Not that any of it was easy, or a road Aaron wanted to take. He was forced to travel with bodyguards because of the threats against him, and spoke of sneaking in and out of ballparks and staying in a separate hotel from the rest of the Braves. His children, his oldest daughter in particular, had to be given police protection.
The Atlanta Braves even hired off-duty officers to sit in the stands to guard against anyone trying to harm Aaron while he was in the outfield.
Though Aaron was indignant at the abuse and contempt he was subjected to, he rarely let on when he was playing. Some of his teammates were aware, but to the public he seemed stoic and unbowed.
But his quiet demeanor was not a sign of acceptance. When he eventually revealed the full scope of the abuse, he made clear how demeaning it all was and the deep scars it had left.
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