I Had a Hammer: The Hank Aaron Story by Hank Aaron Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of I Had a Hammer: The Hank Aaron Story
Book Review: Aaron Hits A Home Run
Summary: 5 Stars
In his autobiography, Henry Aaron takes you back to the beginning of his baseball career and makes you feel that you were right there with him. You felt the hurt, disgust and anger that he did as he confronted racism around every corner and in every ballpark. And he handled it all with such dignity. It follows his career from Milwaukee, a city that loved him and still does, to Atlanta, a city that never fully understood or appreciated him. Whether you are a baseball fan or not, this book looks at social issues and how it related to baseball of that era and transended into today. I strongly recommend this to anyone who just wants to read a terrific life story. Book Review: Superb Book By a Man of Class
Summary: 5 Stars
This is an excellent baseball autobiography, and one of the best of its genre. Henry (Hank) Aaron speaks with an impressive dignity, in a book he wrote (with Lonnie Wheeler) 15 years after his playing days ended. Aaron describes his early life, from growing up in the segregated south, to playing as a teen for the then-declining Negro leagues, to his helping integrate the minor leagues down south. He then describes reaching the majors in 1954 at age 20, where he was soon a superstar on the powerhouse Milwaukee Braves teams of Eddie Mathews, Warren Spahn, Lew Burdette, etc. Aaron recalls being well-treated by the Milwaukee fans, in contrast to the reception he received after the team moved to Atlanta in 1966. He also describes the pressure as he neared Babe Ruth's home run record in 1973-74, including hate mail and even death threats. Racism had a hand in many of Aaron's experiences as a player and baseball executive, and he leaves an impression by confronting prejudice in a firm but reasoned manner.
Hank Aaron was a calm, steady, not-that-colorful superstar playing in smaller markets. For these reasons he never got the attention of other star players (at least before his home run chase). Aaron isn't perfect, but he speaks with dignity and class. This is an impressive biography by an impressive man.
Book Review: One From The Heart.
Summary: 5 Stars
Henry Aaron is probably the most underrated baseball player of all time. His story is seldom told or mysticized like other baseball gods. 'I Had A Hammer' is story from the heart. Honest and bold, it tells of Aaron's and other black players' struggle to make it in the big leagues. A must read even if you have the slightest interest in baseball.Book Review: Goes Beyond all of the Home Runs.....
Summary: 5 Stars
In this book, you'll find out that Hank Aaron is not just a home run smasher. Statistics show that he is an excellent all-round player, probably better than most fans make him out to be.On top of being a star, Aaron's story is amazing with all of the racism, discrimination & hate that he went through.
After reading this book, you will probably wonder why No. 715 was only SECOND on mastercard's most memorable moments. Also, you may, like me, want Hank to keep the home run record forever. I'd rather have someone who worked hard for it than a hideously overpaid A-Rod, or stuck-up Bonds.
Bottom line: get this book if you enjoy sports at all.
Book Review: Beyond just another sports biography
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a terrific autobiography that transcends the classification of sports writing. It is written in a style and format that that is compelling and informative. The typical sports biographies tell a series of funny and dramatic inside stories around memorable moments in sports history that the subject participated in. When well done, the reader gets what he or she is looking for and then some. When poorly done we get some stale jokes, old stories and an inept attempt at describing the true meaning of courage. In "I Had a Hammer" Henry Aaron and Lonnie Wheeler have given us a glimpse at a young black man growing up in the Deep South to become the greatest home run hitter of all time. In the odyssey we see the elements of society alternately denigrate and celebrate this gifted athlete. We are given these insights through the co-writer's preambe to each chapter and the personal recollections of key players in the life and career of Hank Aaron. This array of perspectives is excellently done and gives the book a good flow. What gives it the greatest impact is the candid personal recollections of Mr. Aaron. He is outspoken in his contempt for the elements of racism that followed (or is it lead) him every step of the way to the top. Yet he is forgiving of many who may have slurred his race in the past and then later learned to overcome their biased opinions. Much of that transition came through their experiences with him and other early black major league ball players. This is a book about our nation's racial attitudes as seen through the experiences of the author. Don't be mistaken, this is still an excellent book for the sports fan. The casual fan will come away with a greater sense of sports history. The Braves fan will really enjoy some of the historic events recreated in the middle chapters. The Milwaukee fan need only read the last paragraph of chapter 7 and a tear or two will likely fall. The Atlanta fan will come away with a challenge to accept the validity of Aaron's view of his experiences in that city. Some will and some won't. However, all sports fans will come away with an excellent education on race relations in America from the 1930' to very recent years. They will gain this insight not through a lecture by the authors but by the very human expressions of a man telling his own compelling story.