Cincinnati Reds first baseman and former National League Most Valuable Player Joey Votto appeared on CTV National News on Friday night to share his thoughts about the legacy of National Baseball Hall of Famer and Major League Baseball legend Hank Aaron, who died at age 86.
"I was lucky enough to meet him, spend time with him, ask questions," Votto told CTV. "But most of the time just listen. Whether through (former Reds manager Dusty Baker's) stories as his teammate or speaking to him in person, it was really a treat. He was so charming and graceful, patient. He had so many characteristics that I admire in a person. ... I was very grateful to have met him and got to know him a little bit. ... There's probably many more non-baseball people that are mourning today than baseball people simply because of who he was as a man."
"Hank was like the epitome of grace, turn the other cheek, patience, kindness," Votto continued. "Steadiness and overcoming in the face of adversity that most will never understand. He lived it in the most graceful way. I hope by getting to meet him - by getting to witness his life, my life crossing over with his - I hope that I can just take even one percent of one percent of what he has and apply it to my life. I feel honored that I got to witness his life. ... He is literally - without question - anecdotally or statistically considered among the best couple of players ... he's very clearly in that smallest of groups that are in that first conversation of the best of all time."
Reds Media Relations shared a great photo of Votto with Aaron:
National Baseball Hall of Famers Orlando Cepeda, Rod Carew and John Schuerholz were among those who talked about Aaron during visits in recent years to the former Green Diamond Gallery in the Cincinnati suburb of Montgomery.
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