THE Hank Aaron Thread

[Exhibitman]

So, inspired by the Brock and Clemente threads, I want to start a thread for my favorite player.

When I was a kid, my close friend/card rival at the time, a guy named Michael, and I competed to find troves of vintage cards around Manhattan. He collected Clemente, I collected Mays, who I started to idolize at age 8 when he returned to NY to play for the Mets. My uncle took me to Shea once to see the great man and I got to see Lou Brock play too. With the help of the ASCCA show in 1976 I put together a run of every Topps Mays card. I remember turning down a 1951 Bowman at the show saying "I don't collect those."

I had the Mays cards until I was in my twenties. I soured on Mays later in life, once I met the man at a show. I was very excited to meet him, of course, a boyhood idol and all, so I carefully rehearsed what I was going to say when I was finally in the presence of the great man. I said my piece, Mays didn't even acknowledge me, just rolled my baseball across the table to the handler like he was shooing a cockroach from his dinner plate. I was so disappointed in that non-interaction that I sold off my entire Mays collection, 1952-1973, including the autographed ball [which I'd had Mantle and Snider sign too]. For years I refused to own a Mays card. I've made peace with the 'Say Nothing' Kid since then--you gotta have Mays in a baseball card collection--but the idolization was dead the moment I left his presence.

Hank Aaron was my #2 as a kid. I remember Aaron's quest for the record in the early 1970s. I was too young and too innocent to understand the social and racial ugliness that existed around the edges of the quest; all I knew was that Henry Aaron ["OH! Henry!" as the candy commercial said] was the greatest baseball player around, especially after 1973 when Mays was gone. I was so thrilled to pull an Aaron card from a pack, something I did in 1971-72-73-74-75-76, and had so much fun chasing down the record-holding cards in 1973 and the Hank Aaron Special series in 1974. My respect for the man and his accomplishments has done nothing but grow over the years, especially after I read his autobiography and realized what he had to endure in 1973-74 when he neared 714. And best of all, when I got to meet him, Mr. Aaron was every bit the kind gentleman I'd hoped for him to be. So, with that, I will start with the autograph I collected from him in person:



Helluva nice souvenir ticket too. Bonus: the photo used to make the ticket:



My favorite childhood Aarons (obviously, the slabs came later):

[jason.1969]

Fantastic! Sorry about the Mays experience though.

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[Mark70Z]

Adam,

So glad that you followed suit and started a thread with Hank Aaron. Really like the Aaron items you posted so far. The signed exhibit, which you got personally, and the really neat ticket from the signing are very cool pieces. Aaron is a great player to collect; you picked well.

I personally couldn’t collect a player that wasn’t a nice individual as well. Have heard so many negative accounts with Mays over the years; it’s sad really.

Thanks for starting the thread. I look forward to keeping up with your postings.

[Neal]

Aaron is one of my favorites as well! I never saw him play, but there was always an aura to the name .....

My first Aaron card which I slabbed later

1956Aaron.jpg

I have many Aaron cards, but this is my favorite. To this day, it is also one of my favorite cards ever, and at one point, I owned 4 of them lol

[jb67]

Great write up. I can only imagine how popular Aaron would be if he would have played in New York.

[OsFan]

I guess it’s possible Mays was simply having a bad day. Stinks though. I had a similar thing happen with a not so legendary player Mark McGwire of all people, lol. I was in my late twenties and he probably figured I was just gonna flip it but I really just wanted his autograph.

Anyway Hank Aaron is the man and I’ve always heard he was a complete gentleman. Can’t wait to see what you’ve got.

I’m curious about one thing though, can anyone post something in these player threads or should it be only for the OP to post?

[Peter_Spaeth]

One of my favorite baseball quotes: Trying to sneak a fastball by Hank Aaron is like trying to sneak a sunrise past a rooster. Curt Simmons, maybe.

[Marchillo]

Originally Posted by Neal

Aaron is one of my favorites as well! I never saw him play, but there was always an aura to the name .....

My first Aaron card which I slabbed later

Attachment 300783

I have many Aaron cards, but this is my favorite. To this day, it is also one of my favorite cards ever, and at one point, I owned 4 of them lol

Ironic the card posted in this thread of Hank Aaron has a picture of Mays sliding.

Good stories.

[jason.1969]

Not to stray off topic too far, but I have to imagine there's a reason Mays acts the way he does/did toward fans. I wish he were more gracious, but I don't hold it against him that he's not.

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[irv]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

One of my favorite baseball quotes: Trying to sneak a fastball by Hank Aaron is like trying to sneak a sunrise past a rooster. Curt Simmons, maybe.

Joe Adcock, Peter.

"Trying to sneak a fastball past Hank Aaron is like trying to sneak the sunrise past a rooster. Joe Adcock"
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/joe_adcock_104230
http://izquotes.com/quote/1220

[CobbSpikedMe]

Great thread Adam.

I've had this Aaron auto for as long as I can remember. Always assumed I got it signed in person at a show when I was a kid but not sure. Any thoughts on whether it's legit or not.

AndyH

[irv]

Originally Posted by OsFan

I guess it’s possible Mays was simply having a bad day. Stinks though. I had a similar thing happen with a not so legendary player Mark McGwire of all people, lol. I was in my late twenties and he probably figured I was just gonna flip it but I really just wanted his autograph.

Anyway Hank Aaron is the man and I’ve always heard he was a complete gentleman. Can’t wait to see what you’ve got.

I’m curious about one thing though, can anyone post something in these player threads or should it be only for the OP to post?

I don't see it being a problem, and I think most do regardless anyways?
Maybe I'm wrong but I think exhibitman would welcome them.

[rats60]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

I had the Mays cards until I was in my twenties. I soured on Mays later in life, once I met the man at a show. I was very excited to meet him, of course, a boyhood idol and all, so I carefully rehearsed what I was going to say when I was finally in the presence of the great man. I said my piece, Mays didn't even acknowledge me, just rolled my baseball across the table to the handler like he was shooing a cockroach from his dinner plate. I was so disappointed in that non-interaction that I sold off my entire Mays collection, 1952-1973, including the autographed ball [which I'd had Mantle and Snider sign too]. For years I refused to own a Mays card. I've made peace with the 'Say Nothing' Kid since then--you gotta have Mays in a baseball card collection--but the idolization was dead the moment I left his presence.

I had a similar experience with Mickey Mantle. Of all the players I met during the 80s, he was the worst. When I was putting together the 1952 Topps set, that was the last card I bought and I never would have bought it if I wasn't doing a Topps set run.

[profholt82]

Wonderful story, Adam, thanks for sharing. I really enjoyed reading this.

[geosluggo]

I got to see Aaron play in 1975 when he went to the Brewers and they came to Baltimore to play the Orioles, the closest team to the D.C. area where I grew up. I was in the 5th grade. Even at that age I understood he was past his prime but still appreciated that I was seeing a legend. He went hitless against Jim Palmer on a frigid April night but it was still a huge thrill for me. I got to meet him a couple times as an adult and he was a very decent, genuine guy. People forget he was a lifetime .305 hitter and never struck out 100 times in a season. Put on some weight near the end of his career but never a big guy to hit all those HRs.

[RayBShotz]

A few Hanks.

[geosluggo]

My Hank Aaron collection. The lack of a 1954 rookie card gnaws at me.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by irv

Joe Adcock, Peter.

"Trying to sneak a fastball past Hank Aaron is like trying to sneak the sunrise past a rooster. Joe Adcock"
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/joe_adcock_104230
http://izquotes.com/quote/1220

Curt Simmons, according to Baseball Almanac.
http://www.baseball-almanac.com/quotes/quoaar.shtml

[Exhibitman]

Sure, post away; celebrate Hank Aaron, not me and my stuff. Here's a few more:

When I was 12 I got a big box of cards from some family friends with grown kids and there were a bunch of 1968 Atlantic Oil contest cards in there. Ever since I've liked the set. There was a small find of unopened pieces in the 1990s but even those yielded relatively few nice cards because of the tendency of the glue to slop over the card edges and the overall difficulty removing perforated cards from the packet. I was pretty stoked to get this Aaron recently:



Ex-Mt is really nice for the issue.

Some box cards:

Nabisco both variations:




1970 Action Cartridge (full box):



1976 Hostess; boy did I eat a lot of this crap as a kid:

[ALR-bishop]

Third row middle



Bottom row

[HRBAKER]

[Neal]

some regionals (would love to find a Spic and Span)

1960LakeAaron.jpg

1954JCAaron.jpg

[Mark70Z]

There are some nice and some very rare items being posted that’s for sure. Really enjoying this recently posted Aaron thread. Keep ‘em coming.

Do any of you guys collect the proof stuff of Hank as well? For some reason I love the proofs made for cards and other related items like the transparencies, match print photos, progressive proofs, etc. Man, if I was an Aaron collector I’d go broke in the Memory Lane Auction.

[kailes2872]

In 1981 or 1982 I bought the baseball address book. Believe it or not, it had the home address of every living ball player. It even had a section in the back that had amended addresses of those who recently moved.

I sent out letters to probably 100 players. Rod Carew and George Brett were my favorites at the time. I would write letters telling them how much I liked them and even sent my school picture. I was 9 or 10 and pretty pathetic.

I received 2 packages in return. One was from Stan Musial. It was a postcard that had a shot of him kneeling with an autograph that said "To Kevin, Best Wishes, Stan Musial".

Then a few weeks later, I got an 8x10 envelope from Henry Aaron. In it, it contained an autographed 8x10, a blank business card sized piece that had his autograph and a modern Babe Ruth card that was two connected together that he had signed in between.

Unfortunately, when I sold my collection after I went to college, I sold those autographs with it. I wish I would have kept them. Now, I have a signed Mays/Aaron picture (signed by both), a signed baseball, and the Steiner SI cover picture of 715 that he signed as well. He will always be my favorite player of all-time as he took the time to send that stuff back to a 9 year old kid.

[RobertC]

A few regional issues, etc.

[lowpopper]

This is my favorite by far from my current inventory:

[jfkheat]

I just got this 56 today. I've had the 68 for a year or so. I have a few others but the scans are too big.
James

[judgejules1]

s-l500.jpg

s-l1600.jpg

[ALR-bishop]

[Exhibitman]

Great stuff; keep 'em coming!

Some Milwaukee regionals:

[71buc]

Here is a bunch of silly stuff. Much of it is from my childhood. 1974 was a fun year. By that time I was in full pack rat mode. I picked up the photos in the past 5 years. The signed Brooks spikes were a gift from my dad when I finished Grad school. They are his size and have the have his 44 written on the heel. I have seen pics of him wearing Adidas, Pumas, and Converse but cannot find a pic of him wearing Brooks. The 1975-76 Brewers wore these spikes if you happen to have one I'd love to see it.

[ALR-bishop]

[nolemmings]

Here's one I used to own that I didn't see posted yet:


Sadly, it's in my ever-rapidly growing "No longer mine" folder.

[mintonlyplz]

I was fortunate to see Hank Aaron play. My first baseball game was at Crosley Field in Cincinnati in 1965...Milwaukee vs Cincinnati. Hank broke up 0-0 pitching duel in the top of the 7th inning with a solo homerun over the centerfield fence against Jim Maloney...the only run of the game.

[brob28]

Great thread Adam, a great player and better human being.

[71buc]

Cool story...I saw him play June 18, 1976 (love baseball almanac). He went 2-4 with a double and a homer. My memory swears both hits were off of a young and electric Vida Blue. However, the almanac is much less romantic. The double came off of Dick Bosman and the homer off of Jim Todd. I prefer my version of the story

[irv]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Curt Simmons, according to Baseball Almanac.
http://www.baseball-almanac.com/quotes/quoaar.shtml

Interesting, Peter? I would assume the Almanac is correct, but maybe we have a mystery on our hands?


Some of my Hank Aaron cards.

Something different

[OsFan]

Awesome cards in this thread so far though I don’t see my favorite yet and I’m sure someone here has it. The 1959 Bazooka,
such a classic!! I of course don’t own one or i’d have found a reason to post it at least three times already, ha!
I do have this incredibly NOT rare ’60 Topps, great looking card non the less. Plus don’t think it’s been posted yet yee-haw!

[mintonlyplz]

Originally Posted by mintonlyplz

I was fortunate to see Hank Aaron play. My first baseball game was at Crosley Field in Cincinnati in 1965...Milwaukee vs Cincinnati. Hank broke up 0-0 pitching duel in the top of the 7th inning with a solo homerun over the centerfield fence against Jim Maloney...the only run of the game.

I looked up the game 7/11/65. Aaron did breakup a 0-0 pitching duel with a homer over the centerfield fence in the top of the 7th...but he hit a two run homer off Sammy Ellis. Braves won 2-1.

[Aaron Seefeldt]

I'm named after Hank Aaron. My dad grew up outside of Milwaukee (Janesville, WI) in the 50's and he loved the Braves. All of them.

About 20 years ago I was at a show in Taylor, MI and Hank was doing autographs for $20 a piece. I got photos signed for all my uncles, ants, and they loved them. While he was signing, I told him I'm named after him and he looked up and smiled. It was a great moment for me, and I hope for him too.

In little league my nick name was Hammerin' Hank.

[ALR-bishop]

Neat story, Aaron

[Exhibitman]

Did someone say "Bazooka"?

[71buc]

Cool story Aaron. My son's name is Aaron middle name Clemente. Thought I was raising a ball player. He apparently had other ideas and became a lawyer. Meh..what the heck...I love him any way.

[aldridgemj214]

Let’s try to resurrect this thread and share some Henry Aaron cards. Love this image. Sure there’s toning and it’s oversized (I prefer oversized issues), but it’s a great image from the WS and MVP season. Share whatever you want for Henry. I’ll try to post some of my favorites regularly to keep this thread closer to the top.

[bk400]

I posted this on another thread a few months ago, but will contribute it here as well. One of the cards I was looking to find for a very long time...It depicts Hank Aaron and Sadaharu Oh in Japan in November 1974, before an exhibition home run contest between the two men.

[aldridgemj214]

Wow. Thank you for sharing. Aaron and Oh share at least a couple of cards that I’m aware of. I don’t own either yet, but the hunt is part of the fun. I’ll share another one that I didn’t see in the thread yet, the 1955 Spic and Span Die-Cut.

[bk400]

Originally Posted by geosluggo

I got to see Aaron play in 1975 when he went to the Brewers and they came to Baltimore to play the Orioles, the closest team to the D.C. area where I grew up. I was in the 5th grade. Even at that age I understood he was past his prime but still appreciated that I was seeing a legend. He went hitless against Jim Palmer on a frigid April night but it was still a huge thrill for me. I got to meet him a couple times as an adult and he was a very decent, genuine guy. People forget he was a lifetime .305 hitter and never struck out 100 times in a season. Put on some weight near the end of his career but never a big guy to hit all those HRs.

I thought it was amazing that Hank Aaron hit off his front foot. In Howard Bryant's biography, there is a bit made of Ted Williams saying that it should be impossible for someone batting like that to hit with so much power.

[bk400]

Originally Posted by aldridgemj214

Wow. Thank you for sharing. Aaron and Oh share at least a couple of cards that I’m aware of. I don’t own either yet, but the hunt is part of the fun. I’ll share another one that I didn’t see in the thread yet, the 1955 Spic and Span Die-Cut.

That is pretty cool. I haven't seen that one before.

[jason.1969]

Originally Posted by bk400

I posted this on another thread a few months ago, but will contribute it here as well. One of the cards I was looking to find for a very long time...It depicts Hank Aaron and Sadaharu Oh in Japan in November 1974, before an exhibition home run contest between the two men.

That is a TOUGH card! Will share my most unique item, which is a snapshot taken in 1954 of a young Henry Aaron on his way to work.

If you’ve visited the Aaron exhibit at the Atlanta History Center, an enlargement greets you as you enter the section on Aaron’s Milwaukee Braves years.