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Home > Terence Moore > Archives > 2009 > February > 08 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USClassy Aaron is baseball’s legitimate home run king
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Thirty-three years after they retire from baseball, neither Barry Bonds nor Alex Rodriguez will inspire a plethora of who’s who to gather to worship their past, present and future. For one, both players have been nailed by some as legitimate juicers but illegitimate sluggers.
For another, even before such reports, neither Bonds nor Rodriguez was within a steroid-induced blast of the classy Hank Aaron on or off the field.
So, with much help from baseball’s era of bloated knuckleheads, Aaron has become even more of a classic. That’s why, 33 years after his retirement, just about the only person of significance who wasn’t inside a ballroom last week at the Marriott Marquis for his 75th birthday celebration was his new hero. Ever hear of Barack Obama? He made Aaron cry that November night when he was elected President of the United States.
Have you guys talked?
“No, we haven’t,” said Aaron, easing into one of his contagious laughs. He added after a pause, “I probably could talk to the president, but I think he’s got enough people talking to him right now.”
There goes Aaron’s splendid dance with modesty again. In some ways, he is bigger than any president, because presidents are elected. Kings aren’t. Kings have more longevity, and Aaron is a king. More specifically, he is baseball’s legitimate home run king, and everybody knows it, including the commissioner of baseball.
Said Bud Selig, Aaron’s friend of more than 50 years: “I think that, as a result of everything that has happened, Hank Aaron is more of an icon today than ever before.”
It was about “755” before. Now, courtesy of “everything that has happened,” as in those bloated knuckleheads, “755” has combined with the extraordinary man who made it famous for a second life.
This actually is an eternal life when it comes to sports. In other words, that number and Aaron will prosper forever inside the hearts of many. You have the greatness of Aaron that keeps strengthening by the decades. You also have those hits that keep coming by the moment for the supposedly elite of the current elite.
We’re not talking about hits from the batter’s box, by the way. The feds say they have proof that Bonds didn’t slam many of his 762 home runs through a combination of quick wrists and pushups. Plus, according to Sports Illustrated, Rodriguez really is A-Fraud, but for a reason other than what Joe Torre said in his recently published book called “The Yankee Years.”
We’re back to the “s” word.
Simply put, the man who officially has more homers than anybody (Bonds) is tainted by an upcoming perjury trial involving his possible steroid use. Then the man (Rodriguez) who has the best chance of catching that other man (Bonds) is tainted by an SI report that claims he tested positive for steroids while capturing the 2003 MVP award in the American League.
Through it all, Aaron has remained Aaron to inspire the masses. He has received physical or verbal hugs during the last few days from Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, nationally and locally acclaimed politicians, former and current players, business leaders everywhere, casual fans and diehard ones, and folks in between.
There also was something I was told by Ted Turner, Aaron’s former boss, who made Aaron the Braves executive that he has been since the late 1970s. Said Turner, “He’s like Obama. He’s just got magic. There’s a song in ‘South Pacific,’ that says, ‘Fools give you reasons. Wise men never even try.’ He’s just got magic. He really does.”
He really, really does.
Permalink | Comments (12) | Post your comment | Categories: Braves/MLB
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By BugKiller
February 8, 2009 6:13 PM | Link to this
Moore,
If your good friend Puppet Bud Selig had any kind of a spine (he doesn’t) or was in control of his own strings (he isn’t), he’d do what is within in his power as Commissioner to act on behalf for what is in Major League Baseball’s best interests (he does have that blanket power) and declare that Hank Aaron and Roger Maris are the TRUE homerun champions in Baseball, and the numbers 755 and 61 are the TRUE benchmarks for homeruns in a career and in a season.
But Puppet Buf Selig has no spine and is not in control, so this will never happen.
By Gene
February 8, 2009 6:15 PM | Link to this
I have never seen a baseball player hit homeruns with less effort than Aaron. He remains the homerun king. Bonds and A-Rod are pretenders.
By Sly Ty
February 8, 2009 6:23 PM | Link to this
Terence Moore you are right on in this post. Hammering Hank will always be the Homerun King, especially considering how he still represents the Game of Baseball so extremely well. He is a true American Hero, and I feel so honored/happy/thankful that he is an Atlanta Brave. A real true and honest great player and person.
By Stork
February 8, 2009 6:23 PM | Link to this
Terence. I usually avoid your articles but when I saw Aaron’s name mentioned I had to read it.
I’m a white male in his mid 50s who was thrilled when pro sports made their way to Georgia. Aaron was, and still is, my favorite pro athlete from my childhood. Not only was he the absolute best, he conducted himself with the highest level of dignity when racial tensions were at their highest. A modern day black athlete simply could not do the same.
I was in college when he belted number 715. I remember the TV room in Russell Hall at UGA nearly exploded. Here was a bunch of white kids celebrating his accomplishment. He truly transcended the game.
I thought his accomplishment would stand the test of time and I grimaced when I saw the onslaught on his record (and Maris’s record) by the roid crowd. When the truth finally comes out and all the liars have been exposed, I truly hope the Commissioner will take steps to reestablish Aaron’s legitimate record.
Aaron was in a class by himself and was the epitome of class. Sounds like he still is. No surprise there.
By Algonquin J. Calhoun
February 8, 2009 6:25 PM | Link to this
All the records of these steroid clods are bogus beyond measure. roger Maris still has the single season record and Hank has the career record for homers. I won’t watch any more baseball until the record holders are restore to their proper places.
By Steve
February 8, 2009 7:09 PM | Link to this
Makes you wonder why an all-time class guy like Dale Murphy does not get more Hall of Fame votes. I don’t think anyone would think murph was juiced.
By Robbie T
February 8, 2009 7:26 PM | Link to this
Baseball screwed themselves.Hank Aaron and Roger Maris held two records that by rights should still be standing.But Major League Baseball stood by and let 3 juicers break these records.Bonds,McGwire and Sosa all hit more than 61.And they stood and let Bonds hit More than Aaron.They (although never proven in Sosa’s case) were all on the Steroids but they still let them play and hit the homeruns.They might have been justified in letting McGwire and Sosa break the Maris mark considering the timeline but,they had the goods on Bonds.They can always place the asterisk but,that does’nt change the fact that the homeruns were hit and counted in the records and box scores.Its a shame they let them do it and let it be shown all around the world on Television.The only TV screen those guys should be on is the monitor on the cell block in the State Pen.
By Lifetime MLB fan
February 8, 2009 8:30 PM | Link to this
Any true fan of major league baseball knows that Hank Aaron is the real Homerun King. The others who took steroids to get where they are will be forgotten but not Mr. Aaron. He is the role model our young players should look up to. He and all those who relied on natural ability and hard work….not performance enhancing drugs.
By Michael
February 8, 2009 8:35 PM | Link to this
I can remember those wonderful Sundays in July at Fulton County…hot and wonderful. Nothing like watching Hank, Roberto, and as my Pop would say nothing any better than the Giants. If you look back to those days the Braves weren’t the best, but the baseball sure was. Pure and it was played between the lines. Thank you Hank for so many remarkable summers.
By Hankfan
February 8, 2009 8:42 PM | Link to this
Look closely friends, if indeed we believe as Terrence says, that Hank Aaron IS the home run king there is only one thing to do - eradicate all records that have been changed by steroids or ability enhancing drugs. This is the bottom line.
We all know that in our heart, Henry Aaron is the Home Run King! But that is still not justice, to which Mr. Aaron deserves, though he would never say so.
With that in mind, Mr. Moore, it would behoove you, with your barrell of ink, to use your position and begin to go at it. I don’t think there is a person this side of the moon who would not affirm your stance in doing this.
If Henry is King, then lets give him his dutiful place back, away from that San Fransisco creep!
By Terence Moore
February 8, 2009 9:14 PM | Link to this
Algonquin J. Calhoun,
I don’t think many people would argue with you about Maris and ‘61.
It’s ironic. A lot of folks wanted to put an asterisk behind that Maris record, and the astericks should go behind those of McGwire and Bonds and whoever reaches the record books from the steroid era.
By Die Hard Braves Fan
February 8, 2009 9:19 PM | Link to this
Hank Aaron will ALWAYS be the HOME RUN KING!!!! End of story. #44 lives on forever!!