In my post the other day about Chuck Tanner, I told of him telling the story of once pinch hitting for Hank Aaron and hitting a home run. I also mentioned how the "spoilsport researchers at SABR" will tell you that this never happened. Well, I posted my blog entry on the SABR Listserv and, sure enough, out came the humorless seamheads to put the lie to the story.
So, to set the record straight, here is what really happened:
On May 13, 1956 in the first game of a double-header at Crosley Field, the Braves had a 15-0 lead over the Redlegs. Aaron was taken out of this blow-out in the sixth inning and replaced defensively by Tanner. When batting in the top of the eighth, Tanner hit a home run. Obviously, in telling the story over the years, batting "in place of Hank Aaron" became "pinch hitting for Hank Aaron." It made for a better story. "Print the legend" as the newsman told James Stewart, the "man who shot Liberty Valence."
Tanner actually had only one pinch hit home run in his playing career, and it was while pinch hitting for another Hall of Famer....Warren Spahn. This was the oft-noted home run that Chuck hit on the first pitch of his first at bat in the majors.
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