth's home run record. [Image source=AP Yonhap News]
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