How Henry Aaron brought the push for a Black manager to the All-Star Game

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How Henry Aaron brought the push for a Black manager to the All-Star Game
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In 1974, the Atlanta Braves hired an interim manager without considering their home run king. “I think I deserved to be asked,” Hank Aaron said.

Months after he set the career home run record, Henry Aaron wanted to be considered for the Braves' managerial job. A half-century ago, despite growing pressure from civil rights leaders and high-profile Black baseball players, no major league team had hired a Black manager.

In 1974, Aaron also talked up his younger brother Tommie Aaron, who was managing Atlanta’s Class AA team in Savannah, as a candidate for the Braves’ vacancy. When asked about the younger Aaron, Atlanta General Manager Eddie Robinson said, “Tommie is involved in a tight pennant race, and we think it would be unfair to take him out of Savannah at this time” — a comment that the New York Times noted became a “target of derision.

Eddie Robinson, the Braves’ GM, said he was surprised that Aaron was interested in the manager’s job. But then he gave a telling non-answer when asked if the city of Atlanta was ready to accept a Black manager.“News item: Whitey Lockman resigned as manager of the Cubs,” Fitzgerald wrote. “His successor is Jim Marshall — third base coach, white and safe. Not named was Ernie Banks, 20-year superstar and black.

When Aaron made his pointed comments, there was growing anger at the lack of opportunities for Black players after their careers were over.

“Until we crack the area of managers, front-office personnel and coaches, there’s really no hope for black kids coming into sports. We’re giants on the field for 20 years. Then they’re finished with us,” he said, echoing Robinson’s critique. “What baseball needs to do is to give blacks an opportunity to show their ability to lead in other places than just the field.”“He campaigned for baseball to hire a black third-base coach, then a black manager,” Aaron wrote.

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