Overfield and Billoni recognize Hank Aaron’s contributions to baseball and Buffalo

Wed May 29, 2024 7:55 p.m.

By Michael J. Billoni

Senior Contributing Editor

Last Friday, outside the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, we met with a gracious Billye Aaron, the widow of Henry Lewis “Hammerin’ Hank” Aaron, to present her with a plaque titled “The Connection of Henry Aaron with Buffalo, New York.” It was a day after the unveiling of a bronze statue of her husband, and moments before the ribbon was cut for the museum’s new exhibit, “Souls of the Game: Voices of Black Baseball.”

The plaque was created by Dr. James H. Overfield, Ph.D. and me, editors of the book “The Seasons of Buffalo Baseball 1857-2020.”

Aaron’s connection to the Queen City began in 1952 inside the old Offermann Stadium, located at Masten and Woodlawn avenues in east Buffalo. He was a powerful 18-year-old shortstop, born in Mobile, Alabama, in 1934, idolizing baseball great Jackie Robinson.

He signed with the Indianapolis Clowns of the Negro American League, and for some reason the Clowns took up residence in Buffalo in 1952. According to Randy Anderson, president of the Chautauqua County Hall of Fame, the Clowns even played one game, without Aaron, in Jamestown that summer.

In his biography, “I Had a Hammer,” Aaron refers to his summer in Buffalo as “My Base.” He was heavily recruited by Major League Baseball scouts and wanted to sign with the New York Giants and join his friend Willie Mays. However, the Boston Braves signed him for $350 per month, $100 more than the Giants offered.

As the former general manager of the Buffalo Bisons, I attended alumni games in 1985 at War Memorial Stadium and in 1988 at Pilot Field when Aaron attended, earning him the distinction of being the only member of the Baseball Hall of Fame to play for Buffalo’s Bisons. three stadiums dating back almost 75 years.

The plaque presented to Mrs. Aaron, Henry Aaron Jr., the presidents of the Baseball Hall of Fame and the Negro League Museum.

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The plaque includes a photo of the Offermann Stadium monument that now hangs outside the School of Performing Arts; four black and white photos of Offermann Stadium; a photo of Aaron in his Clowns uniform and a baseball card of him from the 1985 alumni game, which was part of the Bisons’ centennial celebration. Below these photos is a photo taken at that 1985 game by C. Douglas Hartmayer, retired NFTA public affairs director and member of the Cardinal O’Hara High School Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame.

Mrs. Aaron, accompanied by her granddaughter and aspiring television journalist, Emily Haydel, was extremely grateful and her eyes lit up when she saw the photo of her husband with Ernie Banks, the Hall of Fame legend. Chicago Cubs.

“They were close friends,” she said softly.

When asked if her husband ever spoke about his year with the Clowns in Buffalo, she replied, “Briefly. Henry didn’t like to talk much about himself or his accomplishments.

Michael J. Billoni presenting a plaque to Mrs. Billye Aaron, widow of Henry “Hank” Aaron.

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When asked for her reaction when the Hall of Fame unveiled “Keep Swinging,” a bronze statue of her husband, created by nationally renowned sculptor William Behrends, “It was just incredible,” said Mrs. Aaron. “It’s a feeling that’s hard to describe. I’m so, so proud that this happened and now Henry will be here at the Hall of Fame Museum for everyone to see. I was so happy that our family and friends from Atlanta were here to share this wonderful experience with us.

Aaron retired in 1976 after playing 21 seasons for the Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves of the National League and the Milwaukee Brewers of the American League. At the time of his retirement, Aaron held most of the game’s key career power records, including the most famous, breaking Babe Ruth’s home run record of 714 on April 8, 1974, when he hit no. 715 in Atlanta against Los Angeles. Angeles Dodgers left-hander Al Dowling. Aaron finished his career with 755 home runs, a record that stood for 33 years until Barry Bonds eclipsed it during the so-called steroid era.

Reflecting on her post-playing career, Ms Aaron said her husband particularly loved the Chasing the Dream Foundation which they founded to inspire young people to develop their skills and pursue their passions. It presents the Dreamchaser Scholarship each year to students with limited financial capabilities from across the country.

Michael J. Billoni presenting a plaque to Henry Aaron Jr., son of the Hall of Fame great.

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This point was echoed by the eldest son, Henry Aaron Jr., to whom we also presented a plaque.

“As much as my father was proud of his baseball accomplishments, he was extremely proud that he was able to send 77 students to college through the foundation’s Dreamchaser scholarships,” Aaron Jr. said proudly. “Education was very important for him, but he always told me that it was much more important to be a better person than to be a better baseball player.”

Michael J. Billoni presenting a plaque to Josh Rawitch, president of the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.

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Josh Rawitch, president of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, was very proud to see the Aaron statue unveiled in the hall the same weekend as “Souls of the Game; The “Voices of Black Baseball” exhibit opened and the old Negro League East vs. West All-Star baseball game was recreated with former big league baseball players Saturday inside Doubleday Park .

“Unveiling the statue was an incredible experience,” Rawitch said after receiving a copy of our book and a plaque for the Hall of Fame Museum. “Having Billye here and so many family members was extremely special. You could see how touched Billye was to look at Hank and realize what he had done on and off the field and now he will be a part of this Hall of Fame forever.

Jane Forbes Clark, President of the Hall of Fame, said: “Henry Aaron is a player whose legacy off the field has only become more powerful since his incredible playing career ended nearly 50 years. »

After signing with the Braves – five seasons after Robinson joined the all-white Major League – Aaron became the first black player in the South Atlantic League. He grew up the son of sharecropper parents in Mobile, a hotbed of baseball, as well as the indignities of the Jim Crow era.

When he was here in 1985, I arranged a meeting with Aaron and several of our older Bison baseball fans. Aaron spoke bluntly, but without bitterness, about the racism he faced throughout his career, including the death threats he received during his pursuit of Aaron’s record.

He pledged to continue advocating for changes, such as no minorities in the front office or ownership of professional sports teams. Regardless of the topic, Aaron always presented himself with class and humility.