The Atlanta Hammers?

Just because there’s been a smattering of social media posts calling for the Braves to change their name to the Hammers, don’t think it will happen. It’s just two different people are selling t-shirts, fighting over who had the idea first.

I’ll tell you who had the idea first – me. Back in the 80’s and 90’s I was one of the creative geniuses who came up with the Camp SPdL team names (along with Don and Lang and Rich Morris). Shovels. Rakes. Hammers. Hedge Clippers. Lima Beans. Mexican Jumping Beans. Laredo’s, Cherokees, Wranglers, Roswell Roadsters. Peachtree Battlers. Downtown Connectors. Buford Highway Patrol. I guess some aren’t politically correct any more.

I am all for honoring Aaron – but to rename the team the Hammers? I'm not so sure. I can think of several better names. Like one of those old Camp SPdL team names. Or maybe the Braves.

A great idea would be to wear the 1974 feather uniforms all year, or at least every weekend home and away. But since the team needs to sell more jerseys to pay for all those free agents the fans think they need, Wearing the throwbacks would be a great way to distance themselves from the tomahawk, if the team is so inclined.

This weekend’s Senior Bowl, based in Aaron’s hometown of Mobile AL, will honor Hank by wearing jersey patches. The Falcons, Hawks, and Jackets will retire Hank’s 44 for the 2021 season. The Dream has a star player they’re trying to resign, who wears 44.

With Aaron and Niekro gone, Dale Murphy and Chipper are now the face of the Braves. Chipper is perfect for Braves Country, with his good ole boy mannerisms and perfect Southern way of talking. Glavine is too stoic, and Smoltz too much of a national figure. One day Freddie Freeman will join them. We might start seeing more of Marquis Grissom, since he is so active in the community. Perhaps McCann and Francoeur.

https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__apnews.com_c0fada6b4b79ffcf07c0cb052e487ad4&d=DwICAg&c=UXihhqr7vvdA-hrKyTiC1Q&r=wMWwaEbn9nr4zXI4p6CDP7FGwn1DrBd77MJElrWsP6U&m=n9IedLcx-rd9S6ARBfRAl9-w-0h5j-F-i5Z8Lm7SxwY&s=8R6og7b70A0nx1dO5MAe83TaotexuABknMYIntWkLmw&e=

Hank Aaron and his brother, Tommie, combined for 768 homers. The most by any brothers in baseball. More than the Alou’s. More than the DiMaggio’s.

https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__usat.ly_1gEIpm6&d=DwIFAg&c=UXihhqr7vvdA-hrKyTiC1Q&r=wMWwaEbn9nr4zXI4p6CDP7FGwn1DrBd77MJElrWsP6U&m=YHeVbP7JXZ6hjxQfVxZDVTUr4NgzASdDc8eMH2Nh3jk&s=Avec3TTu88RdsOX4tp6-Brtzs081fH7szM04hhpAo4w&e=

Hank took rookies Dusty Baker and Ralph Garr under his wing. It’s one of the reasons Baker signed with the Braves instead of going to college. Dusty and the Roadrunner were roommates back then.

https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.mlb.com_news_dusty-2Dbaker-2Dhank-2Daaron-2Dmentor&d=DwICAg&c=UXihhqr7vvdA-hrKyTiC1Q&r=wMWwaEbn9nr4zXI4p6CDP7FGwn1DrBd77MJElrWsP6U&m=42YMRfC7rREyXZGYF3QkTAISt9PVKTu7SPAAJI-LfpA&s=mkyTa0tD6wLbIoEcPcxwcZSPuYbNfA2AL5QmAS7YAnc&e= 

_{A private memorial service for Aaron was held at Truist Park today, live streamed on AJC.com. Speakers included McGuirk, Manfred, Glavine, Smoltz, Snitker, Freeman, Dusty, Murphy, Grissom, and Chipper. At the end tenor Timothy Miller sang Amazing Grace. You can watch here.}

https://www.youtube.com/braves?partnerId=zh-20210126-278481-ATL&bt_ee=In%2FpLsPTYPJXCO5Q9CQjE%2BFc0JTbGwnkyDVFD5jpbKQqbb2dp%2FRzMYP5U6X%2BDSXX&bt_ts=1611675053015

_{Private funeral tomorrow at Friendship Baptist Church, down near Mercedes Benz Stadium. Bill Clinton and Bud Selig expected to attend.}

_{https://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-braves/honoring-hank-aaron-funeral-arrangements-set/VPZ7XJ64HRFBJFBRKD73FGNPLI/}

_{Great Aaron article by Lang, recounting the time he met the Home Run King. Don Head got to meet him as well. I’ve met several Braves both past and present, but never Aaron.}

_{https://www.grindcitymedia.com/2021/01/25/langs-world-saying-farewell-to-henry-aaron-who-changed-baseball-and-the-south-210125/}

_{Uni Watch focused on Aaron yesterday. Interesting tidbits.} 

_{https://uni-watch.com/2021/01/25/a-uni-watch-look-at-hammerin-hank/}

TERRY MULHOLLAND  [B-R Bio] one-time Pittsburgh Pirates’ pitcher had three separate stints with the San Francisco Giants. Pitched in 22 games for PIT in 2001. Played for SFG in 1986 88, 89 and again in 1995 and finally in 1997. He once earned an assist by throwing his glove to first base. On 03-Sep-1986, in the bottom of the 3rd, when NYM’s Keith Hernandez led off with a grounder to the pitcher, the ball got stuck in the webbing of his glove. Mulholland threw his glove with the ball in it, to first-baseman Bob Brenly who caught both for the putout. Orlando Hernandez (1999) & Darryl Kile (2001) have also been recorded making almost the same play. 

Mulholland has recorded at least one pitching victory against every existing major league team. Since 1998 when MLB grew to 30 teams, Mulholland and 18 others pitchers have beaten each one.  Mulholland’s favorites to face were WSN (17-5, 3.11 ERA) and LAD (9-7, 2.25 ERA). In his twenty seasons in the majors, he made the All-Star team just once, but he made it as the starting pitcher. Named starting pitcher to the 1993 ASG by ATL manager Bobby Cox. He pitched two innings, surrendering a solo HR by Kirby Puckett.

Article: things to do after 6 pm that will enrich your life.

1. Read for pleasure.

2. Pursue your favorite passion: writing, art, cooking, learning a new language or skill.

3. Learn more about a topic you are interested about.

4. Take a course in a completely different domain. Mainly online college courses are free, especially for those 62 and older. Try Yale’s The Science of Well Being.

5. Pick up an unusual artistic hobby. Painting. Photography. Music.

6. Build more authentic and deeper relationships.

7. Exercise. Beats watching TV.

8. Get plenty of sleep.

https://www.theladders.com/career-advice/6-better-things-to-do-after-6-p-m-thatll-enrich-your-life?ltm=pUjxc6wO9FqIEbFVrAcv9oWx0HVcrp6FMXwUiNsrbiPzrVnNdf8trxHuoYip6FOa&subscriber_type=member&utm_content=dnl-2021-1-23&utm_campaign=daily-newsletter&utm_source=member&utm_medium=email

_{Stopped by Wendy’s on the way to small group. Good session on John 10:22-41. We think we have it bad. Jesus was constantly being harassed by the Pharisees and other Jews, who were more inclined to believe the fake news of the Pharisees than believe that Jesus was the son of God. The Pharisees wanted to keep their power, which was threatened by Jesus. The more things change, the more they stay the same.}

Were you awakened at 2 am by the storm sirens? We were. Ceil went downstairs but didn’t turn on the TV. I stayed in bed because there was zero wind, zero rain. Finally I went downstairs and turned on Glenn Burns. None of the other channels had broken into regular programming. The storm was headed right toward us, then Burns said the tornado warning was cancelled, and they went back to Kelly & Ryan talking about Hank Aaron. We got a little rain, but we went back to bed.