Atlanta Braves honor the great Hank Aaron as they play home opener at Truist Park

ATLANTA — As the Atlanta Braves’ home opener gets underway, the team and Truist Park paid tribute to one of the team’s most legendary players -- Hank Aaron.

Aaron died in January at the age of 86.

Inside Truist Park, Aaron’s No. 44 will remain on the field all-season.

“It just feels completely and perfectly appropriate. My father in-law had watched Hank since the 60s and watched him break the home run record,” said Braves fan Greg Dover.

Aaron officially became the “Homerun King” 47 years ago Thursday when he hit his 755th home run.

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That number stands behind Aaron’s statue at Truist Park, where flowers honor his legacy on and off the field.

Brad Merriweather is the Braves’ senior director of marketing. His team put a video together promoting the Braves throwback uniforms that they will be wearing Friday night.

“You know, the home opener is always exciting, but this one is special. To welcome our fans back from the first time in 18 months, it’s a special day here in Braves Country,” Merriweather said.

Special, indeed. Just talk to the fans enjoying The Battery just hours before the first pitch.

For Elaine Manis and her three boys, it was their first time at Truist Park.

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“We traveled 6 hours from Mobile, Alabama. So we’re excited to be doing something with some sense of normalcy,” Manis said.

And they’ll have one of the best seats in the house.

“It’s over at dugout between first and second,” son Alex Manis said.

Baseball legend Hank Aaron dies at age 86

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