When it comes to swinging the bat, no one did it better than Hank Aaron. And he has the stats to back it up.

Aaron still holds Major League records for career RBIs (2,297), extra-base hits (1,477), and total bases (6,856). Let’s not forget that Aaron broke Babe Ruth’s mark for career home runs in 1974. Aaron ended his legendary career after the 1976 season with 755 home runs before Barry Bonds became the king in 2007.

For all of Aaron’s accomplishments, it was only appropriate then that the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory recently added him to its roster of iconic statues when it unveiled a lifelike sculpture of Aaron at The Boys & Girls Clubs of Kentuckiana.

Aaron’s statue is one of seven – Ruth, Roberto Clemente, Jackie Robinson, Ted Williams, Ken Griffey Jr. and Derek Jeter are the others – at the museum.

The new sculpture features Aaron in a mid-1970s Atlanta uniform with a classic Braves ballcap with a red lowercase “a”. Aaron’s iconic number 44 is on the front and back of the uniform in blue with red stitching around the lettering.

Aaron was not only honored at the museum for his playing ability; he also had an impact on the Civil Rights Movement. This came after Aaron encountered racist threats as he was trying to break Ruth’s record.

“We are so excited to add Hank Aaron to our legendary statue lineup in the museum,” said Deana Lockman, executive director of experiences at Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory. “With the courage he displayed during his playing career and the great philanthropic efforts he put for his legacy will not soon be forgotten.”

Aaron’s widow, Billye Aaron, was in attendance for the unveiling and she was emotional while paying tribute to her late husband, who passed away on Jan. 22, 2021.

“Henry would have loved that moment, I would assure you,” Billye Aaron said. “I’m very pleased with this effort the [Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory] has made to preserve and protect Henry’s legacy.”

She was wearing the World Series ring from last year’s championship that would have gone to Hank, who in addition to being a Braves legend also was a long-time executive with the organization. With his passing, the Braves instead gave it to her. She also quoted Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet by calling Aaron her Romeo.

“I teased Henry on occasions after thinking about the play and the words in particular,” Billye Aaron said. “… But the words that are so important and that bring tears to my eyes, I have to say, are the words that Juliet spoke in reference to Romeo.

“She said, ‘When he shall die, cut him [out] into little stars. And he will make [the face] of heaven so fine, that all the world will be in love with night. And we will pay no worship to the garish sun.’ Those words just light up my soul, for even now. Even now, I look into the heavens on occasion to find that star. … That star represents Henry Aaron.”