Aretha Franklin, Queen of Soul and all around badass who was a level above and beyond every other diva you can think of, died Thursday morning at the age of 76. She had countless signature moments throughout her decades-long career, including some from the world of sports.
The baseball world remembered and honored Aretha Franklin after her death
She died Thursday morning at the age of 76.
Those memorable performances include her extra-long (you’re gonna stop Aretha?) rendition of the National Anthem during a 2016 Lions-Vikings Thanksgiving game, “America the Beautiful” at WrestleMania III, and a 1990 “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” promo with the Detroit Tigers. So it’s only natural that the world of sports would pay respect to her legacy, and baseball showed up.
The Yankees
During the sixth inning of Thursday’s game against the Rays, Yankee Stadium paused to pay their respects as Aretha played in the background and a short tribute appeared on the scoreboard.
Willie Mays
Mays, a legend in his own right, released a statement on Aretha’s passing in which he said he “truly admired her as a singer and as a woman.”
“The older I get, it seems like the more “goodbyes” must be said, and the harder they are to say. I just heard that Aretha Franklin has passed. I’ve known Aretha since my early years in New York. We used to joke around. She was something! I just want to say to her family that I truly admired her as a singer and as a woman. I am so sorry we’ve lost her. Goodbye my friend, Willie Mays”
Not content to let a stadium-wide tribute be the only Yankees-related Aretha remembrance today, Aaron Judge got a locker room party going with her most famous song.
The Tigers
Aretha was most closely connected with Detroit, so it only makes sense that the Tigers honored her in multiple ways on the day we lost her. First, they did Aretha-themed game notes including such subheads as “Rock Steady,” “Dr. Feelgood,” and “Until You Come Back to Me.”
Then, they reminded everyone of why she’s The Queen by tweeting out her National Anthem performance. It’s never not a good time to remember just how good she was. Especially when performing a standard that many want to place their mark on but only few can.
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