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I was being thrown to the wolves. Even though I did something great, nobody wanted to be a part of it. I was so isolated. I couldn't share it. For many years, even after Jackie Robinson, baseball was so segregated, really. You just didn't expect us to have a chance to do anything. Baseball was meant for the lily-white.

Hank Aaron

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Hank Aaron
Age: 86 †
Born: 1934
Born: February 5
Died: 2021
Died: January 22
Baseball Player
Mobile
Alabama
Henry Louis Aaron
Henry Hank L. Aaron
Henry Aaron
Hammerin' Hank Aaron
Hammerin' Hank
Years
Didn
Baseball
Robinson
Really
Part
Expect
Lily
Anything
Couldn
Jackie
Wanted
Nobody
Wolves
Many
Share
Lilies
Great
Though
Isolated
Even
Chance
Thrown
Something
White
Meant
Segregated

More quotes by Hank Aaron

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I think what separates a superstar from the average ballplayer is that he concentrates just a little bit longer.
Hank Aaron
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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.
Hank Aaron
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Sure, this country has a black president, but when you look at a black president, President Obama is left with his foot stuck in the mud from all of the Republicans with the way he's treated. We have moved in the right direction, and there have been improvements, but we still have a long ways to go in the country.
Hank Aaron
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Maybe the day will come when I can sit back and be content....But until that day comes, I intend to stay in the batter's box - I don't let the big guys push me out of there anymore - and keep hammering away.
Hank Aaron
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I think about how a guy mentally prepared himself to do battle, to go out and face the pitcher. I think so many hitters do not know how to get themselves prepared to play or hit against a pitcher. You have to mentally be prepared to hit against all pitchers.
Hank Aaron
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You know what the hardest thing is? What nobody wants to understand -- is me. People want their memories of me to be my memories of me. But you know what? They're not.
Hank Aaron
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I would like people not to think in terms of the 755 home runs I hit but think in terms of what I've accomplished off the field and some of the things I stood for.
Hank Aaron
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I never thought home runs were all that exciting. I still think the triple is the most exciting thing in baseball. To me, a triple is like a guy taking the ball on his 1-yard line and running 99 yards for a touchdown.
Hank Aaron
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I am very proud to be an American. This country has so much potential, I'd just like to see things better, or whatever, and I think it will be.
Hank Aaron
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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
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Guessing what the pitcher is going to throw is 80% of being a successful hitter. The other 20% is just execution.
Hank Aaron
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I have always felt that although someone may defeat me, and I strike out in a ball game, the pitcher on the particular day was the best player. But I know when I see him again, I'm going to be ready for his curve ball. Failure is a part of success.
Hank Aaron
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Failure is a part of success. There is no such thing as a bed of roses all your life. But failure will never stand in the way of success if you learn from it.
Hank Aaron
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Baseball needs me because it needs somebody to stir the pot, and I need it because it's my life. It's the means I have to make a little difference in the world.
Hank Aaron
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Failure will never stand int he way of success if you learn from it.
Hank Aaron
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I don't feel right unless I have a sport to play or at least a way to work up a sweat.
Hank Aaron
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I don't want people to forget Babe Ruth. I just want them to remember Henry Aaron.
Hank Aaron
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You got to play a hundred and fifty games a year, so pick your spots. You can miss two games a month so pick the days you're gonna be hurt, or you're gonna rest or you're gonna have a drink or two. The rest of the time, be on that field.
Hank Aaron
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My motto was always to keep swinging. Whether I was in a slump or feeling badly or having trouble off the field, the only thing to do was keep swinging.
Hank Aaron
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I'm hoping someday that some kid, black or white, will hit more home runs than myself. Whoever it is, I'd be pulling for him.
Hank Aaron