All Hail Hammerin' Hank

Most underrated?  Please elaborate.  He's on most people's inner circle Top 10-Top 20 All Time.

Cool pic.  I get it... he doesn't seem to carry near the same mystique and fame as Babe Ruth but should  be in the same conversation from a baseball standpoint.  In my small sample size world, most of our HS team players would immediately recognize mention and/or pics of Babe but not of Hank.

I think his accomplishments were diminished somewhat when the steroid era HR's happened in the next generation.  Also, a reserved public personality during playing days kept him largely out of the spotlight most of his career.

In November 1955, El Paso, Texas the Willie Mays "All Stars" barnstorming team played our local US Army "All Stars". Our Army team included many Minor League players.  In Aaron's book, "I got a Hammer" Henry called this the "greatest team in the history of baseball". They won all the 28 games on their tour.

During the 1st inning, Henry was very "relaxed and calm" and our pitcher threw a "fast ball". Henry hit the ball like a golf tee shot over the shortstop's head continued to rise over the light tower.

 Shown are: Don Newcombe/Brooklyn Dodgers, Joe Black/Reds, George Crowe/Braves, Hank Aaron/Braves, Brooks Lawrence/Cardinals, Charlie White/Rochester Red Wings, Connie Johnson/White Sox, Larry Doby/Indians, Lou Louden/Negro League team New York Cubans, Jim Gilliam/Dodgers, Hank Thompson/NY Giants, Willie Mays/Giants, Sam Jones/Cubs, Gene Baker/Cubs, Ernie Banks/Cubs, Monte Irvin NY Giants".

Bob

Thanks Bob!  That's an awesome pic and story too.  Four of those guys in the back row tower over Hank.

CabbageDad;

Connie Johnson pitched that day he is 6'6, Don Newcombe was 6'5, George Crowe [1B] 6'5. At first base, I played "short" RF when Crowe was up.

Bob

He did play in a low offense era so his raw stats don't look as impressive as ruth, bonds and Williams, didn't have those 350 with 50+ homer and 150 rbi seasons.

However he was super consistent at a high level in a not easy to hit in era as the mid to late 60s often were considered a "second dead ball era".

I'd be curious if you were choosing teams between all time players for a game if there would be people that would leave him out.

I think a very high percentage selecting 6 outfielders would place Ruth, Williams and Mays in that group.  From there you have DiMaggio, Robinson, Mantle, Aaron, Musial, and a few others.  Bonds PED probably DQ's him for many.