Mobile moving Aaron's home

Print

Mobile moving Aaron's home
07/22/2008 12:48 AM ET
Mobile BayBears

The Mobile BayBears, in conjunction with the City of Mobile, on Monday announced plans to relocate Hank Aaron's childhood home to the grounds of Hank Aaron Stadium.
The Aaron family is donating the home to the City of Mobile to become the Hank Aaron Family Museum. The home, located in the Toulmlinville neighborhood, will be moved this coming October to Gaslight Park on the grounds of the stadium.
The home will be restored and will become a museum showcasing the history of Hank and his family during the 40's, 50's and 60's. Over the last decade, Hank Aaron Stadium has become a living history lesson for fans of all ages as you walk through the ballpark which includes box seating from Milwaukee County Stadium, where Hank began and ended his career, to Fulton County Stadium when he broke Babe Ruth's Home Run Record by hitting number 715. The stadium is full of memories, and now with the addition of the childhood home, will add a new and exciting dimension for tourists and fans of the game to view.
The renovation will take place from October 2008 into the spring of 2009 and plans are to open the museum in April as the BayBears will celebrate Hank Aaron's 75th birthday all season long.
"This is a tremendous honor for not only me, but for my family," Hank said. "There's a lot of history behind this house. We were born here, raised here. I'm very proud and ecstatic that the BayBears and the Hall of Fame have found it fit to make this house a museum."
In addition to tours of the home, during BayBears games, fans will have an opportunity to picnic in Hank's backyard. A white picket fence will be constructed in the back of the home with picnic tables. Plans are for groups to tour the stadium grounds, Hank Aaron Family Museum and view a video in the Harbor Communications Center about the life of Hank Aaron. In the coming months, more information will be released on group tours and admission. The opportunity for school field trips to visit and learn about the history of Hank and Mobile will be one of the highlights of opening this new Field of Dreams.
Bill Shanahan, President of the Mobile BayBears said "We are so excited to add Hank's childhood home to Hank Aaron Stadium. Baseball fans are in for quite a history lesson on Mobile and the Aaron family."
BayBears Charities, in association with the Mobile BayBears, will operate the home/museum. In a related program, the BayBears provide needed assistance to youth baseball/softball programs, such as the BayBears Rookie League for at-risk youth, and charitable organizations. Since 1998, the BayBears, in partnership with the Mobile Housing Board and Prichard Housing Authority have provided an opportunity for over 1,000 boys and girls to play organized baseball and softball.
BayBears Charities enthusiastically welcomes the support of companies and individuals who wish to help. For more information, call Mike Callahan at 251-479-BEAR or log onto: www.hankaaronstadium.com