Posted on Wed, Jul. 23, 2008
No place like home
Hank Aaron's childhood home in his native Mobile, Ala., will be renovated and turned into a museum once it's relocated next to the stadium named for the Hall of Famer and former home-run king.
Hank Aaron Stadium, known as "The Hank," is home to the minor-league Mobile BayBears.
The Aaron house is expected to be moved in October and could open as a museum in late March at the stadium's Gas Light Park.
"Hammerin' Hank" grew up in the small home in the Toulminville neighborhood, about a block from a city park that now bears his name. It also was home to his brother, Tommie, who played for the Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves and died in 1984.
The home is about five miles from the stadium. A house-moving company has offered to move the Aaron house at no charge.
Hank Aaron, now 74, hit 755 homers - a record that stood until Barry Bonds broke it last year.
Goodbye, Sarasota
The Reds will hold one more spring training in Sarasota, Fla., before moving their camp to Arizona.
Cincinnati exercised its lease option to stay one more year in Sarasota, where the team has held spring training since 1998. The club decided to look elsewhere after voters in Sarasota turned down a tax levy for improvements and politicians could not agree on funding.
Beginning in 2010, the Reds will share a spring-training facility with the Indians in Goodyear, Ariz.
Notable
The Diamondbacks acquired righthanded reliever Jon Rauch, the tallest pitcher in major-league history, from the Nationals for infielder Emilio Bonifacio yesterday. The 6-foot-11 Rauch, 29, took over as the Nationals' closer this season after an injury to Chad Cordero. He is 4-2 with a 2.98 ERA and 17 saves. Bonifacio, 23, spent most of this season with Arizona's triple-A affiliate in Tucson, Ariz. . . . Braves manager Bobby Cox was suspended for last night's game against the Marlins for making inappropriate comments to umpires in a July 20 loss to the Nationals. Cox also was fined an undisclosed amount. . . . Nationals shortstop Cristian Guzman agreed to terms on a $16 million, two-year contract extension that takes him through the 2010 season. . . . Cubs closer Kerry Wood is bothered by a blister on his right index finger, but the team hopes he can pitch later this week. . . . The Astros recalled righthander Jack Cassel from triple-A Round Rock and activated catcher Humberto Quintero from the disabled list. Houston designated pitcher Dave Borkowski for assignment and optioned catcher J.R. Towles to Round Rock, in Texas. . . . The Nationals activated third baseman Ryan Zimmerman from the 15-day DL. He had a small cartilage tear in his left (non-throwing) shoulder. . . . Nationals outfielder Wily Mo Peña underwent surgery on his left shoulder and will miss the remainder of the season.
This article contains information from the Associated Press and Bloomberg News.
Contact staff writer Rick O'Brien at 610-313-8019
or robrien@phillynews.com.
Photos: 2008 Phillies 
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