Braves Unveil Hank Aaron Statue At SunTrust Park

SOUTH COBB, GA -- The new SunTrust Park statue commemorating Hank Aaron was unveiled at a Wednesday fundraiser.
The statue, created by Atlanta artist Ross Rossin, has been one of the most highly anticipated features of the new stadium in Cobb County.
Attendees of the Hank Aaron Chasing the Dream Foundation fundraiser got a first look at the work of art, which will be on full display on April 14 when the Braves take on the San Diego Padres and afterward.

Aaron told WAGA-TV that he was humbled by the statue, which immortalizes the moment he became the homerun king, an exploit that occurred before many of today's fans were even born.

"It means a lot to me," Aaron told the TV station, saying that, "My footprint is not in this ballpark, I never played here but to ... for the Atlanta Braves to be so kind to make this statue available to the fans across this country, it means an awful lot to me."

Aaron has become part of the fabric of the Braves, largely due to one night more than 30 years ago.

On April 8, 1974, Aaron broke Babe Ruth's home run record when he smashed No. 715 at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. The record seemed untouchable for nearly 40 years until the Braves player from Mobile, Alabama saw it within his sights. Aaron sits alone atop Major League Baseball's all-time home run list.
Read more: New Braves stadium will be testament to Hank Aaron
One of the main artistic features of the ballpark will be a baseball bat sculpture and a terrace displaying Aaron's 715th home run ball and bat, the team said.

Image via Craig Johnson / Patch