COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. (AP) -More than three decades after his final big-league game, Hank Aaron is still thrilling baseball fans.
An overflow crowd at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum watched Saturday as the 75-year-old Aaron helped dedicate the museum’s newest exhibit, “Hank Aaron: Chasing the Dream.”
Aaron, who attended the ceremony with his wife Billye and Atlanta Braves chairman emeritus Bill Bartholomay, officially opened an exhibit that features many items Aaron has donated to the Hall of Fame.
“No matter what you accomplish, what you achieve, you don’t go down the path by yourself,” Aaron said. “I want to thank everyone who helped me along that path.”
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The exhibit features the bat and ball Aaron used to hit home run No. 714 to tie Babe Ruth, the bats and balls from his 3,000th hit, 500th and 600th home runs, and the ball hit to record his 755th and final homer.
The uniform shirt, pants, cap and helmet Aaron wore while hitting the record-breaking 715th homer are displayed in the new exhibit alongside his locker, 1957 World Series Ring, MVP award and many other artifacts from his historic career.
“The artifacts need to be here so all people around the world can come see them,” Aaron said.
In his 23-year major league career with the Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves and Milwaukee Brewers, Aaron produced 3,771 hits, 755 homers and 2,297 RBIs, all records when he retired in 1976. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1982 on his first appearance on the ballot.
“He was a complete, complete ballplayer,” Bartholomay said. “This man has done it all and continues to do it all.”
“Chasing the Dream” marks the first of two exhibits slated to open in honor of Aaron – “Hank Aaron: Gallery of Records,” an exhibit recognizing the statistical leaders of baseball, is slated to open in 2011.
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