Classy Aaron is baseball’s legitimate home run king

Classy Aaron is baseball’s legitimate home run king

Thirty-three years after they retire from baseball, neither Barry Bonds nor Alex Rodriguez will inspire a plethora of who’s who to gather to worship their past, present and future. For one, both players have been nailed by some as legitimate juicers but illegitimate sluggers.
For another, even before such reports, neither Bonds nor Rodriguez was within a steroid-induced blast of the classy Hank Aaron on or off the field.

So, with much help from baseball’s era of bloated knuckleheads, Aaron has become even more of a classic. That’s why, 33 years after his retirement, just about the only person of significance who wasn’t inside a ballroom last week at the Marriott Marquis for his 75th birthday celebration was his new hero. Ever hear of Barack Obama? He made Aaron cry that November night when he was elected President of the United States.

ajc.com
2/8/09