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Aaron returns home to celebrate 75th

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Hank Aaron laughs during a celebration of his 75th birthday Tuesday in Mobile, Ala. (Chip English/AP)

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By Doug Miller / MLB.com

04/08/09 1:03 AM ET

Hank Aaron returned to his hometown of Mobile, Ala., on Tuesday to celebrate his 75th birthday and the 35th anniversary of his legendary 715th home run.

Aaron was honored at the Arthur Outlaw Convention Center with 500 in attendance, The Associated Press reported, for turning 75 on Feb. 5. He became Major League Baseball's all-time home run leader on April 8, 1974, when he passed Babe Ruth with No. 715. Barry Bonds surpassed Aaron's total in 2007.

"I came here because this is my hometown," Aaron said. "It's just a good time to come here, to see all my friends and to be back in this city, because it means an awful lot to me."

Aaron's birthday already was celebrated in Atlanta, where former President Bill Clinton, Commissioner Bud Selig, former Georgia governor Andrew Young and former New York governor Mario Cuomo attended.

On Tuesday, Aaron's wife, Billye, his daughters and other family members joined him for the Mobile event. Also in attendance were Pat O'Connor, president of Minor League Baseball, and former New York Mets player Cleon Jones, who lives in the Mobile area.

"Hank Aaron is a man of few words and many deeds," O'Connor told The AP. "Not only is he a friend of Mobile, Alabama, he is an icon in baseball and he is an institution in America. For all the players who are here, I encourage you to emulate this man. For all the young kids here, if you don't know about this man, I encourage you to learn about this man."

On Wednesday, Aaron has plans to visit Hank Aaron Stadium, the home of the Double-A Mobile BayBears. The club has taken Aaron's childhood home, moved it, and will turn it into a museum.

"When I drove this afternoon by the house, there were tears in my eyes, because I can remember so many things that happened in that house," Aaron said. "I want to thank all who have been involved in restoring that house, because it means an awful lot not only to me but to the Aarons."

Doug Miller is reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.