"There was no resentment" - When Hank Aaron shot down talk of tension with Willie Mays

Hank Aaron and Willie Mays were two legendary baseball players who played during the same era. That led to numerous on-field battles and off-field comparisons. With two future Hall of Famers and some of the best players ever playing at the same time, that was inevitable.

It led to reports of a hostile relationship between the two. Fans and those outside the sport thought there might be some negativity between the two since they could both claim to be the best with ease if the other were removed.

However, that was not an accurate reflection. Aaron, speaking with Bob Costas, said in 2008, via The Athletic:

“We got along fine. That is absolutely the furthest thing from the truth that I can think of. I fed off some of the things he did. I’d read the paper: He got three hits. I said, ‘Boy, I ought to be able to get three hits.’ But that was competition. There was no resentment, no animosity.”

Two legends of the game fed off of each other during their careers, but they did not have any disdain toward one another. It helped build an era of baseball that has since passed (both players have passed away as of now) but was one to remember for those who still stand.

---

When Willie Mays congratulated Hank Aaron on a massive record

For a time, the all-time home run leader in MLB history was Babe Ruth. Then it was Hank Aaron before it became Barry Bonds' later on. When Aaron broke the record, Mays wasn't upset, he just wanted to congratulate his friend.

Willie Mays has passed away at 93 years old

Via The Athletic, he said in 2008:

“When he broke the record, I called him. I said, ‘Hey, really nice going, man,’ and I said, ‘Just keep going.’ There wasn’t no long talking about ‘How did you do it?’ ‘What did you do?’ Nothing like that.”

Despite reports and perception suggesting otherwise, both Aaron and Mays confirmed that they had a positive relationship during their playing days and into retirement.