hank aaron

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Hank Aaron’s first summer in the minor leagues was spent as far away as you could possibly get from his home in Mobile Alabama, literally and figuratively. During that summer in 1952, an 18 year old Henry Aaron was assigned by the Boston Braves to play in Eau Claire Wisconsin.  The color barrier may have been broken by Jackie Robinson in Brooklyn in 1947, but many other players had to break that same barrier in towns across the country.  On this Cover the Bases podcast, we talk with the author Jerry Poling whose book is titled A Summer Up North: Henry Aaron and the Legend of Eau Claire Baseball.

The process started for Jerry back in 1994 when a statue dedicated to Hank Aaron was unveiled at the town ballpark called Carson Park. After the ceremony, as Jerry went about his life,  he thought more and more about what really happened during those days Hank spent among the predominantly white townspeople of Eau Claire.  The only other African-Americans in Eau Claire at the time would have been a couple of Aaron’s teammates on the Eau Claire Bears.  It was also the first time that Hank had white teammates and a white manager.

Among his extensive research, Jerry explored the stories and anecdotes from those in the town who were around during that time period, getting first hand accounts of playing and rooting for the Bears.  The player and the town were essentially growing up together, experiencing life in a new America.

Aaron made an immediate impact on the field, scorching line drives in his first two at bats, hitting .336 on the season, was a Northern League All-Star selection, and won Rookie of the Year honors.  He was such a hot prospect that Boston Braves management would check in on a regular basis. [click to continue…]

{ 0 comments }