Bob SparksLast week, a living legend made news for two reasons. First, he was honored for a remarkable accomplishment witnessed by millions on television 40 years ago. What he said during an interview in conjunction with the remembrance dwarfed the significance of the celebration itself.
Hank Aaron, one of the greatest to ever play baseball, became the all-time home run king on April 8, 1974. His 715th homer put him one ahead of Babe Ruth’s career total, breaking a record that stood since 1935.
Not all of America wanted Aaron to break Ruth’s record. He got letters, telegrams and calls threatening his life. April of 1974 represented only a moment in time of what he endured once he signed his first contract with the old Boston Braves in 1952.
It is far too simple to categorize the venom as coming principally from bigoted southerners. Aaron himself would tell you the invective came from many zip codes and area codes.
What should have been a time of joy became instead a daily vigil of looking out for crazies in the street or in the stands. Not many could continue to perform at such an incredibly high level under such pressure.
But Hank Aaron did just that, earning him enormous respect. What he overcame perhaps did not equal the significance of Jackie Robinson, but it was not far behind.
Two of the highlights of my adult life came from the opportunities to meet him and talk a little baseball during appearances at events separated by a quarter century. On both occasions, he was a professional and a gentleman. I will never forget either day.
Recently, Aaron sat down for an interview with USA Today to reflect upon the historic evening in Atlanta four decades prior. Readers learned he is still tormented by the hatred. He recounted the absence of joy at becoming the home run king. Aaron has saved the hate mail for all of these years.
What kept him in the news longer than April 8 were the opinions he shared on race relations with USA Today. In full context, this is what he said:
“Sure, this country has a black president, but when you look at a black president, President Obama is left with his foot stuck in the mud from all of the Republicans with the way he’s treated. We have moved in the right direction, and there have been improvements, but we still have a long ways to go in the country. The bigger difference is that back then they had hoods. Now they have neckties and starched shirts.”
Wow. Let’s recall he was known as “Hammerin’ Hank.”
Aaron clearly believes, and he is far from alone, that racism drives the opposition to President Obama. In some instances, he may be correct, but the broad-brush approach profoundly disappoints the Republicans who do not agree. Aaron categorized as racists those for whom many of us vote. In fact, we support conservatives because we mostly agree with their ideas instead of the liberal policies of the president and his administration.
The reference to hoods was clearly unfortunate. Those under the hoods intimidated, burned, bombed and lynched. Rank-and-file Republicans, and those elected to represent us, don’t share Klan values.
It is never a good idea to make a comparison to that tragic portion of our history unless there really is one. It is not fair to the men, women and children who lost their dignity, homes, property and even their lives during the height of racial discrimination.
For example, the Klan’s Birmingham bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church killed four innocent 14-year-old girls in 1963. Comparing Washington political gridlock to those who murdered is ill-advised. There is simply no comparison.
Besides, the president is able to engage those who disagree with him. Victims of the “hoods” were not.
I did not grow up black in the Deep South during the first half of the 20th century as Hank Aaron did. I never looked through his eyes or heard what he heard.
Therefore, I am among those who choose to react to his comment with sorrow instead of anger. Others are outraged and notes that many of the most racist politicians at the time were Democrats.
Aaron certainly needs no advice from me, but if the opportunity presents itself, he might want to “revise and extend” his remarks. Let’s not forget that he also acknowledged the nation’s progress with race relations.
The current state of race relations is in the eye of the beholder, but there are some things on which nearly all eyes see clearly. Among them is admiration for Hank Aaron’s remarkable skill and mental toughness.
OK, no more politics. Let’s get back to baseball.
Bob Sparks is a Tallahassee-based political and business consultant and a former professional baseball executive. Column courtesy of Context Florida.
