Hank Aaron was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982, (go to site and click on Hank Aaron for a video), and presented with a Presidental Medal of Honor in 2002. “Hank Aaron overcame poverty and racism to become one of the most accomplished baseball players of all time. “When I was in a ballpark,” he said, “I felt like I was surrounded by angels, and I had God’s hand on my shoulder.” By steadily pursuing his calling in the face of unreasoning hatred, Hank Aaron has proven himself a great human being, as well as a great athlete.”
Aaron continues to work for equality. In 2007, he was given more power in the Atlanta Braves organization to influence young blacks who are interested in playing baseball. (See here.)
You see, “Hammerin’ Hank” had paid his dues. Voted the National League Most Valuable Player in 1957, (only once), Aaron hit 755 home runs during his Major League career. He holds many of baseball’s most distinguished records, including runs batted in (2,297), extra base hits (1,477), total bases (6,856) and most years with 30 or more home runs (15). He is also in the top five for career hits and runs. He had played 23 years as an outfielder for the Milwaukee (later Atlanta) Braves and Milwaukee Brewers (1954–76).
“[But] around the time that Aaron was acknowledged to be a serious threat to [Babe] Ruth’s lifetime record, the heretofore soft-spoken and reserved, Aaron became more vociferous on the treatment of blacks in baseball’s upper echelon. In 1970, soon after collecting his 3,000th hit, he stated frankly: ‘I have to tell the truth, and when people ask me what progress Negroes have made in baseball, I tell them the Negro hasn’t made any progress on the field. We haven’t made any progress in the commissioner’s office. Even with Monte Irvin in there, I still think it’s tokenism. I think we have a lot of Negroes capable of handling front-office jobs. We don’t have Negro secretaries in some of the big league offices, and I think it’s time that the major leagues and baseball in general just took hold of themselves and started hiring some of these capable people.’ ” (The Baseball Library.com)
For more information about Hank Aaron, read his autobiography, I Had a Hammer: The Hank Aaron Story.
Aaron had received hate mail such as this one:
“Dear Super Spook,
First of all I don’t care for the color of shit. You are pretty damn repugnant trying to break Babe Ruth’s record. You boogies will think you have invented baseball or something.”
and this one:
“Dear Mr. Nigger,
I hope you don’t break the Babe’s record. How do I tell my kids that a nigger did it?”
(page 316 of the HarperPaperbacks edition)
Please join me in honoring this fine American during Black History Month and all the time.
8 comments
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February 3, 2008 at 4:44 pm
Brenda Poole
I cannot believe people can still be so ignorant. People are people. I cannot believe the color of a person has anything to do with the way we judge. To me , I look to see how people behave in many different situations. Hank Aaron was such an example, a fine and brave gentleman. We should be honored to have such a great one to set a record. Bravo to Hank Aaron and his family. History will one day show what a courageous athlete Hank was. God bless him always.
February 3, 2008 at 4:57 pm
helenl
Hi Brenda, Welcome to my blog. Come back any time. Of course, Hank Aaron was courageous. But believe me, racism is alive and well in the US of A. We just hide it better now; it’s not blatant any more.
February 4, 2008 at 7:56 am
Lord Crimson
Hi Helen
Hank Aaron is simply one of the finest baseball players ever. I still have one of his baseball cards that I collected from my youth. It’s nice of you to honor him, and although it’s from his book, I’m not sure you are doing him any service with the hate mail angle.
By keeping it “stirred up” you make it more difficult for the races to ever meet half way.
Lord Crimson
February 4, 2008 at 9:30 am
helenl
Hi Mr. Crimson, Glad you’re back. We certainly agree about Hank Aaron being a fine ball player and man.
As far as keeping things “stirred” up, do you feel the same way looking at cannon in a Civil War Museum? Or shackles in a museum about slavery? And what about remembering the Holocaust? We must know our country’s past to go forward.
And why should the races meet “half way”? The purpose of the civil rights movement was to establish equality, not making things better. Saying we can be “half way” is saying we’re not even up to 50% yet. That’s why I printed the letters. We’re not there yet. There is equality. (I personally think we’re more than 50% there.)
February 4, 2008 at 10:50 am
Lord Crimson
Hi Helen
Good or bad, right or wrong, history is history and to learn from it is a great advantage. Unfortunately what generally happens more reflects the old saying, “what we learn from history is that we learn nothing from history.”
Two people meeting half way is a euphemism for equality. As you explain it, I see that I still have a lot to learn about equality.
Lord Crimson
February 4, 2008 at 11:05 am
helenl
Mr. Crimson, We all have a lot to learn.
March 5, 2009 at 7:52 am
Hank Aaron Stats | Sportales
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February 20, 2012 at 3:55 pm
Michayla
It disgust me how people segregate other people. Hank Aaron is a big inspiration to me. He kept going with his dream even though he was threatened, I don’t know if I would ever be able to keep going with that. And I love how he is still in the baseball business! I mean way to stick with your dream!