MOBILE, Ala. — Hank Aaron was back in his hometown for a belated 75th birthday celebration on the eve of the 35th anniversary of his most famous home run.

More than 500 people gathered at Mobile's Arthur Outlaw Convention Center on Tuesday to honor the Hall of Famer, who turned 75 on Feb. 5.

"I came here because this is my hometown," Aaron said before the event. "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 was honored in February for his birthday in Atlanta, with former President Bill Clinton, baseball commissioner Bud Selig, former Georgia Gov. Andrew Young and former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo among those in attendance.

Aaron became baseball's home run leader on April 8, 1974, when he hit his 715th to pass Babe Ruth. Aaron finished with 755 and held the record until Barry Bonds passed him in 2007.

Aaron's wife, Billye, daughters and several other family members joined him for Tuesday's event in Mobile.

Minor league baseball president Pat OConnor and former New York Mets star Cleon Jones were among the local dignitaries out to honor Aaron.

"Hank Aaron is a man of few words and many deeds," O'Connor said. "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."

Aaron is scheduled on Wednesday to visit Hank Aaron Stadium, where the Double-A Mobile BayBears have moved his childhood home and are renovating 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."

Proceeds from Tuesday's event and silent auction of baseball memorabilia went to benefit BayBear Charities and the Hank Aaron Childhood Home Museum.