September 15, 1997

 

SPORTS RECORDS AND PUBLIC PERCEPTION

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Last week, the Los Angeles Times Sports section had a big story about how Hank Aaron, the all time home run leader, was burned out with baseball. Hank feels that he hasn't gotten the recognition he deserves. He thinks that he has always been overshadowed by Babe Ruth.

Aaron hit 755 home runs in 12,364 at bats, while Ruth hit 714 homers in 8,399 at bats. Thus, looking at this in terms of home run production per at bat, Aaron comes in at 6.1 percent, with Ruth logging in at 8.5 percent. Moreover, in terms of impact, Ruth did it in a much shorter chronological time.

Ruth was a huge star, who completely dominated his sport, and had exceptional talent. Aaron had more longevity, if less spectacular ability. What does this all mean?

Very simple. All records must be viewed in context. If some baseball player wants the world to forget Ruth, all he has to do, is to hit 80 homers in one season. People love sensational feats, and longevity can't quite compare.

Aaron and others like to make veiled references to race being a factor. But beyond racist lunatics, this has not been a consideration in sports for years. Rest assured, the guy who hits 80 home runs in a single season--regardless of race--will be put on a pedestal higher than Ruth's, even if he does nothing else ever again.

Fans also tend to be impressed by "who did it first." For example, most folks remember that Roger Bannister was the first man to run a sub 4 minute mile. Does anyone remember the second?

Being there first counts for a lot. Alexander Graham Bell is universally recognized as the father of the telephone. In truth, he beat Elisha Gray to the patent office by only a few hours!! More's the pity for Gray, since his design is actually much closer to the modern telephone. The resulting lawsuits went on for years, but how many people have ever heard of Elisha Gray?

Finally, historical emphasis is a major factor, as well. Ask most people to name the first American in space, and they will say John Glenn. Sorry, but the correct answer is Alan Shepard. Glenn was the first American to orbit the Earth.

Public figures, like Hank Aaron, should realize that the public creates its own heroes for its own reasons, and there is no magic formula. If he is under-appreciated, then Princess Diana was over-appreciated. This is not science. It is something far more complex. It is human emotions.



 

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