February 05, 2009
Hammer at 75
Henry Aaron turns 75 today. I'm old enough to remember when Hank was only old in terms of baseball players. :-)
He was very young once, and one of the first black men to play in the Sally League. He had to be as thick skinned as Jackie Robinson. From Brushing Back Jim Crow: The Integration of Minor-League Baseball in the American South
:
We were not there to start anything. We were there just to play baseball. I don't think anyone had to remind us of what we were there for. There were a lot of things, when Horace Garner, Felix and myself played in the South Atlantic Leauge, that happened just because we won a ball game. You had people that were hanging around. Crowds that were hanging around. That just meant one thing. They were hanging around to stir up something. People said things to us, calling us names from the stands, but we ignored it, as long as they don't touch you or put their hands on you, then you have no recourse. Just let them say what they want to say.
Happy birthday, Hank, and many happy returns!
tomorrow is Babe Ruth's birthday. Amusing coincidence that Ruth and Aaron have consecutive birthdays. Bonds's b'day in in July.
Tukufu Zuberi, one of the stars of PBS' History Detectives, is giving a presentation in Jacksonville (Fla) tonight on Negro League Baseball in the South. Interesting that it is on Aaron's birthday, since Aaron played in the Sally League and played a few games in Jacksonville (at the old Durkee Field).
Maybe I'll post a follow up comment if Zuberi provides any interesting nuggets.
Even more amusing coincidence: Babe Ruth and Elvis Presley died on the same date -- August. 16.
LOL - now I KNOW I am getting up there. I remember Hank as ROOKIE
