40 years ago today

[elwoodblues]

40 years ago today Hank Aaron hit his 715th career home run and broke Babe Ruth's record. And while he was on the way to the record he had to endure more racism than perhaps any baseball player since Jackie Robinson.

When a modern-day baseball player breaks an oldtimer's record some fans have an annoying habit of pointing out that it was easier for the current player. It happened to Cal Ripken and others. Sure, the current players have it easier than their counterparts many years ago did. We all do. But when a current player breaks a record he still deserves it. And when these complaints were made about Aaron's record even they were pretty obviously racially motivated.

[littlebeast13]

But when a current player breaks a record he still deserves it.

Tell that to the legion of Bonds haters out there.....

lb13

[elwoodblues]

Bonds cheated and Aaron didn't, but I think most of the hate for Bonds is because he was just a jerk. I didn't like Bonds either, and whether he should be in the Hall of Fame is a different question, but I recognize him as the record holder.

[Ritterskoop]

One of my students suggests we just have a separate room for the steroids-aided players. They're still enshrined but with an asterisk so we can compare them with each other.

Thanks for the reminder on Hank Aaron.