Supersized Beisbol PING
Posted on 05/20/2006 6:00:35 PM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist
(AP) OAKLAND, Calif. Barry, meet the Babe.
Barry Bonds tied Babe Ruth for second place on the career list with his 714th home run Saturday, a shot into the first deck of elevated stands in right-center leading off the second inning against the Oakland Athletics.
The ball landed about eight rows up in the seats overlooking the high fence just to the left of the out-of-town scoreboard. Though the A's don't provide estimated distances on home runs, the ball appeared to travel about 400 feet -- far from being one of his trademark behemoth drives.
The ball was caught on the fly by 19-year-old Tyler Snyder of nearby Pleasanton, who was cheered by fans around him and quickly left the ballpark with his souvenir.
Bonds ended a nine-game homerless drought -- a stretch of 29 at-bats -- since hitting No. 713 with a 450-foot drive May 7 in Philadelphia. His teenage son, Nikolai, a Giants bat boy, was waiting for him at home plate and they embraced.
Next up is Hank Aaron's record of 755.
Bonds, dogged by allegations of steroid use and repeated taunts on the road, was quickly greeted by his teammates, who surrounded him at the top of the dugout. Bonds tipped his cap and blew a kiss to his wife and two daughters.
Left-hander Brad Halsey became the 420th pitcher to allow a homer to Bonds, who was San Francisco's designated hitter in an interleague series against the A's.
"It's a pretty unbelievable thing," Astros reliever Brad Lidge said in Houston. "No matter what kind of controversy surrounds him and no matter what side of the fence you are on as far as what he did or didn't do with performance-enhancing drugs, you've got to admit that it's a pretty impressive number."
The seven-time NL MVP was booed when his name was announced before the game and again the moment he began walking to the batter's box. He connected on a 1-1 pitch from Halsey, making history with his sixth home run this season.
The 41-year-old Bonds received a long standing ovation, and the game was delayed about 90 seconds. The Giants plan to commemorate No. 715 in their own ballpark.
Bonds came to the plate in the third to chants of "Barry! Barry!" and struck out looking. He flied out to left leading off the sixth.
"I'm not anti-Barry Bonds. I'm not pro Barry Bonds," said Astros reliever Russ Springer, suspended Friday for hitting Bonds with a pitch earlier in the week. "He's a good player. I enjoy watching him play. He's one of the better hitters. I'm just glad he didn't hit it here and he can hit all he wants somewhere else."
Bonds had hoped to hit his latest milestone home run at home in San Francisco, where he hit Nos. 500, 600 and 700 along with 660 and 661 to tie and pass his godfather, Willie Mays. In 2001, Bonds hit the final three of his 73 homers at home to break Mark McGwire's single-season record of 70.
Still, the slugger had to be happy to hit No. 714 back in the Bay Area in front of his family and friends. Only six days earlier, Bonds suggested he was being haunted by "two ghosts" -- a reference to Ruth and Aaron.
Ruth passed Sam Thompson to move into second place on June 20, 1921, when he hit his 127th home run. Aaron passed Ruth in April 1974 -- and now Hammerin' Hank's mark is the only one left for Bonds to chase.
Bonds has said that could be a long shot considering he turns 42 on July 24, is playing on a surgically repaired right knee and with bone chips floating around in his left elbow.
In his 21st major league season, Bonds has hit nine career home runs as a designated hitter -- and realizes his future could be in the American League as a DH if he returns in 2007.
Bonds had 40 plate appearances between Nos. 713 and 714. He had been 4-for-29 (.138) with 10 walks, three intentional, six runs scored, two RBIs and four strikeouts since his last homer.
He was destined for greatness at an early age. The son of three-time All-Star Bobby Bonds and the godson of one of the game's greatest players in Mays, Bonds spent his childhood years roaming the clubhouse at Candlestick Park, getting tips from Mays and other Giants.
In a matter of years, Bonds went from a wiry leadoff hitter when he broke into the big leagues with Pittsburgh in 1986 to the most feared slugger of his generation and possibly ever.
It was a transformation many -- including federal prosecutors in the BALCO case -- believe was fueled by the use of performance-enhancing drugs. Bonds has long denied ever knowingly taking steroids, though the new book "Game of Shadows" reveals his alleged longtime doping regimen the authors say began after the 1998 season when Bonds saw the attention McGwire and Sammy Sosa generated in their race for the single-season home run record.
Bonds' personal trainer, Greg Anderson, pleaded guilty to his role in a steroid distribution ring, and a federal grand jury is looking into whether Bonds perjured himself when he testified to the separate grand jury that indicted Anderson and three others in the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative scandal.
Partly because of his prickly relationship with fans and the media, Bonds was never a beloved superstar even before the steroid allegations. He was not voted by fans onto baseball's All-Century team, losing out to Ken Griffey Jr., among others.
But the latest accusations have hurt his reputation even more, and the anticipation as he neared Ruth's mark was tempered for that reason. Just as when Aaron passed the Babe in 1974, there is resentment among those who believe Ruth is the greatest player ever, although this time it's more because of steroids than racism.
The allegations of cheating have put a cloud over Bonds' rapid rise up the home run chart. He hit his 500th homer on April 17, 2001, on the way to a record 73 that season, and reached 700 on Sept. 17, 2004, a stretch unmatched by any player at the end of his career.
The slugger has said his many milestones won't mean as much later if he doesn't win a World Series ring, the only thing missing from a decorated resume featuring the record seven NL MVP awards, 13 All-Star selections and eight Gold Gloves in left field.
The Giants fell six outs short of winning it all in 2002 when they blew their lead in Game 6 and lost in the deciding seventh game to the Angels. While Bonds was at his best that postseason, with eight homers and 27 walks, it was his struggles in his first five trips to the playoffs with Pittsburgh and San Francisco that characterized his career before he became a record-setting home run hitter.
No matter the controversy, his home fans still adore him, chanting his name when he comes to bat and waving yellow rubber chickens whenever an opposing manager makes the most unpopular choice to intentionally walk him.
It is Bonds, after all, who is the biggest reason 3 million fans a year pack the seats at the Giants' sparkling waterfront ballpark, which opened in 2000
BUMP
A great player turned in to an object of contept where his actual ability without the pharmaceuticals is now forgotten.
Henry Aaron did this for real. Not Bonds.
I going to run out and buy his cap... before his hat size grows again.
Doesn't everybody's head grow three hat sizes after the age 35?
*
Barry Bonds will only ever be remembered as a cheater. The only thing that will grow as a result of presence in the record books is the number of people who hate him.
"Bonds, greeted by his teammates at the top of the dugout."
That says all you need to know.
He should never, ever be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
And eventually, 755*
Sad.
Bond is not my hero!
Ted Williams: 521 home runs and two wars.
Cheating Loser! Only those in SanFranfreako cheer for him.
Supersized Beisbol PING
Imagine what number Babe Ruth would have had if he was on steroids.
If he never failed a steroid test, how does anyone really KNOW he did them exactly?
Ted Williams was not exactly a beloved player either.
The Babe would have to work out in the gym for them to have an effect.
True but he did lose a substantial amount of time fighting for his country in WWII and the Korean War; otherwise, the home run total would have been elevated.
Don't mean shiite...
I would equate Mr. Bonds to a drugged horse or dog who wins a race. Such behavior calls for and demands disqualification!
***Bonds has said that could be a long shot considering he turns 42 on July 24, is playing on a surgically repaired right knee and with bone chips floating around in his left elbow.***
Yeah he is also not using the Juice any more so it is a long shot.
he wouldnt make a pimple on Babe Ruths butt.
The only person waiting at Home-Plate to congrat barry was the BatBoy.
Breaking=Barry Bonds To Possibly Go On DL-Elbow Surgery
APP-PMSNBC-NYY24/7ESPN-San Francisco: The San Francisco Giants might have to place Barry Bonds on the DL with what could be a career ending right elbow injury, placing him in jeopardy of surpassing the next two players ahead of him on MLB's all-time Home Run List.
Giants team physician said;"This elbow injury to Barry has been festering and growing in intensity even before his arrival from the Pirates, to the SF Giants."
"Since 1999, it has become a major problem, and has now gotten to the point that the injury to his right elbow, may have finally ended his somewhat stormy career", the doctor was quoted as saying to a packed news conference.
"We have tried to help Barry by trying to make the left arm and elbow try to do what the right arm and elbow has been doing that has caused this terrible injury, but are not having much luck, although Barry has been devoting at least 8-10 hours of every waking day with the trainers here with the Giants to make him practice with his left arm to take the daily strain of Barry's activities that are causing the problem."
"But old habits are very hard to break," the team physician said. "when you've been using your right arm and elbow to CONSTANTLY, ALMOST NON-STOP, PAT YOURSELF ON THE BACK FOR AT LEAST 15 YEARS, to the point of an almost permanent career ending elbow injury, it takes a lot of time to heal, and make your left arm do that work, but knowing Barry like we do, we believe he is MORE than up to the task".
The Babe didn't do it using steroids.
...an estimated $100 grand richer...and was quoted as saying, "I hate the guy."
...a 21st century hero...
It's like cheating on a final exam. You succeed, and get your grade, but at what price?
He's lost my respect!
"Ted Williams: 521 home runs and two wars."
Now there's someone I want my son to look up to in baseball, or anywhere for that matter!
Thanks for the reminder of REAL heroes!
Imagine Harmon Killbrew on Steroids.
Or Mantle. ....or Jimmy Foxx.
There might've been some steroids in all those hot dogs he ate....
And that was only because the bat boy is Bonds's son.
Served 5 (count 'em, five) years for his country. Most players now wouldn't give up a night on the town for their country.
AND if we used the rules of sacrifice flies not being a time at bat, he would have hit 0.400 three times!
See post #10
Sad day for America. I am so depressed...seriously. I think that Bonds has ruined baseball forever. I might even pull my son out of t-ball. I don't want him mistaking Bonds for a mentor or something.
If I were the one to catch his ball, I would have quickly written STEROIDS on it. I hope someone does this if and when he breaks Hanks record.
If there were a trial, the evidence would be overwhelming.
For the record I am a staunch conservative and a die-hard Phillies fan but.... Senator Jim is not he sharpest knife in the drawer.
How do you know he isn't using still? Wasn't his way of using, to shoot testosterone, then estrogen?
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