"Circling the Bases" with Hammerin' Hank

Henry "Hank" Aaron

Major League Baseball home run King Hank Aaron passed away on January 22, 2021. His death brought to mind a Hank Aaron-related experience I had a number of years earlier. 

Twenty-seven years after Aaron hit home run 715, I was in Atlanta covering Gonzaga in the 2001 NCAA Basketball Tournament. During some down time, we drove over to the then-newer Braves Stadium. It was built on the same land as the old Fulton County Stadium where Aaron hit the record-setting home run.

Working in the satellite truck/interviewing
Gonzaga Head Coach Mark Few & forward
Casey Calvary

Hank's milestone was marked by the same piece of outfield wall, still erected in place, where the ball flew over the left field fence. It was located in the middle of the vast parking lot. The old Fulton County base paths were marked with the location of the old bases set in cement in the asphalt parking lot.

I was behind the wheel of a rental car with two co-workers. I revved the engine at "home plate" then gunned it and we fishtailed as we flew around the bases. As the car barreled toward home plate again, I slammed on the brakes and we screeched across the plate..."SAFE!"

Good times, good times!