A true American hero, and Icon

• Published on February 23, 2022

Hammering Hank and Jackie Robinson

The great American pastime, apple pie, hot dogs, and baseball. Baseball has had its share of controversy. The 1919 World Series, Pete Rose and Gambling, Mark McGuire and Juicing. But that is not what this story is about.

Hammering Hank, A true great in the history of baseball. Born on February 5, 1934, in the deep south, number three of eight children. He went to Central High in Mobile, Alabama. Henry excelled at football and baseball. He wasn’t as good at academics as sports.

In 1951, we unknowingly got the best baseball player to swing a bat. His first season was playing for the Indianapolis Clowns in the Negro league. Henry impressed the right people that short season. He signed on to the Braves minor league team, the Eau Claire Bears, for 10,000 dollars. Making a respectable showing in the 52 seasons.

Promoted to the triple-a team, the Jacksonville Bears of the Milwaukee Braves, Hank started getting his game against pitchers amped up. Showing stats like 208 hits, 22 home runs, and holding a 362 batting average. If you’re a baseball fan, you know those are respectable numbers, and he was just getting started.

In the 54 season, Hank got his call to the majors. Now, this is how they changed the day history in not just for baseball, but also for civil rights. And boys everywhere of every color, and social status, could fulfill the dream of making a great impact in this world.

Henry was now a Milwaukee Brave. Producing 13 home runs and a batting average of 280. A short first season for the rising star. Henry is making a big name for himself now. His first full season in the big leagues. The fans are not even comprehending the impact this man will have on baseball, and so much more. His stats were growing. Batting average.328 home runs, 27 runs batted in 106 in the 55 season.

I am getting a picture in my head of what the game was like watching him pay. 56 was a banner year for the Now called Hammering Hank. He won his first batting title. Think about the impact. Jackie Robinson opened the door. Hank said thank you, strutted through and began his career. The hammer belted 44 home runs, 132 RBI’s and carried a 322 average.

He showed his worth again in 57 against the Yankees, in a pennant game, by hitting an 11th inning homer to send the Yankees home, and the braves go to win the World Series. I am telling you, if that had been his best game, he would still have been an asset to the team.

He amazes me. They forced him to travel, eat, and sleep in lesser establishments than his teammates, even though it was him people were paying to see. I found a quote he seemed fond of. We may become superstars, but when it is all over, you still put us back in the back of the bus. This man for fifteen years produced 50 plus home runs a year, won three golden gloves, four batting titles, and still holds records that have not even come close to being broken.

I was fortunate enough to see him hit number 715 and number 755. And I was a big fan. None of that stopped me from shredding a good retirement fund by using his baseball cards for noise makers on my bicycle. Just researching for this piece saw three different cards of his I had, I priced one at 31,000 dollars. Being smart in memorabilia has never been one of my strong suits.

He died last year in January. I cried when I heard. We lost a true American hero that day. And the world lost a great voice of reason. He earned the highest honor civilian can, and awards made in his name both on and off the field.

The man was inspirational, even while getting death threats to break the record of Babe Ruth. I can’t believe an n***** is approaching to break the record. That was the rhetoric of the times, back then. Hank held himself to a professional standard, and did his civil rights work in such a way that he made people feel like a rotten little fool. Because he wasn’t a man of many words, he let his actions speak for him.

Muhammed Ali gave what I think was his best endorsement. He said Hank Aaron is the only man I idolize more than myself. Coming from Ali, that spoke volumes about the character of the man.