ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
and Buck’s out of town, so I draw the assignment of escorting my childhood hero through the museum. My all-time favorite baseball player! l was nearly 12 years old when he broke Ruth’s record in 1974 and, as I shared the story with him, when he hit homerun 715 and was circling the bases in Atlanta, I was in my mother’s living room in Crawfordville circling them, too. The old couch, first base. TV, second base. The other couch was third. Our recliner was home plate. The only time that I’ve ever been starstruck and I’m still starstruck is when I’m in the presence of the great Henry Aaron. We’ve had presidents, first ladies, generals, movie stars, and athletes here, and I mean no disrespect to any of them, but none of them is Henry Aaron.”
The museum is about more than baseball, isn’t it? “This is the story of America at her worst and at her triumphant best. You will never see a greater example of love the game. They had to love it in order to endure the things that they had to endure. Go into a town, fill up the ballpark, and yet not be able to get a meal from the same fans who are just cheering for you. This is not a woe-is-mine kind of story. They went out and did something. You won’t let me play with you? I’ll create my own. So, while America was trying to prevent them from sharing the joys of her so-called national pastime, it was the American spirit that allowed them to persevere and prevail. That’s why I say: What’s not to love about this story?”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Joel Nichols has been interviewing fascinating people from Kansas City and around the nation for 35 years. Today, he does freelance work for a number of area organizations, as well as emcee events in our town. Please, visit Joel Nichols Communications, online.
62 | TODAY KANSAS CITY | SUMMER 2020
