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Braves will build new Hank Aaron monument at SunTrust Park
The Atlanta Braves have announced that they are no longer contesting the Atlanta Fulton County Recreation Authority regarding the future location of the bronze Hank Aaron statue outside Turner Field.
The team had hoped to bring the statue with them as they prepare to move to SunTrust Park in Cobb County next season, but will now allow it to remain in downtown Atlanta. Instead, the Braves have announced plans to honor Aaron with a new monument at their new ballpark.
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Here's the Braves' official statement on the statue dispute, courtesy of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
“Nothing could be further from the character of Hank Aaron than the divisive conversations that are occurring over his iconic statue. As such, the Atlanta Braves have decided that we will no longer contest the eventual location of the statue and will instead focus on how to best showcase Hank’s impact and legacy at SunTrust Park. Part of this will include commissioning a new statue for all baseball fans to see. Hank Aaron is, and will always be, a significant part of the Atlanta Braves and our proud legacy. Our sincere hope is that the existing statue will continue to be preserved and displayed in a manner befitting his legacy as the greatest Brave of all time.”
The dispute over the statue picked up steam this week when the authority uncovered documents proving they owned the statue and would determine its location. The Braves initially disputed those claims, but backed off soon after Aaron and his wife challenged the two parties to settle their dispute.
Both sides obviously felt strongly about their positions. Hank Aaron reached icon status as a member of the Braves dating back to their days in Milwaukee, so that history obviously runs very deep. But he's also reached icon status in the city of Atlanta for his community work, making it understandable that they'd want to hold on to some piece of his baseball history.
In the end, Hank Aaron's legacy wins out, as he'll now be honored by two groups who mean a lot to him. And it's pretty fitting that his words played at least some role in the dispute being settled, as it further cements the respect he's earned both on and off the field.
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The fans are winners here too, as they'll be able to honor Hank Aaron near the location where he broke Babe Ruth's long-standing home run record and where the Braves hope to make history moving forward.
The Braves and Cobb County officials will have to work on funding for the new project. That part could prove tricky. But it's a good move that should prove to be worthwhile once Hank Aaron takes his rightful place outside their new home.
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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at bigleaguestew@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Townie813
