It's time for Major League Baseball to retire Hank Aaron’s No. 44


The death of baseball’s home-run king for decades, Hank Aaron, last week at the age of 86 was the latest in a stunning series of 10 deaths of Hall of Famers to have died since last April --- the other Hall of Famers who we’ve lost in that time span were Al Kaline (Tigers), Bob Gibson, Lou Brock (Cardinals), Tom Seaver (Mets, White Sox and Red Sox), Whitey Ford (Yankees), Joe Morgan (Reds, Astros), Phil Niekro (Atlanta Braves and other teams), Tommy Lasorda (Dodgers) and Don Sutton (mostly Dodgers).
Aaron’s passing, however, was arguably the most significant one in terms of baseball history, given who Hank Aaron was: a landmark player who had to contend with bigotry and death threats during his career ---- especially before he broke Babe Ruth’s career home run record of 714 with his 715th homer off Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Al Downing on April 8, 1974.
Aaron, who would wind up with 755 homers after retiring from the Milwaukee Brewers in 1976, was later edged out by Barry Bonds, whose 762 homers is the home-run career record, except that it was tainted by allegations of Bonds’ steroid use.
Aaron’s historical role in baseball history is why I believe Major League Baseball should absolutely retire his No. 44 throughout baseball, just as it has done with Jackie Robinson’s No. 42. Aaron’s role in baseball history as the person who broke Ruth’s record and endured so much hatred in the process demands that action from MLB.

RED SOX' AARON TIES
Boston Globe columnist Dan Shaughnessy, in his Sunday, Jan. 24, column (https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/01/22/sports/recalling-hank-aarons-only-fenway-park-home-run-other-thoughts/) tells the full story of Aaron’s only Fenway Park homer, which he hit Sept. 14, 1975, into the then-leftfield net above the Green Monster. He hit the homer as a member of the Milwaukee Brewers, with whom he finished his career in 1975 and 1976 as that team’s designated hitter. What makes the story fun for Red Sox fans to read is that the homer was hit off none other than iconic Sox southpaw Bill “Spaceman” Lee, whom Shaughnessy interviewed for the column. It’s a must read.
Aaron, who signed with the Boston Braves in 1952, never played in Boston, as the Braves moved to Milwaukee in 1953, and eventually to Atlanta. So, it was fitting that he was able to finish his career with the-then American League Milwaukee Brewers, who became Milwaukee's team after the Braves moved to Atlanta.
AARON-SOX TRIVIA
Here’s a Hank Aaron-themed Red Sox trivia question to which Aaron is one-half of the answer:
QUESTION: Who were the starting designated hitters for the Red Sox and Brewers for the Red Sox home opener in 1975?
ANSWER: Aaron for the Brewers; Tony Conigliaro for the Red Sox. It was Conig’s last comeback bid with the Red Sox, and he wound up retiring early in the 1975 season.

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