Aaron won’t travel to watch Bonds break record

Baseball's home run king says he doesn't want to fly six hours to San Francisco for game

? If and when Barry Bonds breaks the all-time home run record, Hank Aaron doesn’t plan to be there.

It has nothing to do with his feelings about losing the record, or any ill will toward Bonds. For Aaron, it’s simply a matter of convenience.

“If he’s in San Francisco, I’m going to wake up at six o’clock in the morning and go fly to San Francisco? No, I will not do that,” Aaron said Thursday, the 30th anniversary of his 715th home run, the one that surpassed Babe Ruth. “I’m not interested in flying six hours and watching a baseball game or watch him break the record. I wish him all the luck in the world but I have no interest in that.”

The Atlanta Braves held a ceremony honoring Aaron before Thursday night’s game against the New York Mets, and Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue proclaimed it “Hank Aaron Appreciation Day” throughout the state.

Several of Aaron’s former teammates attended, and his wife, Billye, sang the national anthem.

Even Al Downing came. He was the pitcher from the Los Angeles Dodgers who threw the ball Aaron hit over the wall in left field for the record-breaking homer.

“It’s entirely appropriate for the Braves on this day to recognize Hank and his achievement,” said Bill Bartholomay, chairman emeritus of the Braves. “He’s Mr. Brave in every respect, and, in my opinion, the greatest player in the history of the game.”

Bonds had 659 homers heading into the Giants’ game Thursday night against San Diego, and that total was one behind his godfather, Willie Mays, for third place on the career list.

Once he passes Mays — a mere formality, at this point — Bonds will have only the Babe between himself and Aaron.

“I just believe that if Barry Bonds stays on the same course, he probably will break the record,” said Aaron, who holds a mostly ceremonial position as senior vice president and assistant to the president with the Braves.

He completed his 24-year career with 755 homers, including 733 with the Braves, and joined the team’s front office when he retired.

At first, Aaron was director of player development, a position he chose for himself in discussions with then-owner Ted Turner. He thoroughly enjoyed this time spent helping several players make their way to the big leagues.

“Ted came to me and said, ‘What would you like to do?’ I said I’d like to work with young people in the organization,” Aaron said. “Most of the kids we had come up through the minor league system, those same kids brought championships to this city.”

Aaron singled out players such as David Justice, Ron Gant and Jeff Blauser, and he also provided tutoring to Dale Murphy, one of five former Braves players to have his number retired by the team.

“I got everything I wanted out of it,” Aaron said of his time spent in that role.

That wasn’t the case for his chase of Ruth’s record. The turmoil he faced during that time has been well documented — hateful letters and death threats.