R.I.P. Hank Aaron

[a700hitter]

The true Home Run Champion. RIP

[Bellhorn04]

Too many RIP's these days.

 

RIP Hank.

[notin]

I just got this alert on my phone. RIP Hammerin' Hank...

[a700hitter]

A class act. The 2 greatest players of that generation were Aaron and Mays. Mays got much more attention because his style of play was more spectacular and he played his early years in NY as part of the great rivalry with the Brooklyn Dodgers. When they moved out west the Dodgers- Giants rivalry was still compelling.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I was fortunate enough to see Hank yank Spaceman into the screen in '75.

 

Aaron was 41 years old at the time, in a season when Bill Lee actually received at least one MVP vote. Henry didn't earn any in '75, but fared a bit better while in the NL... earning MVP votes in 19 straight years over parts of three decades, 1955-73.

[moonslav59]

When my family visited Atlanta in the 70's, we went to a Braves game. Hank threw a ball to my little sister during batting practice.

[Donnie Sadler was short]

Yes..as the OP said...THE homerun champ.

[Northern Star]

This weekend I read a book about him breaking the HR record. The amount of racist abuse, insults and death threats he got was beyond disgusting. The fact that hardly any fans bothered to attend the games until the final homestand speaks volumes. He got more love and respect from fans on the road than in his own stadium.

[moonslav59]

What was the name of the book?

[Northern Star]

What was the name of the book?

 

Hank Aaron and the Home Run That Changed America by Tom Stanton.