Aaron's first collectible?

[bcbgcbrcb]

It is Aaron

[steve B]

If it is, then it's not Aaron in the team photo. They're just different.

And why would they show a cross handed batter batting normally?

I just don't see it.

Steve B

[E93]

They both look like Aaron to me.
JimB

[buymycards]

Anyway, that is a great photo. I love the old Eau Claire Bears and Braves stuff. Thank you for showing it, Bob.

Anyone who is interested in the Eau Claire Bears should pick up a copy of Jason's book that covers Eau Claire baseball.

Rick

[ElCabron]

Steve,

I know you're stuck on the cross-handed batting thing, but did you take a minute to think about this? We've all heard the legend of Aaron who learned to bat with his hands crossed, thereby giving him superhuman power in his wrists, enabling him to later on change his grip but retain the bionic wrist strength and hit all kinds of home runs. I believe he did learn to hit this way, and did so well into his teenage years. But do you honestly believe a cross-handed batter was successful in the Negro Leagues or minor leagues? Also, did you really need the Eau Claire photo to compare the Clowns postcard to? You don't know what Hank Aaron looks like from memory?

Anyway, the Clowns postcard originates from the estate of Clowns owner, Syd Pollock. Not that there should need to be even further proof, but here's the image of Aaron as it appears in the biography of Syd Pollock, written by his son. Noteworthy is the part where it says "Prior to joining the Clowns, he had batted cross-handed:

[ElCabron]

Also, here's how they used the Aaron image in their 1956 promotional program. The would also use the image on broadsides and many other items over the years since, you know, Aaron was kind of big deal.

[jschris]

I talked with Jerry Poling, author of Summer Up North, the story of Aaron's '52 season in Eau Claire. He said he is pretty sure Aaron's cross-handed batting style was corrected by a Braves scout (Billy Southworth, perhaps) while Aaron was still with the Clowns. Jerry estimates that could have been in May--perhaps late May. Aaron debuted with Eau Claire on June 14.

Neither Jerry nor I have seen anything to indicate Aaron batted cross-handed in Eau Claire.

Hope that helps out a bit.

[Neal]

How many of these are known to exist? Have any been graded?
Thx