Philadelphia Phillies remember late MLB legend Hank Aaron

The Philadelphia Phillies remember the late Hank Aaron.

Hall of Famer Hank Aaron passed away on Friday at the age of 86, and several members of the Philadelphia Phillies family took to social media to remember and celebrate the life of the Major League Baseball legend.

Among those honoring Aaron included 2008 World Series champion Ryan Howard, who in 2006 became the first Phillies player to win the Hank Aaron Award — awarded annually since 1999 to the best overall offensive performer in both leagues. “Thank you for your resilience, your humility, and strength,” Howard said in an Instagram post. “The world has has lost not just a good man, but an extraordinary one. Rest in peace.”

Throughout his 23-year Major league career, Aaron was named an All-Star 25 times — the most of any player in history, made possible due to multiple All-Star Games being played from 1959 to 1962. Playing 21 seasons with the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves and two with the Milwaukee Brewers, Aaron combined to slash .305/.374/.555 with an all-time MLB best 2,297 RBI and 6,856 total bases, along with 755 home runs (second most all-time), 624 doubles, 98 triples, 3,771 hits overall, 1,402 walks, and just 1,383 strikeouts across nearly 14,000 plate appearances.

“There are few people who are as synonymous with Major League Baseball as Hank Aaron is,” the Phillies said in a statement. One of the greatest players to ever live, Mr. Aaron’s legacy is that of a gentleman who impeccably represented the game of baseball. He transcended his sport in ways that few athletes have, and will be revered for generations to come.”

Here are how some of the other members of the Phillies family reacted to Aaron’s passing:

https://twitter.com/TheCUTCH22/status/1352639038881193985

https://twitter.com/jojothejet6/status/1352659948199579648

https://twitter.com/BackWoodRebel39/status/1352645835318849542

Aaron also held a record 20 seasons of 20 or more homers. He went yard off 310 different pitchers, 13 of which were fellow Hall-of-Famers.

A National League MVP in 1957, Aaron was instrumental that season in helping the Braves to their second of three franchise World Series championships.  Aaron played 357 games against the Phillies in his career, and fittingly homered 76 times, slashing .318/.375/.572. During his 1957 MVP year, Aaron collected four home runs and 15 RBI opposite the Phillies in 22 games and 93 plate appearances.

“Hammerin’ Hank” also earned three Gold Glove Awards and two batting titles. He was forever enshrined into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982, and was just nine votes shy of becoming the first-ever unanimous inductee.

Rest in peace, Hank Aaron.