When I was a kid growing up in the 1950’s and 1960’s - a white kid in an all-white neighborhood - my hero was Hank Aaron. He’s just kicked me in the face.
As a kid growing up, I remember George's black bat, and how he hit 52 homers in 1977.
How I idolized/loved the man.
I recall my dad saying: son watch him, he's one of the greatest hitters ever.
I read of how when the Reds won the WS he wouldn't participate in the champagne celebration, because he was a Godly man, who didn't drink.
The Reds ended up pouring milk over his head as he hid in the shower.
Later I found out that Foster chose his black bat because it "gave him an opportunity to hit something white with a black club".
I'm sorry I EVER looked up to these characters.