This is of course true of a number of other players. Take away Pete Rose’s home runs and he still breaks 4K.
… of course, of none of those other players can it be said that they hit 755 bombs.
The extent of Aaron’s consistent greatness is so amazing that he’s almost underrated. He was just a great player in exactly the same way year after year after year. What was his greatest season? Was in 1957 when he won his only MVP Award for a World Champion? 1959 when he hit .355 with 39 jacks amongst 223 hits and won a Gold Glove? What about 1963 when he hit .319 and led the leaguein homers and RBI? Or 1971, when he hit 47 dingers and had a .669 SLG? He did stuff like that every year, like a machine.
In the wake of Mr. Aaron’s passing, there is now a call to change the name of the the Atlanta baseball to to the Atlanta Hammers. Frankly, I can’t see a reason not to do this: the timing is right and that’s a freaking awesome team name.
Yes Atlanta, do it! The nickname should have been changed years ago, as well as Cleveland’s. If they are to rename the team the Hammers, a shame Aaron didn’t live to see it.
I’ve been reading the book Henry Aaron’s Dream to students this week, and follow it by showing number 715 as called by Vin Scully. Today’s group cheered when it cleared the fence.