Another legend has passed: Hank Aaron

[SteveS]

I got to be in the presence of a king once. Back in the early-'80s when card show autograph prices were fairly reasonable. RIP to the true home-run champ.

[BCauley]

Yet another sad day for baseball that has been all too common this past year.

Read his autobiography years ago, "I Had a Hammer." Amazing and infuriating. Highly recommend.

[irv]

Great tribute here.

RIP, Hank.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article...n-dies-age-86/

[scmavl]

That’s wild. Last night around midnight, I just felt like I “needed” to own an Aaron RC. I made an offer for one on eBay (declined) and put up a WTB ad here. Now this... Very sad, as he was TRULY one of the good ones.

[ocjack]

Classic Aaron card.

[doug.goodman]

Wow, a true legend.

I was lucky enough to see him hit #751 in Oakland on June 16, 1976.

And, I was extra lucky that day when I succeeded in getting his signature on my baseball before the game. There was quite a scrum when he walked over to the seats and started signing.

ANOTHER sad day for baseball, and in this case society in general.

Thank you Mr. Aaron

[DeanH3]

RIP Mr. Aaron. Sad he had to endure what he did.

[samosa4u]

Ohhhhh ... this one is going to really hurt! Aaron was the MAN! And yes, "I had a Hammer" is definitely a good read! It's insane how he managed to go through all of that! RIP!

[Tao_Moko]

Sad news. I just don't believe it's possible to replace this type of royalty. There's no Bonds or Griffey that can match the challenges Aaron had to contend with. We still have Mays, but we are really closing in on an end of era for living legends. RIP

[ZiggerZagger]

He played a full 9 innings in life, better than most of us ever will or could. And with a tremendous dignity.

The things he must have seen and experienced over a lifetime like his... A life worth celebrating

HankAaronCollection.jpg

[AGuinness]

Perusing some of the reactions from people about his passing shows just how expansive his influence was. Not just baseball, but greats from all corners of sports ans society, from Bill Russell to Lenny Kravitz, celebrating his dignity, grace and how inspiring he was. That is a life well-lived.

[kailes2872]

When I was 8, I bought the baseball address book. I sent out probably 40 letters where I would have my 8 year old handwriting and a school picture included. It was mainly to tell the players how much I admired them. I was 8. I didn't include anything for an autograph. I received 2 notes back. One was a personalized autograph from Stan Musial. The other was a package from Hank Aaron. He didn't include letter, but he included a signed 8x10, a 3x5 index card and a Babe Ruth replica card that he signed.

He got my school picture. I was a young white kid. He didn't have to respond - the other 38 folks didn't respond (nor did I ask them to... I just wanted to tell them how much I admired them). Our elementary school library had a sports section. Since it was so recent to 74, there were probably 4-5 Hank Aaron books. I read every one of them. I read about the $2 and 2 sandwiches as he left Mobile. I read about the Sally League and how he had to endure insults and my little 8 year old brain couldn't understand why - I mean, he was Hank Aaron for goodness sakes.

Today, I have every one of his mainstream cards. I have a signed picture of the 715 homer that was on the cover of Sports Illustrated. I have a signed picture of Hank & Willie that I overpaid for back in 2012 when I took the boys to the HOF in Cooperstown. I have a signed baseball from him as well. He was my favorite. As I have gotten older, I realize the grace under pressure that he possessed. I often think about how scared he must have been - after all of the hate letters - to have the 2 dudes run out on the field. But, through it all, he didn't flinch. 86 is a good number. If I am promised 86 years today, I will take it. But, it is only 38 years away. In 30 years I will be 78 and I remember 30 years ago like it was yesterday. Time marches on. So, while I am sad that he passed, it is much like what I have experienced over the past year as some of these legends like Seaver, Sutton, and Niekro have died. They have died as pretty old men - not an early death like Stargell - but they were guys that were playing when I first started watching.

That is what makes it so surreal. These are legends that were supposed to stay young forever. If they are going, then it is only a matter of time until it is my turn and that is the sobering thought of the day (not that I didn't already know that, but it reminds me of my mortality).

[bigfanNY]

A Great Human Being, Great Ballplayer and The 1974 Topps Subset showing His Topps cards from 1954 to 1973 did more to grow our Hobby than anything up uintil then.
I bought this early Aaron Signiture a few years ago. It was signed during Spring Training. A Game between the Braves snd Red Sox. Having heard The Ted Williams Tale of Aaron's 450 ft HR his first game March 4th 1954. I wondered if this ball was signed that day.