MLB legend Hank Aaron on WH visits - 'There’s nobody there I want to see'
Depending on how you feel about Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron is either the uncrowned king of home runs or a still a mighty impressive No. 2 on the all-time list.
Aaron’s 755 home runs, 25 All Star appearances and countless other awards lend themselves to his first-ballot Hall of Fame nomination.
Aaron was also a part of the then-Milwaukee Braves who won the 1957 World Series.
Even though a baseball team was the first sports team to ever visit the White House — President Andrew Johnson welcomed the Brooklyn Atlantics and Washington Nationals amateur baseball teams to visit in 1865 — the tradition of championship teams visiting the White House on an annual basis didn’t begin until the 1980s, so Aaron’s ’57 Braves didn’t have the chance to meet then-President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
But if Aaron were a part of a World Series winner today, he doesn’t seem all that interested in upholding baseball’s longstanding tradition.
“Would I visit the White House? Would I go? I have no reason to go. I’ve been there once or twice. And there’s nobody there I want to see,” Aaron said while speaking at the Hank Aaron Champion for Justice Awards in Atlanta, per The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Aaron made the comments while voicing support for athletes to protest regarding social issues.
“I can understand where the players are coming from. I really do. I understand they have their own issues and things they feel conviction about. They have a right to that, and I probably would be the same way, there’s no question about it,” Aaron said.
“I think they ought to voice their opinion, regardless of what one may think,” Aaron said. “We didn’t get to where we are today because we kept our mouth closed or scratched our head and sat and didn’t do anything. If you have an opinion, then you should voice it and let people know that is your opinion and you’re not speaking for anybody but yourself.”
Aaron actually expressed regret for not being more socially active during his playing days.
“To be honest, I feel somewhat guilty that I didn’t do possibly as much as I could have done,” Aaron said.
Former U.S. attorney general Eric Holder was among those honored at the ceremony and had nothing but praise for Aaron.
“Mr. Aaron is a person I looked up to for as long as I could remember. I knew where I was the day he broke Babe Ruth’s record. He’s one of those people who’s been a quiet force for positive force in this nation, and he doesn’t get the credit,” Holder said.
“People weren’t particularly happy with Tommie Smith and John Carlos when they raised their fists,” Holder said, referring to the 1968 U.S. Olympians and their protest on the medal stand. “But they wanted to talk about equal treatment of people in this country. Sports brings us together. Sometimes it divides us. Often it exposes inequities in our society. That’s a good thing.”
In addition to Holder, longtime sports announcer Bob Costas and Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz of San Juan, Puerto Rico also received awards during the ceremony.
Aaron, for his part, insisted that he was just one man but wants to be a catalyst for change.
“There are certain issues that I try to make people understand I’m not totally satisfied with,” Aaron said. “But I’m only one person.”
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