Sport Slices

The world of sport lost two great competitors last week with the passing of Henry Aaron and George Armstrong. Both men had outstanding careers, and were inducted into their respective Halls of Fame.

George Armstrong was born in Skead, Ontario, not far from Sudbury. His father was a nickel miner, and his mother was aboriginal. He was encouraged to play sports, especially hockey, in his youth. He played for the Copper Cliff Junior Redmen, and for the Sudbury High School team with Tim Horton. He was signed to the Toronto Maple Leafs protected list, and sent south to play for Stratford.

In 1950, he moved to Toronto, playing for the Junior and the Senior Marlboro teams. He won the Allan Cup with the Senior team. He played a couple of games the following season for the Leafs, but was sent to the minor team in Pittsburgh for a couple of years of seasoning. In 1952, he returned to the Leafs, spending the next 21 seasons in Toronto. He was named captain by Conn Smythe, and he wore the “C” for 11 seasons. He won the Stanley Cup four times, the last in 1967. That is such a painful reminder to Leaf fans.

He continued on in the game, primarily as a scout. He coached the Junior Marlies to two Memorial Cup Championships in the 72-73 and 73-74 seasons. He also had a brief stint behind the Leaf bench, not one he particularly enjoyed.

He enjoyed his role as a scout. He rarely missed a game at the Gardens, and was often seen at the Quinte Sports Centre in Belleville. He was an imposing figure, well over six feet tall, and broad-shouldered. He always chatted with local fans at the Bulls' games.

He played more games for the Leafs than any other player. He entered the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1975. Armstrong died January 24^th. He was 90 years old.

“Hammerin' Hank of the Braves” was the name given to one of the best baseball players ever to step into the batter's box. Hank Aaron was born February 5, 1934 in Mobile, Alabama. He was a wonderful natural athlete. In order to practise hishome runs. batting skills, he used broom sticks and bottle caps, a common activity in the southern states.

He and his brother Tommie, who also played Major League baseball moved from the high school sand lots to play organized baseball. Aaron played briefly for the Indianapolis Clowns. When he completed his Major League career in Milwaukee, he was the last player from the Negro Leagues still active in the game.

Aaron is best known as the player who broke Babe Ruth's home run record of 714. He knocked the ball pitched by Al Downing of the Los Angeles Dodgers into the left field bullpen, rounded the bases and was greeted by his teammates and fans at home plate. Needless to say, a tremendous weigt was lifted from his shoulders.

Aaron was no slouch on the field. He had three Gold Glove Awards in his trophy case as the best fielder in his position.

Many of you will remember the term “batting cross-handed”. You weere simply told not to do it. When you batted right-handed, from the left side of the plate, your right hand would have to be closer to the top of the bat. Until he was 18 years old, Aaron batted cross-handed. Good thing he made the adjustment!

He went north in 1952 to play in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, for the Bears. The following year, he played in Jacksonville, Florida, before moving up to the Braves, first in Milwaukee, then to Atlanta.

As can be expected, he dealt with racism much of his career. At one restaurant in the south, he heard the kitchen staff smashing the plates he had used, so that they could never be used again. He often received plenty of mail, some of it dreadful. The post office reported that it had processed almost a million letters the year he broke Ruth's record.

He still holds the record with 2 297 runs-batted-in, and extra base hits with 1 477. Perhaps his finest year was 1957, when he was the Most Valuable Player, and the Braves won the World Series.

Aaron passed away on January 22^nd. He was 86 years old.

May they both rest in peace.

James Hurst

January 26, 2021