Monday afternoon brought the Milwaukee community together to honor late baseball icon Henry “Hank” Aaron.
The day’s festivities included a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new mural featuring Aaron and a proclamation from Mayor Cavalier Johnson recognizing July 20, 2026, as Henry Lewis “Hank” Aaron Day.
Hammerin’ Hank’s history
Aaron, who died on Jan. 22, 2021, spent the first 12 years of his career playing for the Milwaukee Braves, before the team moved to Atlanta.
His love for Milwaukee brought him back to the city to play his last two professional seasons for the Brewers.
“I knew how much he loved this place, this community and these people,” said his wife, Billye Aaron.
Billye Aaron continued to appreciate all that Milwaukee had done for Hank.
“Thank you to each of you for the love that you showed him and for the legend that you continue on his behalf,” she said.
It was in Milwaukee 50 years to the date when Aaron hit the 755th and last home run of his career. At the time it was the most ever hit by a player.
Aaron’s 755 home runs are still the second most hit by a player all-time in Major League Baseball. Brian Anderson, the voice of the Brewers, said Aaron is still the all-time home run king. His monstrous home runs earned him the nickname of “Hammerin’ Hank.”
For those who he impacted, his legend grew beyond just the name of baseball.
“The number 755 represents much more than a milestone. It represents perseverance, excellence and strength in the face of adversity,” Anderson said.
City figures chime in
Politicians and other public leaders were also in attendance for Monday’s celebration and mural unveiling.
They underlined the importance of celebrating Hank Aaron as not only a baseball player but a Milwaukee icon.
“His legacy reminds us that greatness isn’t measured only by records and awards, it’s measured by character, perseverance and service,” said Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley. “Those are the values that continue to define our community in Milwaukee.”
Johnson also touched on the vitality of Aaron’s Milwaukee presence.
“It’s a lasting tribute to a man whose story belongs in the hearts of people right here in neighborhoods like this,” he said.
Bud Selig, former commissioner of Major League Baseball, also attended the ceremony. Selig, a friend of Aaron’s for over 60 years, was instrumental in returning baseball to Milwaukee after the Braves left for Atlanta in 1966.
“I will always be very grateful. He was the greatest player of our generation and maybe the greatest human being of our generation,” said Selig.
Inspiring the future with art
The new mural of Aaron unveiled during the ceremony is completely textile fabric. Milwaukee artist Rosy Petri created the piece as a part of a series that celebrates African American cultural contributions through baseball. She interweaved traditional African patterns and used kente cloth. The version that hangs above the Clinton Rose Senior Center, 3045 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, is an installation version of Petri’s textile art.
“I made it for myself, but I hoped that someday it would end up some place where people could see it, appreciate it and learn from it,” said Petri.
Now, it hangs high in Bronzeville – her own neighborhood.
Throughout her creative process, she said she made sure to portray an aura that doesn’t normally attach itself to Aaron’s legacy.
“They talk about him as a humble man and very down to earth, but I wanted the piece to have some swagger to it,” Petri said.
That swagger plays out in the bold white and black color contrast and Aaron’s stance.
Petri hopes that kids playing baseball in the park across the way can see it and be inspired.
“They’ll know that there was somebody else that came before them and did the thing,” Petri said.
Despite the many years since Aaron crushed his last home run, his figure continues to live and inspire in Milwaukee and beyond.
“When we celebrate icons like Hank Aaron, we’re not just looking back on history, we’re inspiring the next generation of leaders,” Crowley said.
Jonathan Aguilar is a visual journalist at Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service who is supported through a partnership between CatchLight Local and Report for America.
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