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New Book by Pete Aman:
Fielders’ Choice – Life Lessons from Baseball
One of our readers, Pete Aman, has just released a new book, Fielders’ Choice – Life Lessons from Baseball, now available on Amazon. It’s a collection of 40 short essays, each featuring a ballplayer and the interesting lessons we can learn from his life. All of the essays are illustrated by an original watercolor by Pete (see the featured title painting above and painting of Hank Aaron below). I was honored to serve as an editor for the project.
One of the most powerful essays in the collection is the story of Hank Aaron. The essay has a very appropriate subtitle: Maintaining dignity in the face of hostility. We can all learn much from the story of Hank Aaron, who overcame incredible obstacles and incredible odds to become one of the greatest major leaguers in baseball history. But, as Pete demonstrates, what’s even more important is that he was an even greater man.
I hope you will take the time to read this selection from Pete Aman’s new book, Fielder’s Choice – Life Lessons from Baseball which is Pete’s tribute to Hank Aaron. I’m happy to feature it here today. -GL
Hank Aaron
Maintaining dignity in the face of hostility
Hiding under his bed as the hooded Ku Klux Klan marched through his neighborhood terrified young Henry “Hank” Aaron growing up in Mobile, Alabama. Discrimination and poverty dogged the Aaron family of eight children. Hank sometimes had to wear hand-me-down pants from an older sister. Later, when he left home to play baseball for the Indianapolis Clowns of the Negro American League, his only possessions were a change of clothes, two dollars, and a homemade sandwich.
Original watercolor of Hank Aaron by Pete Aman
In 1952, the Clowns sold Aaron’s contract to the major league’s Boston Braves (who became the Milwaukee Braves the following season, and then the Atlanta Braves in 1966). After a season in the minors, he made his major league debut for Milwaukee in 1954, and then began one of the most remarkable careers in baseball history.
Aaron’s 23 years of pounding home runs earned him the nickname “Hammering Hank,” or “The Hammer.” He was an all-around player—batting champion twice, home run and RBI leader four times, Gold Glove winner three times. His crowning achievement on the baseball field was breaking Babe Ruth’s record of 714 home runs in 1974. Aaron was enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982 and awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George W. Bush in 2002. The Sporting News lists Aaron number five on the list of the 100 greatest players of all time.[i]
The bigger story of Hank Aaron, though, was about the man himself. On the road to greatness, he endured relentless racism even while chasing the home run record. Some people didn’t want Babe Ruth’s record broken, especially by an African American. Most people were cheering him on, but some sent hate mail, death threats, and threats to his children. His daughter, away at college, was assigned a bodyguard. He felt imprisoned in his own home, with a police escort when he left his house. Security personnel and armed off-duty police officers watched over the stadium, looking for snipers. On the road he stayed in separate hotels from the team, registering under a different name to avoid threats and abuse. Through it all, Aaron maintained his composure, earning the admiration of the American people, winning them over with his dignity and character.
When Aaron died on January 22, 2021, a former Brave, Chipper Jones, said in a tweet, “I can’t imagine what Hank Aaron went through in his lifetime. He had every right to be angry or militant, but never was! He spread his grace on everything and everyone he came in contact with. Epitome of class and integrity.”[ii] Similar expressions were heard at his memorial service, with little being said about his extraordinary baseball statistics or the home run record. Those paying tribute, without exception, spoke about what kind of man he was. The words “grace” and “dignity” were heard throughout the eulogies. Those virtues define the kind of man Henry Aaron was—and far outshine mere statistics.
Pete Aman
[i] https://www.baseball-almanac.com/legendary/lisn100.shtml
[ii] https://www.si.com/mlb/2021/01/22/sports-world-athletes-react-death-hank-aaron-braves-chipper-jones
Essay selected from Fielder’s Choice – Life Lessons from Baseball, by Pete Aman
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Excellent article to post. I agree with what Chipper Jones said about Hank Aaron’s class & integrity. I remember watching him interviewed by Bob Costas on TV …..his humility and character jumped off the screen. He was a testament to consistency and being a consummate “team player”. He never hit more than 47 HRs in a season, yet totaled an amazing {and LEGAL} 755. And, he’s the all-time leader in RBI’s and total bases……the most important things a player can do to help his team put runs on the board. I have ALWAYS been a Hank Aaron fan, ever since first being aware of him listening {on a transistor radio} to both the ’57 and ’58 WS during elementary school. Think I must put Mr. Aman’s book on my “must read” list. Thnx, Gary.
Superb article by Pete. You could sure make a good case for Hank being one of the top five players of all time. And there is nothing but praise about his character and courage. Did you know Hammerin’ Henry hit his uniform number in home runs (44) four times and another year he hit 45?
Must say, though, I had one tangential experience with him as a young broadcaster, about 30 feet away, at a remote event, that didn’t exactly represent his finest moment. Nothing terribly shocking but one of those quick flashes of inexplicable pique that unfortunately stays with the observer.
Thanks for checking in , Bill!