Atlanta Public Schools and the Atlanta Braves to host ribbon cutting ceremony for school renamed for Hank Aaron

Henry Louis “Hank” Aaron New Beginnings Academy, formerly named Forrest Hill Academy, and the Atlanta Braves volition big a ribbon-cutting ceremonial honoring the renaming of the schoolhouse connected Wednesday, October 20, astatine 10 A.M.

The renaming of the school, the district’s alternate precocious school, pays homage and tribute to legendary Atlanta Brave Henry “Hank” Aaron, the National Baseball Hall of Famer who broke Babe Ruth’s location tally record. Aaron, who passed distant successful January, is honored passim the Atlanta Braves’ Truist Park with a statue successful Monument Garden and a ‘44’ successful the outfield. Following his passing, the Braves besides founded the Henry Louis Aaron Fund, which furthers Aaron’s ngo to summation entree and accidental successful baseball

The schoolhouse had antecedently been named for Nathan Bedford Forrest, a Confederate wide who was progressive successful the KKK.

Born and raised successful Mobile, Alabama and nicknamed “Hammer” oregon “Hammerin’ Hank”, Aaron played close tract for 23 seasons successful the Major Leagues (1954 – 1976), 21 seasons with the Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves successful the National League and 2 seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers successful the American League.

Aaron deed his 715^th location tally connected April 8, 1974, breaking Ruth’s grounds of 714 that had stood for astir 40 years. Aaron inactive holds the Major League Baseball (MLB) vocation records for runs batted in, full bases and extra-base hits. He deed 24 oregon much location runs each twelvemonth from 1955 done 1973 and is 1 of lone 2 players to deed 30 oregon much location runs successful a play astatine slightest 15 times for a full of 755 vocation location runs. Aaron was inducted into the Hall of Fame successful 1982, the archetypal twelvemonth helium was eligible.

During his clip successful MLB, and particularly during his tally for the location tally record, Aaron and his household endured extended racist threats. His experiences influenced him to go progressive successful the civilian rights movement.

Following his playing career, Aaron joined the Braves beforehand bureau successful 1976 arsenic Vice-President and Director of Player Development. He astir precocious was a Senior Vice President, a relation helium held since December 1989. In 1988, Aaron was inducted into the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame. In 1999, MLB introduced the Hank Aaron Award to admit the apical violative players successful each league. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom successful 2002 and was named a 2010 Georgia Trustee by the Georgia Historical Society successful designation of accomplishments that bespeak the ideals of Georgia’s founders.