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Hank Aaron - Has died.
- Thread starter rhett7660
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Hall of Famer Henry "Hank" Aaron dies at 86
Hall of Famer and one-time home run king Atlanta Braves legend Henry Louis “Hank” Aaron passed away this morning at the age of 86. He leaves behind an indelible legacy
Yet another sad day. Hank Aaron was a great player, true gentleman, and a role model.
As a kid, I didn't like Aaron. I rooted against him. My favorite player was Willie Mays, and I saw Aaron as his chief rival. It was only as an adult that I took the time to take a measure of him as a man. His positive influence will be sorely missed.
In reading about him online yesterday, I came upon the story of how he was signed by Boston. Yes, the Braves were still in Boston at the time. Aaron was on a Negro League team and had an offer from New York (Giants) in hand when he got a better offer from the Braves. He said that $50 a month was all that prevented him and Willie from being teammates one day. (Of course, they were on many All-Star teams together.) By the time Aaron was called up, the Braves had moved to Milwaukee. He was on the team in Milwaukee for more years than after they moved to Atlanta, and returned to his first Big League city for two more years with the Brewers. Milwaukee claims him as almost a native son, and the Brewers retired his number 44 soon after his playing days were over.
Hank Aaron was a class act, and a much better ballplayer than I wanted to give him credit for being when I was young.
In reading about him online yesterday, I came upon the story of how he was signed by Boston. Yes, the Braves were still in Boston at the time. Aaron was on a Negro League team and had an offer from New York (Giants) in hand when he got a better offer from the Braves. He said that $50 a month was all that prevented him and Willie from being teammates one day. (Of course, they were on many All-Star teams together.) By the time Aaron was called up, the Braves had moved to Milwaukee. He was on the team in Milwaukee for more years than after they moved to Atlanta, and returned to his first Big League city for two more years with the Brewers. Milwaukee claims him as almost a native son, and the Brewers retired his number 44 soon after his playing days were over.
Hank Aaron was a class act, and a much better ballplayer than I wanted to give him credit for being when I was young.
A baseball icon for sure, there was nothing fancy about him, truly understated and in my book THE homerun leader!
And his life was repeatedly threatened as he approached Ruth’s record. Because he was Black. He had a lifetime BA over .300, won a few gold gloves, was named to the all star team a ridiculous number of times. Deserves to be in any conversation regarding the best player. Much under appreciated I think.
One of his final interviews here:
www.nytimes.com
Opinion | A Final Interview With Hank Aaron: ‘I Recognized That I Had a Gift’ (Published 2021)
No matter what happened in America, his greatness still shone.
We all die.
Hank Aaron was 86. It's not like he pushed the life expectancy average lower especially for someone born during his era and his socio-economic background.
Famous people will continue to die.
Godspeed, Hank Aaron.