Another legend has passed: Hank Aaron

[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.

[Tyruscobb]

Originally Posted by bigfanNY

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.

You are taking what I said completely out of context, sir. Shame on you if it was on purpose. A lack of reading comprehension if it was not.

I said 2020 was the worst year, based on the pure number of active hall of farmers dying in a given year. I did not demean of diminish anyone’s life. I did not say anything negative about Clemente. I just pointed out that Clemente was not a Hall of Farmer when he unfortunately and tragically died. Good Day to you.

[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.

[Yankees1964]

Tuesday June 4th, 1974 I saw him play for the first time in Philadelphia. I was a Yankees fan, but grew up about the same distance from the Vet as I was from Yankee Stadium. My dad is not a baseball fan, but went to this game on a bus trip that our church ran. Pete Cera who was the assistant clubhouse manager was from my hometown and he ran many trips during the year, this one happened to be on a school night and was planned because that was the year he was going to break the Babe's record. I was 10.

I didn't care about the Phillies but Hank was larger than life to me. We were there in time for batting practice and were able to get up close to the cage. Seeing him take batting practice was something that I will never forget. My uncle who also went with us and was a huge baseball fan was explaining something to me about Hank's swing but I was so fixated on seeing him in person that I wasn't paying attention.

In the 7th inning I watched him send one over the fence. On top of that, it was a grand slam. I had no idea till much later in life how special that was. It was one of 16 that he hit.

20 years later I met him at a card show. Had him sign a ball, a picture, and my ticket from that day and I mentioned the grand slam. He was so kind and so cordial to me. I was able to meet him one other time and he was the same way. I never realized till later in life the hate that he faced and the real life example he set for all of us.

Godspeed Hank.

[Ricky]

Fun fact about Aaron because people tend to think of the home runs and forget about his other strengths: Since World War II, the only outfielder with more career assists than Aaron is Clemente. Aaron threw out more base runners than anyone else, including Willie Mays.