As the years went on, so did the homers. The chase to beat the Babe heated up in the summer of 1973. So did the mail. He needed a secretary to sort it as he received more than an estimated 3,000 letters a day, more than any American outside of politics. Unfortunately, racists did much of the writing.
Whites are far more superior than jungle bunnies. . . .
The letters came from all over, but most were postmarked in northern cities. They were filled with hate. More hate than Aaron had ever imagined. The summer of '73 ended with Hammerin' Hank at 713 homers after hitting a remarkable 40 in just 392 at-bats. He was 39.