Louisville Slugger Museum unveils new Hank Aaron sculpture

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (CBS 58) -- Today, on June 2, the Louisville Slugger Museum introduced a new sculpture of one of the most iconic players to play the game of baseball as well as a well-known Civil Rights leader.

A Hank Aaron statue was unveiled at 11:00 a.m. today for the famous slugger who spent time with the Milwaukee Braves, which later became today's Atlanta Braves.

Starting his historic MLB career on April 13, 1954, Aaron broke hold multiple big-league records, including career RBIs (2,297), extra base hits (1,477) and total bases (6,856). Aaron also broke Babe Ruth's career home run record.

Throughout his career, Aaron experienced multiple instances of racial discrimination, playing a major role in his activism in the Civil Rights Movement.

While chasing Babe's home run record, Aaron and his family experienced racial discrimination multiple times. But that didn't stop him from hitting 715 home runs by April 8, 1974.

Aaron played a major role both on and off the field and left a historic mark on the Civil Rights Movement.

The new sculpture will have Aaron in a mid-1970s Atlanta Braves uniform with a classic Braves cap. Aaron's iconic number "44" is on the front and back of the uniform.

Aaron joins a historic sculpture lineup of baseball legends, including Roberto Clemente, Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson, Ted Williams, Ken Griffey Jr., and Derek Jeter.

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