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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
Really
Part
Expect
Lily
Anything
Couldn
Jackie
Wanted
Nobody
Wolves
Many
Share
Lilies
Great
Though
Isolated
Even
Chance
Thrown
Something
White
Meant
Segregated
Years
Didn
Baseball
Robinson

More quotes by 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.
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Whatever we do, make sure we clean up baseball.
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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.
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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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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.
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Baseball is a lot like the ivy-covered wall of Wrigley Field--it gives off a great appearance, but when you run into it, you discover the bricks underneath. At times, it seems that we're dealing with a group of men who aren't much different than others we've all run into over the years, except they wear neckties instead of robes and hoods.
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Can I smoke now without someone taking my picture?
Hank Aaron
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The pitcher has got only a ball. I've got a bat. So the percentage in weapons is in my favor and I let the fellow with the ball do the fretting.
Hank Aaron
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I'm sure glad this isn't my home ball park.
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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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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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There is no such thing as a bed of roses all your life.
Hank Aaron
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I never doubted my ability, but when you hear all your life you're inferior, it makes you wonder if the other guys have something you've never seen before. If they do, I'm still looking for it.
Hank Aaron
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Does Pete (Rose) hustle? Before the All-Star game he came into the clubhouse and took off his shoes and they ran another mile without him.
Hank Aaron
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The first thing baseball wants to do is make you a superstar and then say that you owe baseball something. I don't owe baseball anything. Baseball owes me.
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.
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There is no logical reason why girls shouldn't play baseball. It's not all that tough.
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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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