Promoting A New Book Means Making Multiple Author Interviews

This new Hank Aaron hardcover was published May 14.Photo bySamantha Schlossberg

By Dan Schlossberg

Thanks to the efforts of two publicists, I’m doing dozens of interviews to promote my latest Hank Aaron biography, Home Run King: the Remarkable Record of Hank Aaron.

Earlier this week, my interviewer turned out to be Nestor Aparicio, cousin of Hall of Famer Luis Aparicio and long-time host of the Baltimore Positive show on WNST-FM. To localize his focus, we compared Cal Ripken, Jr. to Dale Murphy and drew a parallel between Ripken’s run for Lou Gehrig’s record (consecutive games played) and Aaron’s pursuit of Babe Ruth (lifetime home runs).

Also on my dance card are several interviews with the syndicated Sports Byline show, Sirius XM Satellite Radio, and such major AM outlets as WIP Philadelphia and WBZ Boston.

I even did an interview for a station in Aaron’s hometown of Mobile, Alabama.

On my third day, I talked to 11 different stations, from Albuquerque to California, and tried my best to keep my answers crisp, complete, and humorous and my voice fresh.

All this activity was sandwiched between two signings, one today at Books & Greetings in Northvale, NJ and one earlier this week at Mahwah Public Library.

I also have a pair of signings scheduled for the Baseball Hall of Fame, at 1 p.m. on June 20 as part of their Baseball Authors Series and at 11 a.m. July 20 in front of Willis Monie Books on Main Street as part of Induction Weekend.

My presentations include a Power Point presentation compiled by Chris Lucas, son of famed blind broadcaster Ed Lucas and a long-time friend in his own right.

Since most people are at least partially addicted to television, a Power Point — accompanied by my comments — helps tell the Hank Aaron story, adding lots of humor to a story that is often sad, sometimes maddening, and occasionally excruciating as well as exhilarating.

Did you know, for example, that Aaron and his siblings once hid under their bed because the KKK was marching down the street in front of his Mobile, AL home?

Or that Aaron and Felix Mantilla had the difficult job of integrating the all-white Sally League when they were sent to Jacksonville by the Milwaukee Braves?

Or that Aaron had to become an integration pioneer again when the Braves moved from Milwaukee to Atlanta?

Or that he was forced into accommodations separate from the team not only early in his career but late — after a torrent of hate mail from Babe Ruth supporters threatened his family’s safety?

It’s a classic rags-to-riches story, with the teenaged Aaron reporting to pro ball with a cardboard suitcase, hand-me-down clothes, a ham sandwich in his hand, and $2 in his pocket.

From there, he became what many believe was the best player in baseball history.

Don’t believe it? Come hear one of the talks. Or, better yet, get the book.

Former AP sportswriter Dan Schlossberg of Fair Lawn, NJ is the author of more than 40 baseball books since 1974. His email is ballauthor@gmail.com.