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Bonds was the greatest player I have ever seen personally. Nobody changed a game the way he did - and he got many of his HRs off of steroid-fueled pitchers. For me, the whole steroid era was a wash because such a large percentage of players were using them.

I went to game a where the Giants played the Marlins. Marlins manager Jack McKeon intentionally walked Bonds on his first three at bats...with nobody on base! After the game he was unapologetic, saying he wasn't going to let Bonds have any chance to beat him.

If I recall, the Giants did lose. :)

Folks deride him for the juicing.

But it was his eyes and his hand speed that hit 762. Strength had little to do with it.

He was the greatest player in the game.

Another one who does not get deserved credit is Alex Rodriguez. In the winter between his first rookie appearance and his rookie year, in Peoria AZ I saw him hit a line drive 20-25ft off the ground...over the dead center field wall at 415ft. It hit the berm on the other side, bounced up and went another 60+ ft in the air, across the street and hit a pick-up parked in front of the condos.

Hardest hit ball I ever saw. And I saw Maguire hit a Randy Johnson fastball into the 3rd deck of the King Dome.

The entire stadium was stunned and dumbfounded.