Another legend has passed: Hank Aaron

[icollectDCsports]

This is a real kick in the gut. Awful news. RIP, HR King.

[scooter729]

Truly a legend for many reasons. RIP....

[mainemule]

This hits hard, really hard. The other legends who've recently died were the best of the best. Hank was baseball royalty. This is so sad....😥😥

[Kenny Cole]

This one really hurts. It seems like we've lost more legends these last couple of years than I can ever remember happening before. RIP Mr. Aaron. I loved watching you play.

[jayshum]

RIP Hank. Amazing what a rough past 10 or so months it has been with losing HoFers. Has there ever been a stretch like this before where so many passed away in this short a time period?

[Case12]

I grew up in Atlanta. Hank was a lot like a Jackie Robinson to the South. Loved and hated. Over the years he emerged as a legend. The true home run king.

[Peter_Spaeth]

I think Joe Adcock said it. Trying to sneak a fastball past Hank Aaron is like trying to sneak a sunrise past a rooster.

[sdimag]

Baseball’s TRUE home run King! Where were you when Hank broke The Babes record? I was a 14 year old watching in mom and dad’s front room. Remember Bill Buckner in left field climbing the fence as Tom House caught the ball! One of the greatest sports moments in my lifetime! RIP Henry. Thanks for all you did for baseball!

[BabyRuth]

1958 signed menu with 3,000 hit members Cobb, Aaron, Musial and Kaline

[ocjack]

Always a gentleman. RIP Mr. Aaron.

[skelly423]

The next Cooperstown induction ceremony, whenever it may be, is going to have a lot of empty chairs. RIP to another legend.

[Fuddjcal]

Originally Posted by sdimag

Baseball’s TRUE home run King! Where were you when Hank broke The Babes record? I was a 14 year old watching in mom and dad’s front room. Remember Bill Buckner in left field climbing the fence as Tom House caught the ball! One of the greatest sports moments in my lifetime! RIP Henry. Thanks for all you did for baseball!

When my mom passed several years ago, I brought, read and "played" the Birthday card she got me that year during her eulogy. It said that she was proud of me and that "anything is possible if you work hard enough and to follow my dreams". It was one of the first Cards that played Music or in this case the calling of the 715th homerun by Milo Hamilton. I just pulled it out and listened for old time sake as tears come down my cheeks. Like most moms, she was right. I have had more success than I probably deserve, so this one hit home particularly hard today.

We also had watched on TV in the front room. I was fortunate enough to see one of those home runs in person on June 24th 1972 from the 4th row at Dodger Stadium with my grandfather. I was 11. He would point these guys out to me occasionally and whispered to me in my ear on that day, "That's Hank Aaron" son. Thanks for the memories Hank. You will be missed.

[egri]

Originally Posted by jayshum

RIP Hank. Amazing what a rough past 10 or so months it has been with losing HoFers. Has there ever been a stretch like this before where so many passed away in this short a time period?

One of the other members here did a study of HoFer deaths by year recently, and last year tied 1972 as the worst year, so I don't think there's ever been a stretch like the past 13 months.

[chadeast]

feeling like the rest of you, this one really hurts. RIP Hank.

[MVSNYC]

RIP Hank.

[Tyruscobb]

Originally Posted by egri

One of the other members here did a study of HoFer deaths by year recently, and last year tied 1972 as the worst year, so I don't think there's ever been a stretch like the past 13 months.

2020 was worse than 1972. The reason is Clemente was not a Hall of Famer when he died. Last year set the record for active HOFer deaths.

The Hammer is the true HR King. King of player and man.

[bigfanNY]

Originally Posted by Tyruscobb

2020 was worse than 1972. The reason is Clemente was not a Hall of Famer when he died. Last year set the record for active HOFer deaths.

The Hammer is the true HR King. King of player and man.

Wow I think I disagree with this post more than any other I have ever read on Net 54. The Passing of Clemente in 1972 was a TRAGEDY. The passing of the Hall of Famers including Mr. Aaaron in 2020 was Just part of life. No Comparison. We all Pass on, to pass on while delivering relief supplies with so much of life ahead of him was a selfless act of tremendous compassion.
To pass on after a Full life is just the price of admission.

[egri]

Originally Posted by Tyruscobb

2020 was worse than 1972. The reason is Clemente was not a Hall of Famer when he died. Last year set the record for active HOFer deaths.

It includes members who hadn’t been voted in yet. Note Halladay and Santo are counted.

Originally Posted by Koufax32fan

I was looking for a listing of HOFers by the year of death to determine if 2020 is extraordinary based on the number of deaths. I could not find one easily, so I put one together using Baseball-Reference. (I can't upload an Excel spreadsheet, but am happy to share via email.) The six deaths (so far, and let's hope there are no more) this year is the second most during any year. In 1972, we lost seven HOFers (Wheat, Bancroft, Weiss, Traynor, Hartnett, Robinson (Jackie) and Clemente).

Recently, the history has been:

2019 - 1 (Frank Robinson)
2018 - 3 (McCovey, Harvey and Schoendienst)
2017 - 3 (Doerr, Bunning and Halladay)
2016 - 1 (Irvin)
2015 - 2 (Berra and Banks)
2014 - 2 (Kiner and Gwynn)
2013 - 2 (Musial and Weaver)
2012 - 3 (MacPhail, Miller and Carter)
2011 - 3 (Snider, Dick Williams and Killebrew)
2010 - 4 (Santo, Anderson, Roberts and Feller)
2009 - 1 (Kell)
2008 - None
2007 - 2 (Rizutto and Kuhn)
2006 - 1 (Puckett)
2005 - 1 (Lopez)
2004 - None
2003 - 2 (Spahn and Doby)
2002 - 3 (Slaughter, T. Williams and Wilhelm)
2001 - 3 (Boudreau, Mathews and Stargell)
2000 - 1 (Lemon)

So, yes, if you also have been feeling like 2020 has been extraordinarily sad based only on the number of HOFers we have lost, you have good reason to feel that way.