An open letter to Hank Aaron Dear Hank Aaron, When I met you years ago, your warmth and kindness overtook me. You signed every fan’s autograph and took time to talk to them as well. It still seems surreal that it has been 11 days without you, Hank, and many have reminisced about your record-breaking home run that April night in 1974. That day, you not only became the home run king but the icon of sports in Georgia. The fact that a Black man broke the all-time home run record will be in the hearts and memories of current fans and future generations to come.