Aaron home to be enshrined
The childhood home of former home run king Hank Aaron will be donated to the city where he grew up and will become a museum operated by the city’s minor-league team.
The home is expected to be moved in October next to “The Hank,” or Hank Aaron Stadium, home of the Mobile BayBears. Aaron’s family and team officials made the announcement Monday.
The three-bedroom home, which is currently boarded up, could open as a museum in late March. The city will own the house, but the team will handle the renovations and run the museum.
“This was our castle,” the former Atlanta Braves slugger said Monday, seated with his brother and sister on the small porch of the house built by their father. “No matter where I’ve been, this will always be my home.”
Renovating his childhood home into a museum at the stadium will demonstrate to others his humble beginnings and that it doesn’t matter what conditions you live in.
“You can make it by trying harder,” he said.
Famed writer dies
Jerome Holtzman, a longtime baseball writer who made the Hall of Fame, created the saves rule and later became Major League Baseball’s official historian, has died. He was 82.
Holtzman died Saturday in Evanston, Ill.
“As a baseball writer, columnist and historian for more than 50 years, Jerome Holtzman was a beloved figure and made an incredible impact on the game,” Commissioner Bud Selig said in a statement.
Holtzman won the J.G. Spinks Award and a spot in the Hall of Fame in 1989. The award is given annually to the one baseball writer who has exhibited “meritorious contributions” to baseball writing.
Clearing the bases
The New York Yankees placed Jorge Posada on the 15-day disabled list with an injured right shoulder, leaving the catcher’s season in doubt. … Right-hander Rafael Soriano was activated by the Atlanta Braves, who designated right-hander Vladimir Nunez for assignment. … Texas recalled pitcher Scott Feldman to start the Rangers’ game against the White Sox and optioned catcher Taylor Teagarden to Triple-A. Teagarden will now play with the Olympic team in Beijing. … Tampa Bay Rays minor league pitcher Matthew Walker has been suspended 50 games by major league baseball after testing positive for an amphetamine, which is on the list of banned performance-enhancing substances.