First person: Seminary professor remembers Hank Aaron’s kindness

By Mark Tolbert
Director, Caskey Center for Church Excellence

As a 16-year-old growing up in Atlanta Georgia, I had a dream job; I was a bat boy for the Atlanta Braves.

Actually, I was bat boy for the visiting team. Every team that came to Atlanta to play the Braves over the summer of 1967 had me as their bat boy for their games. I wore their uniform, worked in the Visiting Clubhouse and rubbed shoulders with future Hall of Famers. I played pitch with Willie Mays!

One day, I arrived at the stadium and realized I had left my cleats at home. It was a few hours before game time, most players were not at the stadium yet, so I took the tunnel over to the Braves Clubhouse. I found my friend, the Braves bat boy. He was also named Mark and was 16, same as me.

I asked if he had an extra pair of cleats I could borrow. He led me over to his locker and offered me his spare pair. I asked, “What size are these?” “Size 8,” he said. “I need a size 10,” I said. “I can’t wear an 8!” He said I was welcome to try. I told him I could not possibly wear a size 8. “I need a pair of 10’s,” I said. ” I don’t know where I am going to get them.”

Someone was standing behind us, overheard our conversation and said, “I have a pair of 10’s you can borrow.” It was Hank Aaron! He took me over to his locker, and loaned me a pair of his shoes to wear for the game that night, which I did.

I like to tell people, “I can fill Hank Aaron’s shoes!” I did … one night … for about four hours. After the game, I shined them and took them back.

Lasting legacy

To this day, it remains one of my best memories. He did not have to do that, but he did. He probably knew what it would mean to me.

He may not have known it would be a story I would tell my grandchildren, 54 years later. One of them texted me this morning to tell me the news of his passing. I texted him back: “He was very kind to me 54 years ago! Be kind!”

Thanks for the memories, Hank! Rest in Peace!

EDITOR’S NOTE — Mark Tolbert is director of the Caskey Center for Church Excellence and professor of preaching and pastoral ministry at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. His tribute originally appeared on Facebook and is used with permission. Hank Aaron died on Jan. 22, 2021. Read more about the baseball legend and Alabama native by clicking here.