Cobb Reporter

A legendary Braves player who died last year was permanently laid to rest in the cemetery that once had the mortal remains of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Hank Aaron, best known for breaking Babe Ruth’s record for career home run in 1974, on Jan. 5 was entombed at Atlanta’s historic South-View Cemetery.

Aaron died in his sleep on Jan. 22, 2021, at the age of 86.

WGCL reported that former teammates, friends and family helped Aaron’s widow Billye say goodbye to the man she called her best friend.

The ceremony, which had a small turnout because of the COVID-19 pandemic, began with the revered slugger’s friend Henrietta Antonin singing a favorite song of his.

Among the attendees was Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr., whose father was a teammate of Aaron’s almost 50 years ago.

“My dad played for the Braves, he was the first person he introduced me to,” Griffey, Jr. told WGCL. “All the stories my dad would say and to finally meet him, it was like he was larger than life even then.”

Former teammate and Hall of Famer Dave Winfield remembered Aaron as one of his idols.

“He was one of the people I looked up to. I got to know him as a human being, as a person,” Winfield, who played more than 20 years in MLB, told WGCL. “I love that man, that’s why we came across the country to be here.”

Aaron’s remains were kept in a temporary crypt before his tomb at South-View was completed.

According to WGCL, his final resting place is not too far from that of King’s parents.

Largely considered an Atlanta institution, Aaron began his career with the then-Milwaukee Braves in 1954.

It was after the Braves moved to Atlanta a decade later when Aaron, whose nickname was “Hammer,” weaved his legend.

He cemented his legacy on the night of April 13, 1974, when he bashed his 715th career homer, surpassing the mark set by Ruth by one.

Aaron eventually returned to the city that gave him his start and walked away from the game with 755 home runs to his name.

More than nine months after his death, the Braves defeated the Houston Astros for their first World Series title since 1995, second since the move to Atlanta and fourth in franchise history.

WGCL reported that more than 20 schools offer scholarships bearing Aaron’s name.