RIP Hank Aaron
- Thread starter mdlUK.1
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Wasn't it in Atlanta when the infamous Pete Rose/Jim Gray confrontation took place because what I remember from that is Pete getting a thunderous ovation while Vin Scully introduced him as "CHAAAARRLLIIIEEE HUSTLE!" and I remember looking at Hank and he appeared to feel it when Pete got by far the biggest ovation for the all century team. I always felt bad about that for Hank as he always seemed to not be fully appreciated in any setting I ever saw him in.
Rip - the legends all have some wild trivia like stats re:3k hits w/o HRs.
The Babe had 3 dingers and 6 RBI in his final game (in which he recorded a hit)...with who? The Braves.
Aaron had a RBI single in his final at bat.
The Babe had 3 dingers and 6 RBI in his final game (in which he recorded a hit)...with who? The Braves.
Aaron had a RBI single in his final at bat.
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Read a biography on Aaron entitled 'The Last Hero'. In the epilogue, the author wrote, 'Barry Bonds is a record breaker, Hank Aaron was a standard bearer'.
I always though Al Downing grooved one for Hank for 715 and I'm okay with that. So much pressure on Hank back then as he approached the record.
I'm guessing it was probably some kind of lethal STD
When I was in 6th grade we had a career day at school. Former MLB pitcher and current car dealership owner Bruce Brubaker came to speak to us. He bragged about the fact the struck Hank Aaron out. That is pretty much the only thing in his career that he can speak of.
Read these stats about Hank and Willie Mays. Unreal how similar they are and how great.
Those stats are impressive.
Aaron had a better batting avg.
That is unreal.
And Mays had a better slugging pct.
OK. Aaron was one of the very best. Mays was better. Speed & arm were the difference. Had Mays & Aaron played on opposite teams, Mays' power stats would be way the higher. But County Stadium & The Launching Pad were much more conducive to long balls than Candlestick - one of the worst with its winds blowing in. Aaron also looks better in comparison due to being able to stay healthy a few more seasons. And look at the DP's hit into. Mays speed made all the difference. And he stole bases when necessary. If Aaron was fast, he'd have played CF too.
Take away Pete Rose's HR's & he's still in the 4000-hits club.
Mays was probably the best all-around player to ever live. But I think Hank was arguably the best overall hitter of them all. He's No. 1 on the all-time total base leaders. No. 2 (Musial) is 722 behind him! Just crazy.
Ruth was best hitter and overall player. Hell, he had 90+ wins and a 2.28 era and a .342 career avg.
The Babe was actually a physical specimen early on.
The Babe was actually a physical specimen early on.
Him being so close to Aaron and Bonds in the home run totals with the disparity in games played, plate appearances and ABs is crazy.
Plus the personality, the celebrity, the legend is just tops. He is cemented as a sports Mt Rushmore figure FOREVER (sandlot style).
Buck O’Neil is quoted as 3 hitters having a completely different crack of the bat...Bo Jackson (physical beast), Josh Gibson (negro league home run king, and George Herman Ruth.
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Babe averaged 44.4 HRs a year from 1915-1933.
.690 Slugging
1.164 OPS
Nobody close.
First true superstar.
.690 Slugging
1.164 OPS
Nobody close.
First true superstar.
I do recognize that stadium. It's Wrigley Field - Los Angeles! It was a minor league park built in the 1920s by a developer who tried to copy Chicago's famous park complete with ivy-covered walls. I recognized it because there are YouTube videos of the old Home Run Derby (1959-61) filmed there. Stadium was torn down in 1969.
I went to a Reds-Braves game in the early 70s. This was a few years before they became the Big Red Machine. I remember Bench and Foster hitting long shots. But Aaron hit a home run that night that I'll never forget. It was an absolute line shot that barely was as high as the wall. Shortstop Concepción actually jumped up thinking he'd catch it. Incredible straight line power. The ball was still rising as it cleared the wall. They didn't call him "Hammerin' Hank" for nothing.
Aaron hit a lot of homers like that. He wasn't the traditional home run hitter who launched high balls. He just hit everything hard. He set the home run record but never hit more than 47 in one year. Just super-consistent with 20 straight seasons of over 20 HRs. He was equally as proud of his all-time RBI and Extra-Base hit records. Still holds those records.
Aaron hit a lot of homers like that. He wasn't the traditional home run hitter who launched high balls. He just hit everything hard. He set the home run record but never hit more than 47 in one year. Just super-consistent with 20 straight seasons of over 20 HRs. He was equally as proud of his all-time RBI and Extra-Base hit records. Still holds those records.
That was Wrigley Field in Los Angeles. Had been home to Los Angeles team in the PCL prior to the Dodgers moving there in 58.
Was home for the Angels in their 1st season in 61. Became a tenant at Dodger Stadium for season 2 and then to their current home in 1966.
Here we go again..Pete Rose Pete Rose. Every time we talk about hitting some white dude has to go pull Pete Rose outta his ***!!!!
