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[이데일리 스타in 이석무 기자] “The moment I challenged Babe Ruth’s home run was the worst time of my life. I couldn’t leave the ballpark without my bodyguards, and I always had to have dinner separately in my hotel room. The children also always went to school surrounded by bodyguards.”
The late Hank Aaron, who passed away at the age of 86 at his home in Atlanta, USA, on the 23rd, said in an interview during his lifetime. The countless home runs Aaron fired was both a shining glory and a terrible nightmare.
Aaron was a great player who made a big mark in major league history. From 1954 to 1976, he was active in the major leagues for 23 years and hit 755 homers. Until Barry Bonds (764) broke that record in 2007, no more homers were played than Aaron. Aaron is still recognized as the “real homerun king” as it was revealed later that Bonds received the help of a banned drug.
But Aaron wasn’t happy as a player. There weren’t many places for black players to stand in baseball, a’white sport’. This was especially the case in the 1960s and 70s, when Aaron enjoyed his heyday. Even though he set a huge record, he wasn’t treated accordingly. Rather, envy and jealousy poured out.
Even as Aaron approached Babe Ruth’s personal record of the highest number of home runs (714), “white idol”, the more he faced massive murder threats from white supremacists. At that time,’Aran’s seat is always empty in Dougout. There was even an eerie joke saying,’Because you can get shot.’
But Aaron did not succumb to intimidation and threats. In order to overcome tearing poverty as a child, he gradually increased the number of home runs with the help of the wrists he cultivated while working at a cotton farm. Eventually, on April 9, 1974, he fired his 715th home run in his career, rewriting history beyond Ruth.
At the time, Aaron sighed after setting the record, saying, “Whew~ Now it’s over.”
Aaron took the lead in the black human rights movement after his retirement until he died. Earlier this month, they were vaccinated directly with civic activists to show that they are safe for black people who are reluctant to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
When news of Aaron’s death came, a wave of tribute continued across the United States. US President Joe Biden said on social media, “When Aaron played the base, he didn’t just follow records. He showed that breaking the wall of prejudice helps to develop as a nation. Aaron was an American hero.”
Major League Commissioner Rob Manfred remembered the deceased, saying, “Aaron was great on record, but his personality and integrity was even greater.”
Bones, who surpassed Aaron’s home run record, said, “I had the honor of spending time with Aaron several times. He was a very respectable person, both inside and outside the stadium.” He was a symbol, legend, and true hero.”