The baseball world lost a legend on Friday morning when Hank Aaron passed away at the age of 86. According to USA TODAY Sports, Aaron died after suffering a massive stroke.
“His incredible talent and resolve helped him achieve the highest accomplishments, yet he never lost his humble nature. Henry Louis Aaron wasn’t just our icon, but one across Major League Baseball and around the world,” the Braves said in a statement.
Aaron certainly had a way with a baseball bat—beating Babe Ruth’s long held home run record in 1974—but he also had a certain way with words.
Throughout his storied career and life, Aaron overcame many obstacles, battling poverty, racism and segregation to reach the pinnacle of professional success. He confronted each of these challenges with trademark wit, grace and kindness. In setting an example with his life, he also offered a lot of words of wisdom for others to live by.
As we remember the man and the legend, here are some of his most famous quotes.
On baseball
“My motto was always to keep swinging. Whether I was in a slump or feeling badly or having trouble off the field, the only thing to do was keep swinging.”
“I’m not trying to make anyone forget the Babe; but only to remember Hank Aaron.”
“Making the majors is not as hard as staying there, staying interested day after day. It’s like being married. The hardest part is to stay married.”
“I never smile when I have a bat in my hands. That’s when you’ve got to be serious. When I get out on the field, nothing’s a joke to me. I don’t feel like I should walk around with a smile on my face.”
“Didn’t come up here to read. Came up here to hit.”
“The pitcher has got only a ball. I’ve got a bat. So the percentage in weapons is in my favor and I let the fellow with the ball do the fretting.”
“I like those lefties, but when you’re hitting, all pitchers look alike. I don’t care too much who’s throwing or what he throws. When my timing is off, I have trouble; when it ain’t, I don’t.”
“You got to play a hundred and fifty games a year, so pick your spots. You can miss two games a month; so pick the days you’re gonna be hurt, or you’re gonna rest or you’re gonna have a drink or two. The rest of the time, be on that field.”
On racism
“It really made me see for the first time a clear picture of what this country is about. My kids had to live like they were in prison because of kidnap threats, and <a href="http://I had to live like a pig in a slaughter camp. I had to duck. I had to go out the back door of the ball parks. I had to have a police escort with me all the time. I was getting threatening letters every single day. All of these things have put a bad taste in my mouth, and it won’t go away. They carved a piece of my heart away.”
On life
“In playing ball, and in life, a person occasionally gets the opportunity to do something great. When that time comes, only two things matter: being prepared to seize the moment and having the courage to take your best swing.”
“Failure is a part of success. There is no such thing as a bed of roses all your life. But failure will never stand in the way of success if you learn from it.”
On his legacy
“I’m hoping someday that some kid, black or white, will hit more home runs than myself. Whoever it is, I’d be pulling for him.”
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