I became a baseball fan when right fielders might have been the most talented position in baseball. Interestingly, this probably hurt Aaron's national stature because he was simply one of many amazing right fielders. Let's see how many I can remember...Aaron, Clemente, Williams, Alou, Kaline, Maris, Howard, Colavito, Robinson and of course, my favorite, Johnny Callison.
I feel so blessed to have been able to watch players these athletes, as well as Mays, Mantle, Allen, Ford, Musial and Banks in action. Aaron was so talented but played so effortlessly that he was quite often underappreciated. Clemente and Mays were mercurial, Mantle was majestic and Robinson was combative. Aaron? He just played and did it in a way that you almost didn't notice him till you read the box score.
Of course, so many of these players who have been dying recently were very much a part of my first real experience as a Phillies phan, 1964. Aaron did a lot of damage [along with Joe Torre] during the Braves 4 game sweep of the Phils that knocked the team out of first place for good during the final home stand from Sept 24-27] and played the game with grace, style and skill.
RIP Henry Aaron
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