Hank Aaron

The Louisville Slugger factory is back in its namesake town in Kentucky, after 20 years in Jeffersonville, Ind., across the Ohio River. And last week, a baseball museum was scheduled to open, with tours of the new factory, now at 800 W. Main St., eight blocks from its old home.A 120-foot Louisville Slugger stands over the entrance to the museum. The bat, made of steel marked to look like wood, weighs 68,000 pounds and appears to lean against the building, a revamped warehouse containing offices and a theater.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- A magazine's editors recently asked the Orioles' Brady Anderson to participate in a round-table discussion. They wanted Anderson to get together with all-time home run leader Hank Aaron and noted Detroit Tigers slugger Cecil Fielder and talk about home runs.Anderson declined, laughing at the idea. "They'd ask Hank Aaron about home runs," Anderson said, "and then they'd say, 'Brady, what do you think?' "He laughed again. In his own mind, Anderson is a guy who swings hard and tries to drive the ball.

It has been said that the Cleveland Indians lead the major leagues in everything except quotes.That is little more than a cute exaggeration. Even though Eddie Murray, Albert Belle and a few others don't qualify as chatterboxes, the Indians are far from shrinking violets in the conversation department.But there's no questioning the fact that the Indians have made their strongest statements on the field, not in the media. And three of those making the strongest points are ex-Orioles in the midst of remarkable accomplishments.

Tonight's documentary, "Hank Aaron: Chasing The Dream," airing on TBS at 8:05 and again at 10:05, should be a joyous celebration of the life and times of the man who is perhaps the most underrated and underappreciated baseball player of his generation and perhaps all times.But this brilliant two-hour film carries the weight of the great American shame of racism, which robbed the culture in general and Aaron in particular of the joy of his considerable accomplishments.When Aaron retired in 1976, after 23 seasons, he left as the all-time leader in three substantive offensive categories, including RBIs (2,297)

Major-league baseball may be back, but not the way it was in 1974. That was the year Hank Aaron gripped the nation with his pursuit of Babe Ruth's lifetime home run record, ignoring racist threats -- as charted by a critically praised cable documentary on TBS tonight.* "Passover: Traditions of Freedom" (8 p.m.-9 p.m., MPT, Channels 22, 67) -- An annually repeated production of Maryland's public television system, the documentary explores the traditions of the approaching Jewish holiday celebrating the exodus from Egypt.

Watching "Hank Aaron: Chasing the Dream" is a lot like seeing Aaron hit one of his record 755 home runs.The two-hour documentary, which will premiere at 8:05 tonight on cable channel TBS, takes its time settling into its rhythm -- just the way Aaron made himself comfortable in the batter's box, without grandstanding or hot dog theatrics.Then, slowly but surely, it starts to hypnotize with easy, confident movements until the experience of watching feels like a dream. The sweetest moment of the dream is near the end, when one lightning-quick, incredibly smooth stroke on April 8, 1974, sends a ball climbing and climbing in a perfect white arc through the night.

Washington. -- I have been judging college-bound students for scholarships lately, and more than a few have asked me, ''What caused the rebirth of racism in America?''I have been asked what happened to produce a climate where people want to deprive them of financial aid, where racism tears a jury apart in the O. J. Simpson trial, and where New York's Republican Sen. Alfonse D'Amato can act like a bigoted idiot by insulting Judge Lance Ito personally and Japanese Americans in general.I am telling these youngsters to be sure to watch the TBS movie Wednesday on the life of baseball hero Hank Aaron.

WASHINGTON -- Mickey Mantle looked pretty good, better than he has looked in years. He has not had a drink in about nine months, and his face has lost that haggard look.Back in April, he had said: "I still can't remember much of the last 10 years, but from what I've been told, I really don't want those memories."Yesterday, he talked about some things he did remember.As he spoke, Hank Aaron looked on, getting ready for his turn. Aaron looks terrific. He may be a pound or two over his playing weight, but he carries it well.

The Kansas City Royals' George Brett yesterday stole his 200th base, putting him into an exclusive club of players with 200 steals, 3,000 hits and 300 home runs:Player.. .. .. ..SB .. .. ..Hits .. .. .. ..HRHank Aaron .. ..240 .. .. .3,771 .. .. .. .755George Brett ...200 .. .. .3,123 .. .. .. .312Willie Mays .. .338 .. .. .3,283 .. .. .. .660

Bob Woytych had hoped his curve ball would carry him to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Instead, it was a 12-year-old's love of the game and a chance encounter with Babe Ruth 66 years ago that helped get him there.The Hall of Fame Museum will announce today that it will place one of Mr. Woytych's prize possessions -- a baseball signed by Ruth, Roger Maris and Hank Aaron -- on display in Cooperstown, N.Y. Museum officials say it is the only ball signed by all three legendary home run hitters."I didn't make it one way, but I'll make it another," said Mr. Woytych, 77, a former pitching ace in semi-pro leagues around Baltimore and Annapolis.