Keisha Lance Bottoms: Hank Aaron Statue to stay in Atlanta
Hank Aaron statue (Photo by Maria Saporta)
By Maria Saporta
The iconic Hank Aaron Statue of the homerun legend’s hitting No. 715 to break Babe Ruth’s record will stay in the City of Atlanta, according to Keisha Lance Bottoms, executive director of the Atlanta-Fulton County Recreation Authority.
Hank Aaron statue (Photos by Maria Saporta)
The statue will remain at Turner Field, and it will not be moved to Cobb County to become part of the Atlanta Braves’ new stadium.
“I am pleased to have worked with our team and the Braves to finalize this issue,” Bottoms said in a statement released Wednesday. “While there are other matters that must be resolved before the Braves exit Turner Field, keeping the Hank Aaron statue at home is a major accomplishment. We can now move forward with the transition of the stadium knowing that a part of Mr. Aaron’s incredible legacy will continue to be appropriately honored within the city.”
The Atlanta Braves had argued for a time that they owned the Hank Aaron Statue and that they planned to move it to the new baseball park.
A photo of Billye and Hank Aaron
A SaportaReport Maria’s Metro column a year ago had suggested that the best outcome would be a two-statue solution – for the Braves to commission another statue of Hank Aaron to be placed with the Cobb County stadium.
“The statue of Hank Aaron rightfully belongs to the citizens of the City of Atlanta and Fulton County,” Bottoms said. “And we have worked hard to ensure that this historic sports landmark and tribute to the great Hank Aaron will remain.”
Since the Braves’ announcement in 2013 that they would depart Turner Field for a new facility in Cobb County, controversy has swirled around whether the statue was the property of the Atlanta Braves or the Recreation Authority.
The authority conducted an internal review and uncovered Olympics-era documents clearly spelling out that the statue belonged to the citizens of Atlanta and Fulton County.
An email was sent to the Atlanta Braves for a comment. When they respond, the story will be updated or a new story will be posted.
I’m a city resident and I say put it by the new stadium. Too much is being made of the Braves being less than 2 miles outside the city in unincorporated Cobb (that uses an Atlanta mailing address).Report
Update: Braves say there is no agreement https://saportareport.com/braves-say-theres-no-agreement-on-aaron-statue-but-bottoms-releases-emails-saying-otherwise/Report
As a city resident, I’m disappointed, but not surprised by the Braves actions here. The agreement between the Braves, Metropolitian Atlanta Olympic Games Authority and the Recreation Authority spell it out clearly. The e-mails between Ms. Bottoms and the Braves representitive further underscore the agreement/understanding. And surprise, surprise…we have the Braves going about their business oblivious to and in direct contradiction of former and current commitments. Nothing like leaving your former home/neighborhood with a scorched Earth mentality.Report
So say you! I’m a city resident also and I say not enough is being made of it. Mr. Aaron broke the record in “Atlanta”, not Cobb County. It is part of the City’s history, not Cobb County.
How many people won’t be able to attend now because of the “less than 2 miles”? It is more than two miles from the present location to the Braves’ future home and a lot harder to reach on a good day unless you are driving. Not everyone is able to travel to Cobb County.Report
Second update on this story: Atlanta Braves back down saying the Hank Aaron Statue is staying in Atlanta https://saportareport.com/atlanta-braves-back-down-saying-the-hank-aaron-statue-is-staying-in-atlanta/Report