American baseball player (1934- )
I had many, many, many death threats. I couldn't open letters for a long time, because they all had to be opened by either the FBI or somebody. I couldn't open letters. I had to be escorted. In fact, just recently I went to a funeral, Calvin Wardlaw, who was the detective -- the policeman -- with me for two years, passed away just recently. He and I got to be bosom buddies really, but that was the hardest part. I wasn't able to enjoy -- you know.
HANK AARON
interview, Academy of Achievement, Sep. 10, 2013
I think [Colin Kaepernick] is getting a raw deal. I've been watching pro ball a long time, and if you look at all the quarterbacks in the league right now. I think you have to say he is 1-2-3-4 ... I don't think anybody can do the things he can do. I just wish somebody would open up and give him a chance to do this thing and say hey, he's entitled to whatever he did, and let's forget about it. Let's get on with it.
HANK AARON
interview with Roland Martin, TV One, August 23, 2017
It used to be the players were here (lowering his arm) and owners were here (raising his arm). Now, it's the other way. There's so much money.
HANK AARON
"Affable Hank Aaron reminds us what is important: Family", Detroit Free Press, May 6, 2017
I thought my chances to make the Braves were better and that they were being fairer to me, paying me more money to play in a lower classification ... Besides, the Giants spelled my name "Arron" on their telegram.
HANK AARON
attributed, Hammering Hank: How the Media Made Henry Aaron
You've got to remember, the older you get the slower you get. I've seen a lot of players get old ... if I can have a good season in 1972 and come back with another good one, well, that's different. I might not quit. But two bad ones back to back and staying home would be written on the wall.
HANK AARON
attributed, Hammering Hank: How the Media Made Henry Aaron
Some people resented the fact I was trying to break a white man's record. For a year and a half, I had to stay in another hotel (away from the team) and ate at the hotel in my room.... There were people who wanted to do me harm.
HANK AARON
"Affable Hank Aaron reminds us what is important: Family", Detroit Free Press, May 6, 2017
To this day, whenever I'm in Milwaukee, which is often, I'm reminded that the people there still haven't gotten over the Braves leaving ... If it helps, they should know the players haven't either.
HANK AARON
attributed, Hammering Hank: How the Media Made Henry Aaron
We were losers. We were baseball players. [Baseball executives] were businessmen. When you went into talk about a contract, they always had the upper hand. No matter if you hit 350 or 250, you were going to get what they wanted you to have.
HANK AARON
on baseball before free agency, KUOW, March 27, 2017
I'd love to see some other players stand with [Kaepernick]. I would love that. I think it would give him some incentive. I think it would help him. The thing that bothers me about this whole situation is he's gone to all these camps, and nobody seems to think he stands a chance of being No. 1. Here's a young player who almost carried a team to the championship, to the Super Bowl ... I think that somebody needs to give this young man a chance. I think this decision is coming from the owners. I don't think it's coming from the general managers.
HANK AARON
interview with Roland Martin, TV One, August 23, 2017
I played sometimes about as dull as you can play it. I did things the right way, you know. I think I modeled my playing ability after one of the all time greats, Joe DiMaggio. You always found Joe, when he played, you know, he always threw to the right base. He ran, he caught the ball. He did all the right things. He was an idol of mine in the outfield. He played the game the way it was supposed to be played.
HANK AARON
interview, "Yankees-Steiner Memories of the Game"
I felt like there was nothing else for me to accomplish. I had hit the home run, broke the record, and that was it. I didn't know anything else to do. I didn't know anything else to do, and lo and behold, I got this call at the end of the year from my good friend, Commissioner of Baseball Bud Selig. He wanted me to end my career in Milwaukee, which I had no intentions of doing. I had some very good friends of mine that flew here. We had dinner, and we talked about me spending two years more in Milwaukee. I really didn't want to. I told them at the dinner table, in presence of my wife, I said, "Now listen, I want all you guys to know that I'm not the same ball player I was when I left Milwaukee. I can't steal a base, I don't play the outfield, I can't do certain things. I don't run as fast. I might think I'm running fast, but I'm not. I'm not doing things as fast as I used to. So you have to understand it." "Well no, we just want you to come back and finish your career." And I said, "Okay." Because I was really thinking about -- seriously, I probably would have -- I was thinking about retiring.
HANK AARON
interview, Academy of Achievement, Sep. 10, 2013