On Monday, we said “happy birthday” to the greatest Yankees catcher/outfielder of all-time. The Hall-of-Fame legend Yogi Berra has remained around the game of baseball since being released by the New York Mets on May 7, 1965 after just four games. He managed the New York Yankees, Mets, and coached with the Houston Astros before retiring. Later, Berra opened the Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center in New Jersey which offers baseball camps and sports-related workshops.
There are other living legends around the game of baseball. “Hammerin’” Hank Aaron is the most influential legend in the game today. He was the greatest outfielder of Braves and Milwaukee Brewers history. Aaron is most known for breaking Babe Ruth’s home run record on April 8, 1974 with his 715th long ball. Though that record was broken by Barry Bonds on August 7, 2007, many fans today still view Hank Aaron as the true home run king. Hank Aaron has been involved in the Braves front offices and management since retiring as a player.
Among the records that Aaron holds, he is a civil rights activist. As he began to approach Ruth’s record, the Braves management and front offices were receiving thousands of letters, many containing death threats. Aaron did not stutter his game or his words. “On the field, blacks have been able to be super giants. But, once our playing days are over, this is the end of it and we go back to the back of the bus again.” [http://www.biography.com/people/hank-aaron-9173497 ]
Of course we cannot forget about twenty-one time All-Star outfielder Willie Mays, who also recently celebrated a birthday (May 6). He won 12 Gold Gloves as a member of the New York/San Francisco Giants. For his .981 fielding percentage and his 156.2 WAR (Wins Above Replacement), Mays is remembered as the greatest outfielder in baseball history. Mays has a lifetime appointment as the special assistant to the president of the San Francisco Giants. Though this Hall-of-Fame legend will forever be among the immortals of baseball.
But what could today’s players learn from these living legends? Yogi Berra would catch with a finger outside of his glove. He would also talk to batters during at bats in an attempt to distract them. Hank Aaron’s demeanor both on and off the field is worth emulating. With so many international players in sports today, civil rights has never been more important. And “The Say Hey Kid,” Willie Mays played with such exuberance at all times, but was also a peacemaker. Are these lessons far greater than the statistical lessons of the game?
Sure, these three legends could walk on the field today and talk to players about squaring up a pitch, reading a ball off the bat, making sure they throw a four-seam fastball to their teammate for a putout, but is that really teaching today’s players? All of that is elementary. See the ball, hit the ball. See the ball, catch the ball. Simple.
The players that came before, and are legends, are legends because they stood for something great while playing great. Henry “Hank” Aaron is outspoken about civil rights. Today’s players can learn from his example. Just like Jackie Robinson, don’t back down just because someone does not like what you are doing, keep pressing forward with everything you’ve got. Yogi Berra and Willie Mays had fun with the game. Berra is most famous for his “Yogi-isms” while Mays is famous for “the catch” made in the World Series of 1954.
Do players today need to make “circus” catches? No, though it is entertaining to fans (and other players, coaches, and managers). Should players be trying to distract the opposing team? No, there are rules in place now to try to prevent that, but they can talk to each other on the base paths and joke around. Remember guys, you are playing a game, have fun out there! But most importantly, give it all you have.
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