Hank Aaron Still Stands Alone
His career and example stand in drastic contrast to the lesser men who were not inducted into baseballâs Hall of Fame just after Aaronâs death.
John Amis/AP Photo
Baseball Hall of Famer Hank Aaron (1934â2021) listens to tributes during a celebration of his 75th birthday, February 5, 2009, in Atlanta.
It felt right that just a few days after Hank Aaron died, the voters for the Baseball Hall of Fame Tuesday refused to induct superstars Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, and Curt Schilling.
Bonds was the player who broke Hank Aaronâs home-run record, but under the suspicion of using performance-enhancing drugs. Clemens was suspected of using them as well to amass his pitching record. Schilling stained his strikeout titles by repeatedly pitching insults at Muslims and transgender people, and metaphorically throwing beanballs of ignorant bombast at Black athletes and Black culture.