Boy, ain't that the truth.
for many of us (i am 58) Henry Aaron was the best thing to ever happen to the Milwaukee Braves;
later *unfortunately_ the Atlanta team.
The Braves stayed in Milwaukee. Not sure why they call the Atlanta team the same name.
Anyway, I was privileged to see Henry Aaron play 5 times, twice with the Milwaukee Brewers and
3 times with the Milwaukee Braves. Each time was a monumental moment. The way he sauntered up
to the plate, helmet in hand. The way he, slowly and painstakingly, took his time to carefully
place the helmet on his head at the plate, outside the box. Then, after carefully adjusting the fit he
would saunter a foot or so into the box, adjust the helmet, take one, then two sometimes three swishes
with his bat, to prepare for the onslaught.
He would stand there, that willowy, lanky though not tall, figure, with the whip like bat
just awaiting his signal swish , fully , with the bat when the ball approached. The pitcher would, inevitably,
have to wind up and deliver. Ever so often Henry would lay wood to the ball and it would explode in a line
drive known to all, as Henry's. His hands would whirl through the hitting zone, think Tiger Woods in today's
parlayance, coming through the hitting zone, that is the WAY of HENRY AARON. There was no one like him..
then, or today. Simply explosive magnificence...one time in Wrigley Field he hit a ball that barely cleared Don Kessinger
at shortstop, and Kessinger was pretty tall. The ball went all the way, in the air, to the left centrefield wall.
ANother time, in the Polo Grounds, home of the longest centerfield wall in the majors, 480 ft, Henry would become one of only two (ever) to hit a ball into the centrefield bleachers (the other being, interestingly, Don Adcock, first baseman for the Braves)
To say it was a pleasure to watch him hit is like saying it is a pleasure to see a Mona Lisa painting the first time.
Nearly breathless.
This method to his professional approach to hitting was present EACH AND EVERY TIME I saw him approach the plate.
In 1965 my brother and I (he named his son Aaron) were at County Stadium for two games in their last year
there. First one was against Bob Gibson and the Cardinals. The 2nd best pitcher of his generation against the best
hitter...it was classic. I still, 42 years later, feel privileged and get goose bumps thinking about it. Gibby would wind up,
high leg kick, followed by an incredible whip of his leg and then his arm, as he delivered...with authority... to the plate.
God help any hitter who wasn't ready.
Later that same summer of 66 we were even more blessed to see the king of our generation, the greatest left handed
pitcher in the history of baseball, Sandy Koufax at the same venue. to see Hank step into the box and watch the crafty
overpowering Koufax go into his wind up and uncork his 100 MPH fastball, with that phenomenally Koufax delivery with the
elbows up, high near his face, then over his head and that deep step with his right foot and to see the arm come crashing
down toward the plate unleashing a pitch of such power we have nary seen since, whether it be fastball, or devastating
overhand curveball breaking a foot at the plate, down and hard; well, to say the least, we have not seen his like, nor
Gibby's .........and most of all Henry Aaron, since. In 1966 Sandy Koufax struck out 383 batters. Think about that for a sec.
WOW.
Hey hey Henry, where have you gone, where have you gone.......gone you may be.
but for all those who recall,
especially those lucky to see,
and hold you in awe.
thank you for being there,
ever nifty ...in the 50's.
Then simply the best,
in the east, or the west..
One to remember, for us all,
You may be gone, that is true.
and the stories may seem tall...
] but for those of us who rue...
Your loss from the city of Brave(s)
Forever we will....rave...
Your greatness will shine...
Forever, for...all...time.
