Hank Aaron compares Republicans and other Obama opponents to KKK 

The baseball Hall of Famer, who was honored at the Braves' home opener on Tuesday night, said the only difference between the type of racism he faced as a player and the kind that exists today is 'now they have neckties and starched shirts.'

BY Andy Clayton

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Wednesday, April 9, 2014, 4:41 PM

  Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images Hall of Famer Hank Aaron, asked about race relations in 2014, says the only thing that’s changed since his days as a player is ‘back then they had hoods. Now they have neckties and starched shirts.’

Hammerin' Hank can still swing for the fences.

Hank Aaron, who was celebrated Tuesday night in Atlanta on the 40th anniversary of breaking Babe Ruth's all-time home run record, compared Obama critics to the KKK as he opened up about the state of race relations in an interview with USA Today.

The Braves legend, who told the newspaper he still has the bigoted letters and death threats he received during his pursuit of one of baseball's most cherished records, said that little has changed despite the decades that have passed.

"The biggest difference is that back then they had hoods," Aaron said. "Now they have neckties and starched shirts."

Aaron said he keeps the hate mail to remind himself that not everything has changed.

National Hall of Fame via Bloomberg News Hank Aaron in a Milwaukee Braves uniform in this undated photo. On Tuesday, the baseball legend compared President Obama's critics to the KKK.

"We can talk about baseball. Talk about politics," said the Hall of Famer who finished with 755 career homers. "Sure, this country has a black president, but when you look at a black president, President Obama is left with his foot stuck in the mud from all of the Republicans with the way he's treated."

"We still have a long ways to go in the country," Aaron added.

On the 40th anniversary of Aaron's record-breaking 715th career home run, the Braves held a pregame ceremony before the start of Tuesday night's game against the Mets at Turner Field.

Aaron was called baseball's "true home run king" by the hometown Braves, while MLB commissioner Bud Selig said he was the "embodiment of the American spirit."