Hank Aaron – The best I ever saw
One of the most prolific home run hitters of all time, Henry Aaron withstood tremendous pressure to break Babe Ruth’s career record. Aaron is often overlooked when historians debate the best player of the 1950s and 1960s. He was a great hitter, winning two batting titles. He was an outstanding base runner with a good outfield arm. His 1957 MVP season led the Milwaukee Braves to the pennant and, eventually, their only World Series title. Late in his career and after his retirement, Aaron was a vocal leader supporting minority hiring in baseball.
Some highlights include:
25 Time All-Star
18 Consecutive seasons with 20+ homerun
15 Seasons with 100+ runs scored
14 Seasons hitting over .300
11 Seasons with 100+ RBIs
3 Gold Gloves
2 Batting titles
1957 MVP & World Champion
Elected to the Hall of Fame in 1982
Given his career, it is hardly surprising that Aaron contends that” there wasn’t a pitcher I felt I could never get a hit off.” Nevertheless, he concedes that Juan Marichal and Don Drysdale rivaled Bob Gibson as mound problems. “Hard-throwing right-handers who brushed you back were always tough. Some people remember that I hit more home runs off Drysdale than any other player did, but there were plenty of other times he got me.”
The two matched up 249 times. During his career, Drysdale allowed only a .645 OPS, Aaron was the exception. He homered 17 times and hit .267/.345/.579, good for a .925 OPS that nearly matched his career mark of .928.
Drysdale was one of 13 Hall of Fame pitchers Aaron faced at least 25 times in his career. Aaron managed at least an .820 OPS against nine of them, with particular success facing Sandy Koufax (1.077 OPS in 130 PA) and Steve Carlton (1.025 OPS in 81 PA).
His most challenging call is for a catcher. “When he was healthy, there was nobody better than Roy Campanella as both a catcher and hitter. But I played with Del Crandall a long time, and he was a match for anybody defensively.”
The criteria is he had to play with or against his team, and this is a team he would choose if he had to win one game. The outfield is not identified by position.
Outfield, Stan Musial, Willie Mays and Roberto Clemente
Around the horn, Eddie Mathews (3B) (he and Aaron still have the record for homeruns as teammates), Ernie Banks (SS), Jackie Robinson (2B), and Gil Hodges (1B)
Catcher – Campanella
Starters – Bob Gibson and Sandy Koufax
Here are some Hank Aaron audio treats:
Milwaukee Braves vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (3 Game Series) 1959
May 5, 1957, Sandy Koufax and Aaron face either other at Ebbets Field
1957 World Series Milwaukee vs. New York
1958 World Series Milwaukee vs. New York
1969 NLCS
All these games are available on Vintage Baseball Reflections.
Youtube Audio Specials:
Vic Scully calls 715
Bob Gibson 17 Strikeout Game in the 1968 World Series
Sandy Koufax
Roy Campanella – Final Ebbets Field Homerun
Jackie Robinson – Hall of Fame Speech
Willie Mays 4 Homerun Game
Stan Musial All-Star Game
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