Several Boston Celtics reacted to the passing of Major League Baseball great and civil rights icon Henry Louis “Hank” Aaron, who passed this Friday, Jan. 22 at the age of 86.
Aaron, widely regarded as mong the greatest to ever play the game, held the record for most home runs (755 total career) for three decades between 1974 and 2007, when the San Francisco Giants’ Barry Bonds broke his record. But unlike Bonds, when Aaron broke the record with the Atlanta Braves, he received hate mail and death threats for having the audacity to be the best at something as a Black man.
Heartbroken to see another true friend & pioneer has passed away. @HenryLouisAaron was so much better than his reputation! His contributions were much more than just baseball. Jeannine & I send our 🙏🏾 & deepest condolences to his wife & kids. #RIPHammeringHank #RIP @MLB @Braves pic.twitter.com/ONO49xEOKQ
— TheBillRussell (@RealBillRussell) January 22, 2021
On hearing news of his passing, longtime friend and fellow sports legend and civil rights warrior Bill Russell posted his condolences to Twitter.
“Heartbroken to see another true friend & pioneer has passed away. [Henry Louis Aaron] was so much better than his reputation! His contributions were much more than just baseball. Jeannine & I send our 🙏🏾 & deepest condolences to his wife & kids.”
Contemporary Celtic stars Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum also posted tweets regarding the baseball great’s loss.
Trailblazer, Role Model, Legend.
Hammerin' Hank was one-of-a-kind. pic.twitter.com/F0lY67tBFL
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) January 22, 2021
Tatum retweeted a post by his hometown MLB club, the St. Louis Cardinals, commemorating Aaron’s life.
RIP to the legend and civil rights activists Hank Aaron 💯
— Jaylen Brown (@FCHWPO) January 22, 2021
Brown made a point of noting the civil rights great’s work off the diamond as well, writing “RIP to the legend and civil rights activists Hank Aaron.”
