Remembering Hammerin' Hank-Baseball's Real Home Run King

This is a week that every American should take to remember and reflect. On April 4, 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee. To this day, his impact on our nation cannot be overstated or under-appreciated.

Today, April 8th is also a day of history and social significance for Major League Baseball. 35 years ago tonight, Henry Aaron broke Babe Ruth’s home run record, homering off Dodgers’ lefty Al Downing in Atlanta. 715 was greeted with a rousing ovation and congratulations throughout our country. That was a far cry from Jackie Robinson’s reception through the National League. Robinson broke baseball’s color barrier in April of 1947.
Listen as Aaron discusses Robinson's influence on his life and American society.

By the end of the 1973 season, Aaron, a 19 year veteran, had 713 homers, one shy of Ruth. That off season was right out of Dante’s Inferno. Death threats and taunts were the norm for the Aaron family-so much so that as Opening Day arrived Aaron had Secret Service bodyguards for himself and loved ones.

Realizing that the anniversary of Dr. King’s passing corresponded with Opening Day, April 4th, 1974 in Cincinnati, Aaron asked then Commissioner Bowie Kuhn if baseball could honor the civil rights leader. Kuhn flatly refused. However, he had NO problem telling the Braves that Hank had to play two of the first three road games to have a chance to tie or break The Babe’s record. Kuhn claimed baseball’s integrity had to be upheld. Yeah, right. Aaron promptly went deep off Jack Billingham. Cincinnati, which 27 years earlier tried to boo Robinson off the field during a Dodgers-Reds game, exulted

Fast Forward to April 8th: Atlanta facing the L-A Dodgers: Aaron walked his first time up. Then, he blasted a two run homer off Al Downing. But even the trot around the bases was tough. Two young men ran onto the field to shake Aaron’s hand. No one was sure if Aaron would be shot or congratulated! Fortunately, the snipers stationed around the ballpark weren’t needed. Hank’s first words: “Thank God it’s over.”

Aaron finished with 755 homers. Born in Mobile Alabama when segregation was the norm, he was overshadowed most of his career by the more charismatic Willie Mays and Frank Robinson, yet was equal if not better than both. For my money, he is the real home run king, not Barry Bonds. Steroids aside for a moment, Aaron conducts himself with a character and dignity that Bonds has yet to imagine. Bonds fails to see that the trailblazing of Jackie Robinson, Larry Doby, and Aaron made it possible for him to be a pro ball player. Barry’s decision to cheat his way to fame certainly would NOT be endorsed by Dr. King.

A tip of the cap to Martin Luther King, and one of his greatest admirers, a civil rights leader in his own right, Hammerin’ Hank Aaron.

Go here to read a biography of Hank Aaron