MOBILE, Ala. (AP) -Hank Aaron’s childhood home in his native Mobile will be renovated and turned into a museum once it’s moved next to the stadium named for the Hall of Famer and one-time home run king.
National Baseball Hall of Fame officials were in Mobile for an announcement Monday afternoon that Aaron’s family will donate the home to the city.
Hank Aaron Stadium, known as “The Hank,” is home to the minor league Mobile BayBears. Team president Bill Shanahan said he pitched the idea for the museum to Aaron over a year ago and won his support for the project.
Under the proposal, the Aaron home will be moved in October and could open as a museum in late March at the stadium’s Gas Light Park. The city will own the house, but the team will handle the renovations and run the museum.
Hall of Fame exhibits officials Ted Spencer, Mary Quinn and Erik Strohl met with city and stadium officials on security and preservation of Aaron memorabilia that’s expected to be shared with the museum by the baseball museum in Cooperstown, N.Y.
“Hammerin’ Hank” Aaron grew up in the small home in the Toulminville neighborhood, about a block from a city park that now bears his name. It also was home to his brother, Tommie Aaron, who played for the Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves and died in 1984.
Their parents, Estella and Herbert Aaron, had eight children.
Aaron, now 74, hit 755 home runs – a record that stood until broken last year by Barry Bonds.
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