Naw, not Barry...
Posted on 08/08/2007 4:58:54 AM PDT by Chi-townChief
There's no denying 756 home runs, and if Selig wants to try, he'd better examine the rest of baseball history
Baseball's most cherished record now belongs to Barry Bonds, and no matter what is said, written or alleged, there is no taking it away. Teeing off on a 3-2 pitch from Washington Nationals left-hander Mike Bacsik, Bonds launched his 756th career home run to the deepest part of AT&T Park on Tuesday night. The instant the ball left his bat and sizzled toward right-center field, there was no doubt the San Francisco Giants' controversial slugger had just elbowed his way past Henry Aaron for the all-time home-run record.
Critics can hate Bonds, they can swear that he became a home-run machine through performance-enhancing drugs, but they can't erase 756 home runs.
Not even commissioner Bud Selig, who tried to distance himself from the Steroid Era he helped create by not being in attendance, can erase this record. It stands until the next slugger comes along.
After Bonds left Wrigley Field last month with 753 under his belt, Selig made the most half-hearted pledge possible in trying to be a witness to history, saying in a statement: ''Out of respect for the tradition of this game, the magnitude of the record, and the fact that all citizens in this country are innocent until proven guilty, I will attend Barry Bonds' next games to observe his potential tying and breaking of the home run record.''
The numbers are safe Innocent until proven guilty? Guilty of what? Perjury, the biggest crime that any of us -- including Selig -- knows might be hanging over Bonds' head. Even if Bonds is convicted of perjury, his baseball numbers are safe.
Check baseball's record book. The all-time hits leader: Pete Rose, who has been banned by baseball and who was convicted of tax evasion, serving a prison term in Downstate Marion. There isn't a single asterisk next to any of his records -- and Rose committed the game's biggest sin, gambling on baseball.
Rafael Palmeiro, a slugger who actually was caught by baseball's testing program and suspended, remains a member of baseball's exclusive 500-homer club -- no asterisk attached.
But Selig leaves the impression he might wipe away Bonds' mark should damaging proof surface in the slow-going Mitchell investigation. In fact, Selig's flimsy excuse for not being in San Francisco on Tuesday was that he was meeting with former Sen. George Mitchell in New York to get an update on his probe into steroids in baseball.
If Selig tries to wipe away Bonds' accomplishments, then he'd better go after Mark McGwire and all of the other oversized stars of the Steroid Era. Otherwise, he'd better get used to the idea of Bonds owning what the commissioner has called ''the most hallowed record'' in all of sports.
Put an actual asterisk next to Bonds' name and you might as well do the same for every World Series won in the last 20 years -- unless someone can prove that every member of those championship teams, including the 2005 White Sox, was 100 percent clean.
The fact is much of Bonds' work from 1999 to 2004 -- during a time many of us believe he was juiced -- can't be touched by an asterisk. Baseball had no policy against steroids during this time. You can't break a rule that wasn't there.
Selig points to the little-known provision that using any illegal drugs is a violation of baseball rules. But none of the players caught with marijuana or cocaine or amphetamines in the history of the game has an asterisk next to his numbers.
Look at Detroit Tigers infielder Neifi Perez, the former Cub who is missing 80 games -- maybe the rest of his career -- because he ingested amphetamines, performance-enhancers that were as common as bubblegum in clubhouses during Aaron's era. Perez is serving a stiff penalty, but his numbers won't be erased.
Like it or not, Bonds represents one of baseball's eras that most of us would like to forget.
Babe Ruth belted a record 714 home runs in an era that didn't allow black players. Aaron's era was drastically different from Ruth's -- and just as different from Bonds'. What happened Tuesday night in San Francisco does nothing to weaken Aaron's career. He was the best of his era. Ruth the best of his.
And Bonds the best of his.
Deserving of the honor It would be one thing if Bonds were a unique case, the lone abuser in an otherwise clean game. If you believe that, you're as naive as Selig now claims he was back in the 1990s. Bonds faced something neither Ruth nor Aaron ever had to endure -- a slew of pitchers whose arsenals were enhanced by performance-enhancing drugs.
Love him, hate him, he's still the Home Run King. Ask his peers in clubhouses around baseball. Bonds still gets the ultimate respect.
And if you are a baseball fan, deep down, you know he deserves it.
Need further proof? How about Aaron's classy message congratulating Bonds on the giant screen at AT&T Park? ''It is a great accomplishment which requires skill, longevity and determination,'' Aaron said in the recorded message. ''Throughout the past century, the home run has held a special place in baseball, and I have been privileged to hold this record for 33 of those years. I'll move over now and offer my best wishes to Barry and his family.''
cdeluca@suntimes.com
Naw, not Barry...
You can try and sell that shi* in Peoria or somewhere else, but not here where I reside.
What Pete Rose did was deplorable; however, there is absolutely no link between his crimes and his record -- betting on the game doesn't help you get a hit.
Critics can hate Bonds, they can swear that he became a home-run machine through performance-enhancing drugs, but they can't erase 756 home runs.
"Yes, maybe he cheated, but he got 756 home runs!"
Not you Chi-town.....
And if you are a baseball fan, deep down, you know he deserves it.
DUH?
Bonds will forever be a cheater in the eyes of public opinion and therefore the record is without merit.
Pete should be in the hall of fame....though he should not be allowed to work in the game in any capacity.
Amen to that.
Looks like most of FR is just as naive as Selig. ;)
Bonds is a classic "other team's bad guy" and he since he's big, black, mean-looking, and plays in "that gay city" too, he must be the only problem. Never mind that many of his home runs were hit off of steroid-fueled pitchers.
I have yet to talk to a true fan of the game that says he deserves it. The casual fan or sometimes fan may say that, but anyone who has any respect for the game does not.
just check out how many more at bats bonds had compared to ruth and aaron (and aaron to ruth, for that matter)
smaller parks, juiced ball, juiced barry, juiced bat, watered down pitching, tons more at bats....
and what in the world is this continual harping about ruth not having to play against black players????? how does that mean anything?
ruth pitching for five years, thus getting even less at bats, took away a ton more homers from him, in that dead ball era as well....
Right! and OJ is innocent.
Say what you will about the performance enhancing drugs, it still takes skill and an eye to hit a 95 MPH fastball or make the change to blast a change up.
I agree. Rose has been punished for his crime, but his crime did not affect his record. I think part of the problem with Rose is that he is a complete jerk, but that was the case thirty years ago when he was in his glory days. I think Selig should lift Rose’s ban on the condition that Rose sign a statement agreeing to never work in baseball.
That is my opinion as well... Pete earned his records - and was a truly great player. He should be acknowledged for that. As has been said, his records are not in any way improved or given the steroid treatment by his crime.
I guess cheating doesn't count anymore.
This writer ought to talk to Hank Aaron, who refused to associate with Bonds.
Aaron has integrity. Bonds can't even spell it.
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