Breaking

A poem by Ed Romond

A few weeks back I was fortunate to attend a wonderful event by The Carriage House Poetry Series in my town of Fanwood. The event featured readings by Edwin Romond the author of five collections of poetry. I had recently finished some research on Hank Aaron and a post that you may have read about the anniversary of his momentous achievement breaking Babe Ruth’s home run record. One of Ed’s poems was about that very event and he gave me permission to post his wonderful poem here.

Breaking In memory of Hank Aaron (1934-2021)

1953 in Washington, DC Hank Aaron could see the Capitol Dome, glistening symbol of freedom, through windows of the cafe where he and his black teammates had just finished breakfast. After the waitress took their plates to the kitchen he heard glassware breaking, smashed so no one else would use them, so no one else would eat from plates that had touched the forks that had been in the mouths of black American men.

But Hank would answer hate with excellence playing baseball with graceful greatness through the 50’s, 60’s and, on one Atlanta night in ’74, did his own breaking, smashing #715, one more homer than Babe Ruth whose record stood unshattered for five decades. And in 2002 Aaron returned to Washington, DC this time to stand in the White House, just blocks from that cafe, to receive the “Presidential Medal of Freedom” from George W. Bush and as the East Room audience stood and cheered, Hank’s face broke into a grand slam smile before sitting down to dine on the First Family china.

This poem can be found in Ed Romond’s award-winning poetry collection “Man at the Railing” published by NQY Books http://www.nyq.org

The Carriage House Poetry Series of Fanwood NJ is co-directed by poets Adele Kenny and Tom Plante. https://carriagehousepoetryseries.blogspot.com/

Adele is the poetry editor of Tiferet. Tom is the editor of Exit 13 Magazine

Let’s Hear it for Hammerin’ Hank on the 50th Anniversary of his Record Breaking 715th Home Run

It was fifty years ago today that Hammerin’ Hank Aaron hit his 715th home run surpassing Babe Ruth’s long-standing record for lifetime home runs. On that cool early April afternoon in 1974 in Atlanta Stadium Aaron blasted a deep fly ball over the left-field wall against LA Dodger lefty Al Downing and became Major League Baseball’s all-time home run king.

I remember watching the momentous event with a small group of my college buddies. Yes, we cut classes to watch it. We had our priorities in order, although we were thankful that Hank came through that day saving us any further conflicts with our priorities.

Growing up a Yankee fan in the northeast in the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s I didn’t get to see Aaron on a regular basis. But I’ll never forget attending a mid-60’s game at Shea Stadium, Mets against the Braves. We had great seats in the loge section courtesy of the corporate perks of my buddy’s father. I distinctly remember being in awe of Aaron. He had an almost regal presence as he slowly ambled up to the plate. He had an unusual habit of carrying his helmet to home plate and then slowly donning it over his cloth hat as he settled into the batter’s box. He would then take one or two practice swings flexing his powerful wrists. Aaron was known for his powerful wrists. (As kids and wannabe ball players we actually did Hank Aaron inspired exercises to strengthen our wrists.) Then with a flick of those wrists Aaron treated us with a long home run. One of his 755 lifetime home runs. Most of us at that time thought it would be Mickey Mantle or Willie Mays who would pass the legendary Babe. But looking back on it, if my college self could tell my teenage self, “Hey, Hammerin’ Hank just passed the Babe,” my teenage self would have said, “Wow! Hey, I knew he could do it!”

Hank Aaron’s 23-year Major League Baseball career spanned three decades playing for only two cities, Milwaukee, and Atlanta and only two teams the Braves for 21 years and his final two years in 1975-76 with the Milwaukee Brewers.

He is the all-time leader in RBI’s, extra base hits, and total bases. He is second in lifetime home runs to Barry Bonds and second in at bats to Pete Rose. During his Hall of Fame career, he led the National League in home runs four times, RBI’s four times and batting average twice.

In 1957 he won the National League MVP award while leading the Braves to a World Championship over the New York Yankees.

Hank Aaron passed away in 2021 at the age of 86.

Many regard Aaron as the best professional baseball player of all time.

Reference: baseball-reference.com

In Praise of Albert Pujols

On Friday night Albert Pujols hit the 699^th and 700^th home runs of his illustrious career. Only three other major leaguers have hit 700 or more home runs. Babe Ruth was the first, finishing his career in 1935 with 714 home runs. That number remained the gold standard for 39 years until Hank Aaron surpassed it in 1974. Hammerin’ Hank finished his career in 1976 with 755 round trippers. It would take another 33 years until Barry Bonds passed Aaron in 2007. Bonds holds the all-time record as he finished his career with 762.

Albert Pujols’ 700th Career Home Run – Bing video

Although Pujols may still have plenty left in the tank he has vowed to end his 22-year career at the end of this season. His production numbers have dropped dramatically over the past several years. Pujols saw a modest resurgence this year fueled by a return to his beloved St. Louis Cardinals and the implementation of the DH in the National League, but it is unlikely that if he continued playing, he could seriously challenge the Bonds home run record.

Yet what a way to go out! Prince Albert will add 700 home runs to the list of the incredible achievements of his 22-year career which include three MVP awards, the 2001 Rookie of the Year award and two-time NL home run leader. Pujols also is the only player in major league history to hit 400 home runs in his first ten seasons.

A fabulous way to end a remarkable Hall-of-Fame career.

Stats per baseball-reference.com