Hank Aaron: Brave in Every Way

FROM THE MOMENT Hank Aaron was born, on February 5, 1934, his father, Herbert, wanted him to know the joy of playing baseball in open grassy fields, and his mother, Estella, dreamed that one day he would make a difference in
the
world. It was the time of the Great Depression, and like millions of others, Herbert Aaron had great difficulty finding work. He had saved enough to buy some open country land just outside Mobile, Alabama, but he didn’t have the money to buy a house, or even the wood to
build one.
Hank was eight before his dad was finally able to build a small home for his family with the used boards from a torn-down house. The new house had no lights and no windowpanes. It had no bathroom. It had no refrigerator. But inside the Aaron house there was plenty of love. And nearby, in a pecan grove, was an open field for playing ball.
Hank loved living in the country, and he loved playing ball. There were days in school when Hank could think of nothing else. He would stare out the window, wishing he were on the ballfield.
But his mama had her heart set on Hank going to college. “Hank, try to be the best,” she would say. “Set goals for yourself and don’t let anyone stop you from achieving them.”
Hank’s goal was to be a major-league ballplayer. Though his father didn’t want to discourage Hank, he wanted him to be realistic. “There aren’t any colored players in the major leagues,” he reminded Hank.