"Hank Aaron has been a friend of mine for a long time" - When Jimmy Carter paid heartfelt tribute to 25x All-Star MLB legend after his death at 86

The MLB community and sports world were sent into mourning upon learning of the death of Jimmy Carter, who was the 39th president of the United States of America. Carter died at the age of 100 on Sunday.

Almost four years ago in Jan. 2021, when his friend, MLB legend and 25-time All-Star Hank Aaron died at the age of 86, Carter delivered a heartfelt tribute during Aaron's funeral. He spoke to their decades-long friendship and the legendary MLB slugger’s remarkable character.

"I talked to Jillian, and she was very gracious to me. I offered my condolences and said we've lost a good friend and a great athlete. Best wishes to her, Karen, Billy, his wife, and all the family," Carter said in a video via Bloomberg Quicktake.

Carter also recalled Aaron's then-record-setting 715th home run for which he received a Cadillac from the Chamber of Commerce.

"Hank Aaron has been a friend of mine for a long time and a special friend," Carter said. "I was there for his most famous home run, number 715. I even gave him a tag for his Cadillac. The Chamber of Commerce gave him a new Cadillac, and I gave him a ten-dollar tag for it.

Carter went on to explain how he and Aaron became "very close friends." They went on ski trips and learned how to ski together.

Atlanta sports teams mourn the loss of Georgia native Jimmy Carter

Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur M. Blank put out a statement, mourning the loss of "one of the world's most compassionate souls."

"I am deeply saddened by the loss of my dear friend and role model, President Jimmy Carter. He was a great American, a proud Georgian and an inspirational global humantarian," Blank wrote in a statement.

"Mostly, I will remember President Carter as my friend, a guiding light and someone who served humanity day in and day out - a quality he exhibited daily throughout his remarkable life," Blank added.

Ahead of the Falcons' game against the Washington Commanders on Sunday night, a moment of silence was observed at Northwest Stadium.

Another Atlanta-based team and Hank Aaron's former team, the Braves, paid tribute to Jimmy Carter.

"While the world knew him as a remarkable humanitarian and peacemaker, we knew him as a dedicated Braves fan and we will miss having him in the stands cheering on his Braves," the team said in the statement.

MLB also put out a statement on social media, highlighting how Carter - then the Governor of Georgia - was present when Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth's home run record in April 1974.