Hank Aaron: Milwaukee or Atlanta? [Archive]

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The Kid

10-30-2006, 05:51 PM

KCGHOST

10-30-2006, 06:08 PM

With the Braves 733 HR's. With the Brewers 22 HR's. He did hit more HR's for a Milwaukee team than he did an Atlanta team, though.

efin98

10-30-2006, 06:45 PM

The Braves and the Brewers both retired Hammerin' Hank's #44. Hank spent his career as a mostly Milwaukee Brave. Do you think he should be rembered as Brave or Brewer? I think he's a Brave.

I don't get what you mean by that, he didn't play long enough with the Brewers to be noted for doing anythign other than retiring with them.

He will always be remembered as a Brave. The Brewers retired his number out of respect for his play in the city while a member of the Braves. The team would likely have done the same for Eddie Mathews or Warren Spahn if they played for the Brewers.

The Kid

11-01-2006, 08:39 AM

soberdennis

11-01-2006, 05:58 PM

[QUOTE=efin98]I don't get what you mean by that, he didn't play long enough with the Brewers to be noted for doing anything other than retiring with them

I'm sorry i confused anyone, but i'm askin should he be remembered as Milwaukee or Atlanta.
The title says that. But the poll says Brewer or Brave. Only the most diehard Brewer fan would even consider saying Brewer.
As for what city. I think arguments can be made for either one. He played most of his career in Wisconsin, but had some of his best years and hit his most famous homer in Georgia.

efin98

11-01-2006, 10:12 PM

[QUOTE=efin98]I don't get what you mean by that, he didn't play long enough with the Brewers to be noted for doing anything other than retiring with them

I'm sorry i confused anyone, but i'm askin should he be remembered as Milwaukee or Atlanta.

OK that's what I figured.

As a Milwaukee Brave or as an Atlanta Brave...I'd go with Milwaukee because that's where the bulk of his career was played, the bulk of his hitting was done, and where he won his World Series title.

He broke his longevity records with Atlanta but most of it was done in Milwaukee. He wears an Atlanta cap but that's a bogus move, he should be wearing a Milwaukee cap like Spahn and Mathews.

THE OX

11-27-2006, 08:26 PM

[QUOTE=keepthefaith3]
......hit his most famous homer in Georgia.

Some of us would argue that he hit his most famous homer on September 23rd, 1957 off Billy Muffett of the Cardinals to win the 1957 NL pennant for the MILWAUKEE Braves!

Captain Cold Nose

11-28-2006, 07:46 AM

[QUOTE=soberdennis]

Some of us would argue that he hit his most famous homer on September 23rd, 1957 off Billy Muffett of the Cardinals to win the 1957 NL pennant for the MILWAUKEE Braves!
Joe Lunchpail probably does not know the Braves played in Milwaukee. But he's more than likely seen 715 on replay.
Matthews and Spahn are hardly apt comparison about which cap to wear. For fame purposes, Atlanta isn't a bad choice. It was his tenure in Milwaukee in the 50's and early 60's than made him a HOF'er, though. He's a Brave, no doubt, and both cities have great memories of the man. But Milwaukee is his baseball home in every aspect beyond his most famous moment.

Dodgerfan1

11-28-2006, 07:49 AM

I agree, he's a Brave, first and foremost. The reference to the Brewers is obviously aimed at the city of Milwaukee, not the Brewers as a team, but still, he's a Brave.

THE OX

11-28-2006, 10:53 AM

Hank Aaron played 14 seasons in Milwaukee (12 as a Brave), 9 in Atlanta. He's a MILWAUKEE BRAVE!

BrewCrew1

12-04-2006, 07:08 PM

Hank Aaron = milwaukee Brave

swilcott

01-20-2007, 02:55 PM

I grew up with Hank Aaron and the Milwaukee Braves. Hammerin' Hank is synonymous with Milwaukee Braves like Stan Musial is with the St Louis Cardinals or Mickey Mantle with the NY Yankees.

People younger than 48 or 50, maybe, have no recollection of those days. All they have ever seen/heard/read is about the homer Aaron hit at age 40 to surpass Ruth. (He set the record 755 at 42 as a Milwaukee Brewer, of course.)

Bad Henry's career, his prime and identity were in, and established in, Milwaukee. I think he was Rookie of the Year (?) in '54 - not sure about that one. But, he made himself a star, All-Star, Gold-Glover, NL home run champion, NL MVP, World Series champion, record-setter (part of 1st 4-in-a-row HR with Matthews, Adcock & Frank Thomas) in those wonderful years in Milwaukee.

The Milwaukee Braves (I believe) were the first MLB team is draw 2 million in attendence. It was known as "The Milwaukee Miracle". Try googling that. I did. Couldn't find it. People just don't know what they don't know. All you get nowdays is repetitive propaganda.

Hank Aaron and the Milwaukee Braves were bigger than the GB Packers in those days. Aaron and the Milw. Braves were part of the greatest game ever pitched: Harvey Haddix' 13-inning perfect game - which Haddix lost. The famous shoe-polish/hit batsman incident in the World Series; the 16-inning scoreless duel between Warren Spahn and Juan Marichal; the radio announcer going to commercial saying, "And at the end of 6 innings, our score is Hank Aaron 7, the St Louis Cardinals 3", the batter voted by opposing pitchers as "The last man you want to see come to the plate in a crucial situation": all the Milwaukee Braves and Hank Aaron.

After the Milwaukee Braves were "dragged off" to Georgia, he was still the Milwaukee Braves' Hank Aaron in Atlanta - kind of like the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He was 32 already when the team departed, at a time when players typically retired around 35 due to old age.

Only those who weren't there wouldn't know. Hank Aaron: Milwaukee Braves.
[/EMAIL]

swilcott

01-20-2007, 03:08 PM

shoelessjoe4thehall

01-20-2007, 03:15 PM

The brewers retired his number because he played in milwaukee for a long time.....

The Commissioner

01-20-2007, 03:17 PM

All I have to say is that when Hammering Hank showed up the Cunningham's house it was as a Milwaukee Brave not an Atlanta Brave. If that was cool enough for the Fonz, it's cool enough for me.

Captain Cold Nose

01-24-2007, 07:35 AM

All I have to say is that when Hammering Hank showed up the Cunningham's house it was as a Milwaukee Brave not an Atlanta Brave. If that was cool enough for the Fonz, it's cool enough for me.
"Hey, it's Henry Aaron," Mr. Cunningham, excited that Aaron was in his house and in the commerical for his hardware store.
"That's right, Iggy." Aaron, acknowledging Cunningham by calling him by the name of his "character" in the commercial.

The show was one of the most contrived sitcoms ever, but it had its subime moments.

atlbravesfan

01-30-2007, 03:39 PM

Well I only know of Hammerin' Hank as an Atlanta Brave. I was only 10 when he broke Ruth's 714 HR record. I never had the opportunity to watch him play. I think that if I had grown up watching him come through Milwaukee I would have always thought of him in that way.

I was looking at his HR and RBI numbers:
Mil Brave = 398 HR, 1305 RBI (12 yrs)
Atl Brave = 335 HR, 897 RBI ( 9 yrs)
Mil Brewer = 22 HR, 95 RBI ( 2yrs)

I see Hank was inducted with the A on his cap shown on his HOF plaque. I wonder how many fans didn't like this?

http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers_and_honorees/plaques/images/Aaron_Hank.jpg

BTW, I remember (somewhat) the Happy Days episode, besides appearing in a commercial for Mr. C, I believe Hank autographed Richie's glove before the 1957 WS. So since the show was set in the 50s, it would have looked very out of place and historically incorrect if he was wearing anything else besides a Milwaukee Brave uniform.

CPatt44

01-31-2007, 06:43 PM

Hank Aaron = milwaukee Brave

I agree with this post. "MILWAUKEE BRAVE"

Honus Wagner Rules

03-18-2007, 12:34 AM

Brownie31

03-18-2007, 07:42 AM

Hank Aaron should be thought of as a Brave. Everyone thinks of Babe Ruth as a Yankee-not a Boston Brave.

Brownie31

Iron Jaw

03-21-2007, 08:30 AM

Hank Aaron should be thought of as a Brave. Everyone thinks of Babe Ruth as a Yankee-not a Boston Brave.

Brownie31

Perhaps a good comparison would be Frank Robinson - though the Reds and Orioles didn't make a franchise move anytime during Frank's career. I think more people associate Frank with the Baltimore Orioles, though many of know good and well he had ten solid seasons as a Cincinnati Red before coming to Baltimore and playing six seasons - Frank also managed the Orioles for 3 1/2 seasons. Frank won the MVP with both clubs (1961 Reds, 1966 Orioles), Rookie of the Year with the Reds, a triple crown with the Orioles - but Frank did play in the World Series 4-times as an Oriole (in six seasons) and was part of two world championship teams. Frank made it to the Fall classic once as a Red. Frank also played for the Dodgers, Angels and Indians in the final years of his playing career, but like Aaron in Milwaukee, noone considers Frank as a Dodger, Indian or Angel (though he did get his first managing job in Cleveland - a player/manager).

Thus, that one might be tough - Frank as a Red or Oriole. Frank established himself as a great player in Cincy.

Brownie31

03-21-2007, 10:39 AM

Perhaps a good comparison would be Frank Robinson - though the Reds and Orioles didn't make a franchise move anytime during Frank's career. I think more people associate Frank with the Baltimore Orioles, though many of know good and well he had ten solid seasons as a Cincinnati Red before coming to Baltimore and playing six seasons - Frank also managed the Orioles for 3 1/2 seasons. Frank won the MVP with both clubs (1961 Reds, 1966 Orioles), Rookie of the Year with the Reds, a triple crown with the Orioles - but Frank did play in the World Series 4-times as an Oriole (in six seasons) and was part of two world championship teams. Frank made it to the Fall classic once as a Red. Frank also played for the Dodgers, Angels and Indians in the final years of his playing career, but like Aaron in Milwaukee, noone considers Frank as a Dodger, Indian or Angel (though he did get his first managing job in Cleveland - a player/manager).

Thus, that one might be tough - Frank as a Red or Oriole. Frank established himself as a great player in Cincy, but did nothing

Good points, but I still think Aaron and Ruth are more comparable. Each spent the majority of their career with one club and finished out with another.

Brownie31

Go get em Tigers

02-29-2008, 04:08 PM

and he wanted to leave Atlanta to return to Milwaukee and finish his career, because the fans there loved him so much.

Ralph Zig Tyko

02-29-2008, 05:27 PM

The Hammer was Milwaukee. He was [and is] about as welcome in the south as the boll weevil.

Ralph Zig Tyko

03-01-2008, 12:42 AM

By the way, re: "...he didn't do anything with the Brewers to be remembered for except retire..." Not so. Hank hit 755 (and 754, 753...) (755 is the record, not 715) with the Milwaukee Brewers.
If 755 isn't significant because it was one home run, neither is 715.
Both numbers are no loner significant. Sad but true. Thanks to Barry, Roger and others of their [our] time, the entire record book is insignificant. No longer can we compare generations. Leonard Koppett is turning over in his grave.
Aside, check this out:
http://pushpull.wordpress.com/2007/02/06/rip-selva-lou-burdette/

stejay

03-22-2008, 03:55 AM

A brave. That is what he played as mostly.

MadHatter

04-02-2008, 12:06 PM

I will always think of Hank as a Brave!

whoisonit

04-02-2008, 12:30 PM

The best comparison for Hank with the Brewers is Willie Mays going to the Mets.

Mays number should be retired by the New York Mets, everyone at the time perfectly understood why the Mets got him. They were bringing him 'home' to the city that nurtured and loved him. It was a fluke of greedy ownership that took him away from NY. He couldn't come home to the NY Giants because they no longer existed, the Mets replaced them. He absolutely, 100% is a part of Met history, as are all NY national league players.

It is an exact, parallel situation to Aaron's.

Aaron should be in the Hall as a Milwaukee Brave. Mays as a New York Giant. If for some hypothetical reason that was not possible, they should be inshrined as a Milwaukee Brewer & a NY Met.

It's about the city & it's fans, not the uniform that should be honored.

Honus Wagner Rules

04-04-2008, 04:25 PM

six4three

04-28-2008, 03:18 PM

The Hammer was Milwaukee. He was [and is] about as welcome in the south as the boll weevil.

There is that.

The poll needs a third option: Milwaukee Brave.

Ralph Zig Tyko

04-29-2008, 06:03 PM

There is that.

The poll needs a third option: Milwaukee Brave.
Yes, "that little ol' thang" that reminds us all how the South brings us, has brought us, and always will bring us down as a country.

I have the right to remain silent, I just don't have the ability... thankfully.

swilcott

10-17-2008, 03:14 PM

The poll question misses the point, unfortunately. Aaron was a Milwaukee Brave.
Also, the photo one participant posted sums up the perception problem. Most fans nowdays weren't around for the Milwaukee Braves and the only thing they've ever seen or heard about was one swing of the bat when Aaron was 40. To those of us who were around in his heyday in Milwaukee, seeing Aaron or any Brave with an "A" on his cap looks funny and out-of-place.
Best wishes.