Mets grateful to witness Aaron anniversary tribute

ATLANTA -- Every so often, the luck of the schedule affords the Mets opportunities to participate in something unique. So it was Tuesday, when the Mets were bystanders for the Braves' Hank Aaron anniversary celebration at Turner Field.

"One of the top great players that every played the game, and his accomplishments and what he had to go through, certainly we're all honored to be here and be a part of his special night," manager Terry Collins said of Aaron, whom the Braves honored on the 40th anniversary of his record-breaking 715th home run.

"Certainly nobody ever thought it would be broken, I can assure you that," Collins said. "If anybody could do it, certainly Hank Aaron was the right guy in the right place."

Mets outfielder Curtis Granderson considered the celebration fitting for a player who, despite his Hall of Fame achievements, did not always receive as much recognition as Babe Ruth -- the man whose record he broke.

"A lot of people, for whatever reason, don't talk about him as much as some of the other greats to have played the game," Granderson said. "Hopefully he'll continue to build out his legacy."