The former Richmond Braves drew headlines in 1977 by making Tommie Aaron the International League’s first African-American manager.

A season later, Richmond and Aaron made headlines again, this time by winning the city’s first IL pennant following a 24-year, two-franchise wait.

Richmond joined the IL in 1954 and was a Yankees farm club before Atlanta arrived in 1966.

Aaron, a native of Mobile, Ala., was a popular figure at the old Parker Field, and not just because he was the younger brother of historic slugger “Hammerin’ Hank” Aaron.

In 1967, the 6-foot-3 “Tee Aaron,” as he was often called, earned the IL Most Valuable Player honors for Richmond, splitting time between first base and the outfield. In so doing, Aaron was not only the city’s first MVP, but the first championship skipper as well.

The 1978 regular season was nothing special. The Richmond Braves were 71-68 and 13.5 games behind first place Charleston, W.Va., a Houston affiliate, in the final standings.

Aaron’s squad didn’t hit full stride until the postseason Governor’s Cup playoffs. The Braves upset Charleston in the semifinals, three games to two, before topping Boston affiliate Pawtucket, R.I., four games to three, in the final.

That set up a gala celebration on the old Boulevard. Richmond clinched the league title at Parker Field with an 8-5 victory over Pawtucket on Sept. 16, 1978.

The Braves showed diversity in the dugout with fan-favorite Aaron and also on the field. Richmond players of color included outfielders Terry Harper, Eddie Miller and Larry Whisenton and second baseman Chico Ruiz. The fleet Miller led the IL in stolen bases in 1978 with 36.All would go on to play in the big leagues. Harper, from Douglasville, Ga., played in the majors from 1980 to 1987 with Atlanta, Detroit and Pittsburgh. Miller, from San Pablo, Calif., advanced to play with Texas, Atlanta, Detroit and San Diego between 1978 and 1984. Whisenton, “The Whiz,” from St. Louis, played with Atlanta in 1982. Ruiz, from San Juan, Puerto Rico, played with Richmond all or parts of 12 seasons and saw big-league action two seasons in Atlanta.

Aaron is in the big league record books along with his big brother. Tommie (13 homers with Milwaukee and the Atlanta Braves) and Hank (755) set record for the most homers (768) by brothers.

Tragically, Tommie was diagnosed with leukemia in 1982 during spring training and died in 1984 at age 45.

The Richmond Braves established the Tommie Aaron Memorial Award for team MVP until the franchise left for Georgia in 2009.

Until the arrival of the San Francisco franchise and the Richmond Flying Squirrels in 2010, The Diamond also was known as “Tommie Aaron Field,” with a sign in the right field corner.

When Parker Field was replaced by The Diamond in 1985, there were chunks of history the bulldozer and dynamite couldn’t erase.

Tommie Aaron memories, as player and manager, still bring smiles to the city ball team’s longtime fans.