Home > Furman Bisher > Archives > 2009 > February > 06 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USFrom home run hero to 75-year-old good citizen, Henry remains classy
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
His 75th birthday has come and gone and I still call him Henry. After all, that is his name, and it bears a fitting touch of distinction. “Hank.” OK, fine in the clubhouse, at home, with the gang, but when I get serious, it’s Henry to me, as it was when we worked on his book in his twilight days as a Brave.
On the cover of “Aaron,” it is written “The Autobiography of the Greatest Home Run Hitter of the Modern Era.” It could have, and should have, read “any era.” I don’t think you could ever have known a more normal, down-to-earth athlete than Henry Aaron. More than just an athlete, an immortal athlete, “wonderful, clear-minded, responsible, intelligent, patient, human being” in the words of that former minor-league outfielder Mario Cuomo. That’s right, Cuomo was an outfielder on the Brunswick farm team of the Pirates in the 1950s, before launching his political career.
Few people, if any, could attract such a cast as did Henry’s 75th the other night, including a former president, the most expensive sports commissioner on the planet and Ted Turner, who became his employer after Aaron’s playing days were done. The winner on this occasion was the foundation Henry and Billye Aaron have founded called “Chasing the Dream Foundation,” and it should be recorded that Major League Baseball came through with a contribution of $2.5 million, hopefully some of it out of Commissioner Bud Selig’s enormous salary. (Only three players make more, you see.)
You get to know a fellow pretty well when you become his writing “ghost.” Some reviewers were quite impressed, and one, Library Journal, wrote “An, honest, thrilling and frequently poignant story by an unusual man who has broken color lines and home run records.”
On the way to his 75th anniversary, one particular trait has stood out in the assault on his home-run record. While the names of McGuire, Bonds, Sosa, Canseco and other would-be challengers have swirled around in the public mind, Aaron has risen above it all. In the opinion of baseball purists he remains the home-run king, and shall continue to prevail. His reluctance to become engaged on the subject is a reflection of his character. The public determines the winner, not the combatants.
The beauty of Aaron’s performance was not the home runs, but the swing. “I don’t go up there swinging for the fence every time,” he once said. “I like the feel of a home run. You can almost tell when the ball leaves the bat, but I just swing to meet the ball.”
That was, until the Braves moved to Atlanta. Fans began expecting home runs of him. Then as he moved nearer Babe Ruth’s number of 714, he admitted that he did go to bat often swinging for the long ball. He hit his first home run as a Brave off Vic Raschi of the Cardinals, and his record-breaker, of course, off Al Downing of the Dodgers, and his last 22 were hit in the American League. There is no more impressive collection of offensive records in the major leagues than Aaron’s, from at-bats to home runs.
So much for home runs and the glitter of Aaron, the athlete. Here’s to Aaron, the good citizen.
Permalink | Comments (22) | Post your comment | Categories: Braves/MLB
.JPG)
Services »
Comments
By OldTimer
February 6, 2009 10:34 PM | Link to this
I believe he never made much more than 100 grand a year. Baseball certainly didn’t make him rich and he certainly didn’t play for the money. He just played. He was a pleasure to watch. Thank you Mr. Aaron.
By Ken Stallings
February 6, 2009 11:34 PM | Link to this
It takes a gentleman to truly know another one. I have little doubt that among the true friendships in baseball, the one that has endured between Furman Bisher and Henry Aaron is as genuine as they come.
We should endeavor, all of us, to enjoy their company for as long as possible.
By Chris B
February 7, 2009 12:25 AM | Link to this
Hank was without a doubt the best player I ever saw, but he was and is so much more. Like you said Furman, a class act all the way.
By MARK
February 7, 2009 1:36 AM | Link to this
HAPPY BIRTHDAY HANK, Wow has time flew by ,I will never forget your playing days as a Brave and where I was when 715 was hit..and you were always such a consistant complete ballplayer very few can say that today even with all these unbeleivable salaries…Thanks for being a Brave and above all a great citizen of Georgia…
By captain midnight
February 7, 2009 3:55 AM | Link to this
I was at the first game played in old Fulton County Stadium and also the last game. I saw you countless times Henry and you are the greatest and a true gentleman. A belated happy birthday.
By bill
February 7, 2009 8:03 AM | Link to this
What a refreshing break from the baseball news of late…will $25M be enough for Manny? Thanks for the relief, Furman.
None of today’s millionaires could carry Aaron’s bats, in my opinion, and they certainly don’t display his class, both on and off the field. During the mid-seventies, my wife and I spent countless nights out in left field, in the $2 seats behind Hank, watching the legend. We even managed to be in that same area the night he hit 715…I still get goose bumps when I think about it. Happy Birthday, Hank!
By Howard
February 7, 2009 8:09 AM | Link to this
Furman…good column…could you imagine MLB clubs today trying to pay someone like Aaron, Mantle, Clemente, Gibson, Koufax, etc., what they’d be worth?? The absolute ridiculous salaries doled out to the mediocre, petulant and soft prima donnas playing the game today makes me retch!! Aaron and his group? Maybe the Sultan of Brunei or Bill Gates or Carlos Slim could have afforded a team full of them!!
By Jim Hertel
February 7, 2009 11:56 AM | Link to this
I believe the record will show that Henry Aaron’s last contract as a player for the Braves was signed in the Spring of 1972. It was for 3 years — 1972, 73, and 74 — the years expected for it to take for Aaron to break Ruth’s HR record. If my memory serves me well, it was for $200,000 per year — an amount that sounds paltry today. However, it was one of the top salaries in baseball 37 years ago. I do not remember what the Brewers may have paid for Aaron to DH in 1975 and 76.
By Coach (Skip and Pete will be missed)
February 7, 2009 1:21 PM | Link to this
Hank Aaron will always be baseball’s real HR Champion.
The steroid juiced generation of players today will never match what he accomplished with nothing more than God given natural talent.
Happy Birthday Hank.
By athensdawg
February 7, 2009 1:54 PM | Link to this
The greatest overall player in the history of baseball - period.
Had he played somewhere other than Milwaukee and Atlanta, he would have gotten the praise that he deserves. Look at the record book and see how many categories Henry Aaron is in the top 10. No one else can compare.
Why we never named the stadium after him, I will never know.
By big o
February 7, 2009 2:35 PM | Link to this
Congrats Hank. I will never forget the night you broke the record. As a 9 year old I was livid because we could not go to the game. Thank God for Milo Haamilton on radio. I think that was my first I hate you to my dad. As I grew older I realized dad Just did not have the bucks to take a family of six to the game that night on a teachers salary. But I was able to see many of your hr’s in person and I will always cherish those days and those players.. Lum, Garr, Evans, Felix Melian, Earl Williams etc.. But most of all #44
By MoJohn
February 7, 2009 4:19 PM | Link to this
FB captured the unique Aaron.Atlanta’s greatest baseball player. Although, I have friends that knew hank, in th late 60’s, and had business dealings who claim he was pompous, and hung up onrace. BUT arent we all.
By M VIRGIN
February 7, 2009 9:32 PM | Link to this
Barry Bonds. Mark Mcguire, Manny, A-Rod, Roger Clemens et al, will never be remembered as Henry The Hammer ” Hank” Aaron.
By david M
February 8, 2009 8:38 AM | Link to this
henry is making tons of money in the chicken business. He also has some car dealerships.. he is doing fine. Glad he is from my hometown of MOBILE. Happy birthday sir.. good health for many more years..you are a class act sir…
By JackP
February 8, 2009 9:57 AM | Link to this
Hammerin Hank you are a mans man. You, Pete Rose, and Willie Mays are among the 5 best ever. You guys played every inning like it was your last with constant hustle and maximum effort no matter what the score, inning or day of the season.
By Hammer Fan
February 8, 2009 3:53 PM | Link to this
I have been a Braves fan since they hit the ground way back in 1966. My first ML game was in old Atlanta Stadium. A day-night double header between Hammering Hank and the Braves vs. the SF Giants with Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Jim Ray Hart, Gaylord Perry, and Juan Marichal. Joe Torre caught game one, and in the night cap Gene Oliver caught and hit THREE dingers. I became a total Braves fan that night and forgot the Yankees of my youth. Back in those days, CBS owned the Yanks and that was about all you saw on TV. I was total Mickey Mantle. Then, Hank Aaron came to town. I had a new hero. Hank, Joe, Denis Menke, Mack Jones, the big boy with the big bat Rico Carty, Dale Murphy, Pat Jarvis, Ron Reed. I could go on and on. But Mr. Henry Aaron was my guy. Here I was, a white kid in Alabama, having a black baseball player as my hero. I was in a minority. BUT I CAN TELL YOU, that Henry Aaron will FOREVER be the Homerun Champion - King of baseball. He did it with talent. He did it right. He did not do it with stinking steroids and HGH. Barry Bonds, McGuire, ARoid Arod, Palmero, they can all go to hell. Henry Aaron is the man. HE IS THE CHAMPION!!!
By Paying Homage to King Henry
February 8, 2009 5:34 PM | Link to this
Be sure to catch all the great coverage of Mr. 755 at 75 in this month’s ChopTalk magazine!!!
By TAZDOGG%
February 9, 2009 9:19 AM | Link to this
THE BEST BALL PLAYER EVER!!!!! ITS NOT EVEN CLOSE!!!
By doug davis
February 9, 2009 10:26 AM | Link to this
Mr. Bisher,
Just a quick hello from my father, Art Davis. He said you came over to Starkville to interview him back in the mid-1950s when he was playing at Miss. State. Possibly, you two connected when he was at Ga. Tech coaching under Bobby Dodd. (I was born in ATL during that time — 1962).
Hope you are well — and congratulations on a tremendous career.
Doug Davis Portland, OR
By jaxjacket
February 9, 2009 12:15 PM | Link to this
Mr. Bisher,
A great column by my favorite sports writer about my favorite baseball player. No doubt about it, the greatest ever to play the game. Thanks.
By Patty
February 9, 2009 6:43 PM | Link to this
How I wish they made them like you today! We need a hero with your integrity. God bless you Hank!
By Mark F.
February 10, 2009 2:09 PM | Link to this
First game I ever went to was with my father on September 3, 1967.
Hank blasted one off of Don Drysdale that landed just in front of us in the left field bleachers.
There are so many things about baseball I’d love to forget. Fortunately, there are somethings that will never be forgotten!
Thanks Hank!