Hank Aaron and the Eternal Bond to Black Baseball – The Undefeated

You can be respected. You can be envied. You can be idolized. You can be emulated. You can be loved. He is a rare person who can tick all of these boxes. Hank Aaron could, and did.

Aaron was an incredibly larger-than-life hero which was all the more remarkable for the humility, class, quiet dignity, and humor with which he approached every challenge, every obstacle. He died on Friday, aged 86.

He became the most direct descendant of Jackie Robinson of his generation not because he wanted to, but because he knew he had to, because he was running straight to the racists who wanted to prevent his success. He was one of the torchbearers to come out of the Negro leagues, even though his time was incredibly short. At 20, he was an outfielder with the Milwaukee Braves, showcasing his raw but obvious talent.

His presence in the major leagues created a safe place for black players from Dusty Baker to Joe Morgan to Ken Griffey Sr. It was almost like the baseball version of the Underground Railroad. When you arrive in Atlanta, look for Aaron and he will take care of you. When you arrive in San Francisco, look for Willie Mays and he will take care of you. When you arrive in Pittsburgh, look for Willie Stargell and he will take care of you.

It wasn’t just during the season. There were barbecues and dinners with the spouses. These guys relied on each other to be strong, to help each other, and Aaron was on the cutting edge of technology. He made sure the younger players knew they had a shoulder to lean on and that he would always have his back. Baker shared stories over the years of his friendship with Aaron and what it meant to have his support.

Support was important at a time when black players weren’t celebrated but challenged. Aaron did not run away from racism. He showed America, playing in the heart of the South, how to be fearless, how to be a man.

No one should have endured what Aaron did while chasing Babe Ruth’s circuit record. How dare he, half of this country demanded to know. Such forces that reminded of the Night Riders, the Klansmen and the chain of generations of blacks, wanted to degrade and break him simply because of the color of his skin.

He endured. He conquered, he outlived enemies, proved himself more resilient than the most vile currents of racism that America of the last century could muster.

He conquered a nation, helping it grow towards its promise. Simply by being more heroic than we deserved as a nation, Aaron made simple numbers the asterisk, not history.

One of my favorite memories of Aaron goes back a few years. As a sports reporter, you are never supposed to ask for autographs or “selfies”. To do this is to flirt with the end of your career and give up your credibility. So, as News Editor for ESPN, I had the privilege of sitting on set during our live tribute to Aaron and his career. He joined the broadcast for four innings. We were all in awe as he delighted audiences story after story, demonstrated his bat-crossed grip. He took us back to the Negro leagues. He took us down the lonely and spooky road that was his pursuit of Ruth’s home run record.

After finishing, the crew asked for handshakes and photos. I stayed in my seat to take everything. Finally, Mr. Aaron looked at me and asked if I wanted a photo too. He asked me! I didn’t say no. Careers come and go. There was only one Henry Aaron.

Over the past few years, we’ve lost so many greats from Frank Robinson to Willie McCovey to Joe Morgan that the toll has been relentless. But Aaron was the man you never thought was going to die.

Alas, even the greatest die. What makes them immortal is that they and their lessons will never be forgotten.

Henry Aaron will never be forgotten. May You Rest In Eternal Peace, # 44.