Hank Aaron [sports]

Calvin

Welcome to Headstones and Microphones where we use AI to step into the past through a researched, first-person simulation of history's most interesting people. I am your host, Calvin. While we’ve added some creative storytelling, our goal is to inspire your own study of these fascinating lives. Now, let’s meet our guest.

Calvin

I am absolutely honored today to be joined by a true titan of American sports. For those who may somehow not know who you are... who are you?

Black Male

I’m Hank Aaron, though a lot of folks knew me as "Hammerin' Hank." I spent twenty-three years playing the game I love—baseball—mostly with the Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves. I just tried to be the best ballplayer and person I could be every single day.

Calvin

You certainly achieved that! Let’s start at the beginning. When and where were you born?

Black Male

I came into this world on February 5, 1934. I was born in a section of Mobile, Alabama, called Down the Bay.

Calvin

What was your given name at birth?

Black Male

My parents named me Henry Louis Aaron.

Calvin

Is there a story behind your birth name?

Black Male

Not a grand one, no. I was the third of eight children born to Herbert and Estella Aaron. My father worked at a shipyard, and they were just hardworking folks who wanted a solid name for their son. "Hank" came much later once I started playing professional ball; the PR men thought it sounded more like a ballplayer!

Calvin

Mobile has produced so many greats. What was your hometown like growing up?

Black Male

It was a beautiful place in many ways, but it was the deep South in the thirties and forties. We lived in a neighborhood called Toulminville. It was poor, and things were very segregated. We didn’t have much in the way of money, but we had a very tight-knit community.

Calvin

And what was your family life like with seven siblings?

Black Male

It was busy! My mother was the glue of the family. She was a strong, quiet woman who believed in us. My father worked incredibly hard to keep food on the table. We were very close. My brother Tommie even followed me into the big leagues!

Calvin

That’s incredible. What kind of kid were you back then?

Black Male

I was a quiet kid, mostly kept to myself. I was always focused on sports. If I wasn't playing baseball, I was thinking about it. I wasn't much for trouble; I just wanted to be out on the field.

Calvin

Did you have any big fears growing up?

Black Male

My biggest fear was probably that I wouldn't be able to provide for my family or that I’d be stuck and never get to see what was beyond Mobile. And, of course, living in the South at that time, there was always the fear that came with the racial tensions of the era. You had to be careful where you walked and who you talked to.

Calvin

What did you dream of becoming as a child?

Black Male

From the time I was a little boy, I dreamed of being a Major League Baseball player. I remember Jackie Robinson came through Mobile on an exhibition tour when I was a teenager. Hearing him speak changed everything. I knew right then that's what I was going to do.

Calvin

What were some of your favorite activities in school?

Black Male

To be honest, school was mostly about the sports for me! I played football and basketball, but baseball was always the favorite. I spent more time practicing my swing with a stick and a bottle cap than I did on my homework some days!

Calvin

We’ve all been there! What was your first job?

Black Male

My first real job was delivering ice. Back then, people had iceboxes, not electric refrigerators. I’d carry these big, heavy blocks of ice on my shoulders. I actually think that’s what built up the strength in my wrists and arms that helped me hit those home runs later on.

Calvin

Was there a moment where you realized you were different from everyone else on the field?

Black Male

It wasn't a "lightbulb" moment, but I noticed early on that I could hit the ball harder than the older boys. I had a "cross-handed" grip when I first started—I held the bat with my left hand above my right, even though I was a righty. People told me I couldn't hit like that, but I was hitting everything!

Calvin

What’s a decision that changed everything for you, but felt small at the time?

Black Male

Deciding to join the Indianapolis Clowns in the Negro American League. I was only eighteen, and it meant leaving home with just two dollars and a change of clothes in a gym bag. It felt like I was just going to play a game, but it was the gateway to the Major Leagues.

Calvin

What was your biggest break?

Black Male

It was during the 1954 spring training with the Braves. An outfielder named Bobby Thomson broke his ankle sliding into second base. It was a terrible break for him, but it opened up a spot for me. I got my chance to start, and I never looked back.

Calvin

What were your biggest struggles before success?

Black Male

Dealing with the travel and the segregation in the minor leagues. In places like Jacksonville, Florida, I couldn't stay in the same hotels as my teammates. I couldn't eat in the same restaurants. It was lonely and it was hurtful, but I had to keep my head down and play.

Calvin

Did you ever consider quitting?

Black Male

There were nights in the minors when I’d call home and tell my mother I wanted to come back. The racism was just so heavy. But she’d tell me to stick it out, that I had a gift. I’m glad I listened to her.

Calvin

Were there any specific daily habits or routines that you feel were essential to your success?

Black Male

I was a student of the pitcher. I’d sit in the dugout and just watch. I didn't care about the radar gun; I wanted to see the rotation of the ball. My routine was preparation. By the time I stepped into the box, I already knew what that man on the mound was going to try to do to me.

Calvin

What job would you have had if fame never happened?

Black Male

I probably would have followed my father into the trades, maybe carpentry or working at the shipyard. I always liked working with my hands.

Calvin

What was your life like before fame?

Black Male

It was simple. It was about family, church, and finding enough equipment to play ball. We used to make baseballs out of old rags and tape. It was a life of "making do," but we were happy.

Calvin

How did relationships change after success?

Black Male

You find out who your real friends are. Some people want to be near the light, and others want to help you carry the torch. I stayed close to my family; they kept me grounded no matter how many home runs I hit.

Calvin

Did fame bring happiness?

Black Male

Fame itself? No. Happiness came from the satisfaction of a job well done and being able to help my parents. Fame was often more of a burden, especially during the home run chase. It took away my privacy.

Calvin

What was the downside of becoming famous?

Black Male

The loss of anonymity. In 1973 and '74, when I was closing in on Babe Ruth’s record, I couldn't even stay in the same hotel as the team because of the death threats. I had to have police protection. That wasn't how I wanted to live.

Calvin

What misconceptions did people have about you?

Black Male

People thought I was "lazy" or "nonchalant" because I didn't run around like a wild man. They called me "Slow Motion." But I wasn't lazy; I was efficient. I didn't believe in wasting energy. I saved it all for the swing.

Calvin

What was your darkest moment?

Black Male

Definitely that period in 1974. Opening all those letters filled with hate and threats just because I was a Black man breaking a white man's record. It was a very dark time for my family and for me personally.

Calvin

What past regrets did you carry?

Black Male

I don’t know if I’d call it a regret, but I always wished the world could have seen me as just a ballplayer, rather than a "Black ballplayer." I spent a lot of my career feeling like I had to prove more than just my stats.

Calvin

What’s something people misunderstood about your life?

Black Male

People think the home run record is my proudest achievement. It’s not. I’m actually prouder of my total bases and the fact that I never struck out 100 times in a season. I was a complete hitter, not just a power hitter.

Calvin

Tell me about a time when everything went wrong and how did you handle it?

Black Male

During the chase for 715, the pressure was nearly unbearable. My daughter was getting threats at college. I felt like the world was closing in. How did I handle it? I went to the ballpark. The batter's box was the only place in the world where I felt I had total control.

Calvin

Did fame and fortune change your life?

Black Male

It changed my circumstances, certainly. It allowed me to start the Chasing the Dream Foundation to help kids. But it didn't change who I was. I still liked a quiet meal and a good conversation more than any fancy party.

Calvin

Who had the biggest influence on your life?

Black Male

My mother, Estella. She gave me my moral compass. And Jackie Robinson, for showing me that the door could be opened.

Calvin

What was life like in your final years?

Black Male

It was wonderful. I spent a lot of time with my wife, Billye. I worked in the Braves' front office and focused heavily on my business ventures and philanthropy. I loved seeing the new generation of players coming up.

Calvin

What were you working on in your career before you passed away?

Black Male

I was very involved with the Braves as a senior vice president. I was also working hard on my "HANK" (Helping Achieve New Knack) program, trying to make sure kids had the resources to follow their dreams, whether in sports or the arts.

Calvin

When and where did you pass away?

Black Male

I passed away on January 22, 2021, in Atlanta, Georgia.

Calvin

What happened?

Black Male

I passed away peacefully in my sleep. I was 86 years old, and I feel like I lived a very full, blessed life.

Calvin

What’s a random fact about you most people have never heard?

Black Male

I was actually a very good cook! I loved making a big pot of gumbo or some smothered pork chops. In my house, I was the chef.

Calvin

What’s the craziest rumor ever told about you?

Black Male

There was a rumor for a while that I had some secret "power shake" that gave me my strength. The truth was just lots of practice and those heavy ice blocks from my youth!

Calvin

What was your most unique habit?

Black Male

I used to stand in the dugout and "air hit" while watching the pitcher, but I’d do it so subtly you could barely see my hands move. I was visualizing every pitch.

Calvin

What was your favorite food?

Black Male

I loved soul food. A good plate of collard greens, cornbread, and fried chicken—that was a perfect meal to me.

Calvin

Did you have a favorite restaurant?

Black Male

In Atlanta, I spent a lot of time at Paschal's. It was a hub for the Civil Rights movement and had the best fried chicken in the city.

Calvin

What was your favorite book?

Black Male

I read the Bible every day. It was my source of strength.

Calvin

Did you have any known rivalries?

Black Male

Not a personal one, but I always wanted to do well against the Dodgers and the Giants. Playing against guys like Willie Mays and Sandy Koufax—that brought out the best in me.

Calvin

Tell us a story nobody talks about.

Black Male

When I was in the Negro Leagues, we were so poor we sometimes had to eat our meals on the bus because restaurants wouldn't serve us. We’d buy a loaf of bread and some peanut butter and that was dinner. We’d laugh and tell jokes to keep our spirits up. It wasn't glamorous, but those are some of my fondest memories.

Calvin

What’s your funniest behind-the-scenes moment?

Black Male

One time, my brother Tommie and I were both on the Braves. He hit a home run, and then I hit one right after him. I came into the dugout and told him, "You’re doing okay, kid, but you’ve still got a long way to catch up!" We both just cracked up.

Calvin

Did you ever prank someone?

Black Male

I wasn't the biggest prankster, but I used to love teasing the rookies. I’d tell them a pitcher had a "hidden ball" trick that didn't exist, just to see them look nervous at the plate!

Calvin

What was the most outlandish purchase you made?

Black Male

I wasn't a flashy spender. I suppose buying my first Cadillac was a big deal for a boy from Toulminville. It was a beautiful car, and I felt like I’d really arrived when I drove that home.

Calvin

What advice would you give people chasing success?

Black Male

I’d tell them that there are no shortcuts. You have to be willing to put in the work when nobody is watching. And most importantly, don't let anyone else define what you are capable of. You keep swinging until you hit it.

Calvin

Hank, do you have any closing remarks about the interview or the stories you shared that you would like to share with the listeners before we sign off?

Black Male

I just want to say thank you for remembering me. Life is like a ballgame; you’re going to have your errors and your strikeouts, but you’ve got to keep showing up for the next inning. Be kind to one another. Thank you so much for having me, Calvin. It’s been a real pleasure.

Calvin

The pleasure was all ours, Mr. Aaron. What a legend. We’ve learned so much today about resilience, focus, and staying true to yourself even when the world is pushing back. And that wraps up another conversation from beyond the grave. Thanks for joining us on The Headstones and Microphones Podcast. Remember—legends may die, but their stories never do. Please help spread the word by sharing and following the pod.