You can be respected. You can be envied. You can be idolized. You can be emulated. You can be loved. It is rare for a person to be able to check all these boxes. Hank Aaron could, and did.
Aaron was an extraordinarily great hero, even more remarkable because of his humility, class, quiet dignity and humor with which he approached each challenge, each obstacle. He died on Friday, aged 86.
He became the most direct descendant of Jackie Robinson in his generation, not because he wanted to, but because he knew he needed it, since he ran directly against racists who wanted to stop his success. He was one of the torchbearers to emerge from the Black Leagues, although his time there was incredibly short. At 20, he was an outfielder with the Milwaukee Braves, showing off his raw but so obvious talent.
His presence in the major leagues created a safe place for black players, from Dusty Baker to Joe Morgan and Ken Griffey Sr. .. It was almost like the baseball version of Underground Railroad. When you get to Atlanta, look for Aaron and he’ll take care of you. When you get to San Francisco, look for Willie Mays and he will take care of you. When you get to Pittsburgh, look for Willie Stargell and he will take care of you.
It wasn’t just during the season. There were barbecues and dinners with the wives. These guys trusted each other to be strong, to help each other be strong, and Aaron was at the forefront of that. He made sure that the younger players knew that they had a shoulder to lean on and that he would always be on his back. Baker shared stories of his friendship with Aaron and what it meant to have his support.
Support was important at a time when black players were not celebrated, but challenged. Aaron did not run away from racism. He showed America, while playing in the heart of the South, how not to be afraid, how to be a man.
No one should have to endure what Aaron did while chasing Babe Ruth’s home run record. How dare he, half of this country demanded to know. These forces that referred to the night horsemen, men of Klans and the chains of generations of blacks, wanted to degrade and break it simply because of the color of their skin.
He resisted. He conquered, he survived those who hated him, he was more resistant than the most vile currents of racism that America of the last century could gather.
He conquered a nation, helping it to grow toward its promise. Just because he was more heroic than we as a nation deserved, Aaron turned mere numbers into the asterisk, not history.
Author Claire Smith, pictured here with Hank Aaron, who asked to take a picture with her. She says: Rest in peace, Mr. Aaron. Thank you for everything you’ve done for your game, your people, your country.
Claire Smith
One of my favorite memories of Aaron was a few years ago. As a sports journalist, you should never ask for autographs or “selfies”. To do this is to flirt with the end of your career and give up your credibility. So, as I worked as the coordinating news editor for ESPN, I was privileged to sit on the set during our live greeting to Aaron and his career. He joined the broadcast via four entrances. We were all amazed as he delighted the audience with story after story, demonstrating his bat fist on his crossed wrist. He took us back to the Black Leagues. He took us down the lonely and scary road that was his search for Ruth’s home run record.
After he finished, team members asked for handshakes and pictures. I sat there, absorbing everything. Finally, Mr. Aaron looked at me and asked if I would like a photo too. He asked me! I didn’t say no. Careers come and go. There was only one Henry Aaron.
In the past few years, we’ve lost so many big names from Frank Robinson to Willie McCovey to Joe Morgan that the toll has been relentless. But Aaron was the man you never thought would die.
Unfortunately, even the biggest die. What makes them immortal is that they and their lessons taught will never be forgotten.
Henry Aaron will never be forgotten. May you rest in eternal peace, # 44.