RV Lifestyle Visit the Hank Aaron Childhood Home andMuseum located at Hank Aaron Stadium. The home is the original Aaron family home built by Hank’s Dad, Herbert, in 1942. Originally 7.6 metres by 7.6 metres, it consisted of just three small rooms. Later additions in 1962 and 1972 expanded it to its current seven rooms. Hammerin’ Hank Aaron was born on February 5, 1934 inMobile. He was the third of eight children. His family could not afford baseball equipment, so he used materials found on the streets – mostly bottle caps and sticks. His boyhood idol was Jackie Robinson who, in 1947, became the first African-American to play baseball in the major leagues. Aaron’s high school had no organized baseball team so, as a teen, he played outfield and third base first for the semi-pro Pritchett Athletics, and then for the Mobile Black Bears. As a junior in high school, he earned $3 a game, the equivalent of about $30 today. Aaron quit school and, by 1952 when he was 18, he was playing for the Negro League’s Indianapolis Clowns, earning $200 a month. He also received harsh lessons as a black man in a white society. To endure prejudice, he needed great mental strength, a quality which he believed came from his parents. They instilled into their children “Faith in God, personal integrity, dignity and a humble spirit,” according to a plaque in the museum. On April 13, 1954, Aaron made his major league debut. “Hammerin’ Hank” had an astonishing 23-year career. He remains onmany top-10, best-ever batting lists. Not to mention the fact that he hit 755 home runs. Hank Aaron’s other achievements include batting .300 or better for 14 seasons; first player to reach 500 home runs and 3,000 hits; 2,297 RBIs (the most in history); and being selected for 25 all-star games, playing in 24. Back in those days, I was a huge baseball fan. First, a big fan of TedWilliams and the Boston Red Socks – I am still partial to the Red Socks. Then a big fan of Hank Aaron and the other stars of the Milwaukee Braves – pitchers Warren Spawn and Lew Burdette, catcher Del Crandall, third base Eddie Mathews and first base Joe Adcock. Worth Pondering… Failure is a part of success. —Hank Aaron Hank Aaron's childhood home CSANews | FALL 2017 | 27
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MzMzNzMx