Barry Bonds: "I Wiped out Babe Ruth. Don't Talk About Him No More"

ESPN.com ^

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Wednesday, July 16, 2003 Desired target in homer assault: Ruth

Associated Press

CHICAGO -- Barry Bonds keeps climbing the home run charts, edging closer to Willie Mays' mark and drawing more and more questions about whether he will break Hank Aaron's record.

Bonds, however, is also taking aim at The Babe.

“ In the baseball world, Babe Ruth's everything, right? ” — Barry Bonds

The San Francisco slugger leads the majors with 30 home runs at the All-Star break, putting him just 17 shy of matching his godfather -- Mays -- for third on the career list.

"Willie's number is always the one that I've strived for," Bonds said before Tuesday's All-Star Game.

"And if it does happen, the only number I care about is Babe Ruth's. Because as a left-handed hitter, I wiped him out. That's it. And in the baseball world, Babe Ruth's everything, right? I got his slugging percentage and I'll take his home runs and that's it. Don't talk about him no more."

Ruth hit 714 home runs, a mark that stood for many years until Aaron came along. Aaron finished with 755, but Bonds said "755 isn't the number that's always caught my eye."

At 38, Bonds' drive to reach Aaron has been slowed a bit by his high walk total. With each year, the daily grind of playing left field might take its toll, too. Bonds has said recently that he would welcome playing for an AL team -- he's specifically mentioned the Angels -- as a full-time DH once his contract with the Giants is up.

"The toughest thing about getting older is playing defense. That is where you get hurt. Guys can hit from a wheelchair," said Cubs manager Dusty Baker, Bonds' former manager. "I always thought someday Barry might be a first baseman or a DH."

The AL beat the NL 7-6 to gain home-field advantange for the World Series.

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[Overtaxed]

Pointing to the fence before stepping to the plate would put him in the same class as Bonds.

I don't believe that story's true. I think if he "called the shot" he'd have been hearing chin music on the next pitch.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

I'm somewhat reluctant to go down this path, but I can't help imagining there's a racial element to Bonds' statement. Note that he says that he isn't focused on going after Henry Aaron's record, and that Ruth is his real target. Why?

Do you think that, in a million years, when he surpasses Willie Mays' HR total, Bonds will say: "I've wiped out Willie Mays. Don't talk about Mays no more"?

[onyx]

Your post is what I call an "informative" post! Bravo!

[governsleastgovernsbest]

You're very welcome. Judging from the numerous responses, it seems to have hit a nerve.

[tru_degenerate]

Is this the same Barry Bonds that was getting death threats when he was about to break a record or something?

[onyx]

It hit more than a nerve! How about the bull's eye!

[tru_degenerate]

What are the At Bat totals?

[hchutch]

Single season records in home runs and slugging percentage, and this is when he is being walked at a record pace.

I don't think it's arrogant at all. He's wiping out the records.

[WI Conservative 4 Bush]

At bats:

Ruth 8,398
Bonds 8,591

Most all time, Pete Rose 14,053, then Hammerin' Hank with 12,364. Both men had plus 300 batting averages too.

[tru_degenerate]

thanks...

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Bonds didn't say that he was wiping out Ruth's records. He said he was wiping out Ruth. And he encouraged people to stop talking about Ruth.

Can't you agree that is arrogant?

If Tiger surpasses Nicklaus' records for major wins, would it be appropriate for him to tell people that he has "wiped out Nicklaus" and tell them not to talk about Nicklaus any more?

We're not questioning Bonds' athletic ability, which is undeniable. We're discussing his class and dignity, which is highly questionable. Can't you distinguish between the two?

[Hatteras]

I remember reading a book where a retired reporter was talking about following the Yankees "back in the day". They were on a train and a few reporters were sitting in the club car when all of a sudden, a half-naked girl came running through followed by the Babe, stripped to his drawers, hobbling through behind her, big cigar in mouth, bottle of whiskey in hand. As they ran out the other door of the rail car, the reporter turned to his colleagues and said, "It's a good thing we didn't see that or we'd have to report it."

[Hatteras]

"Is this the same Barry Bonds that was getting death threats when he was about to break a record or something?"

Roger Maris received many death threats before he broke the Babe's single-season record.

[foreverfree]

bump

[HamiltonJay]

I have met Bonds personally, he's a complete ass... was the Babe a complete class act? No, but he was head and shoulders above bonds.

Yes, babe was a drunk, yes babe was a womanizer, hell babe could be a complete ass... but one thing you cannot now or even during his life not say, is that babe was not about baseball...


Bonds is not now, nor ever been about baseball... baseball is just a means to an end to him... it is obvious in everything he does. He has alienated his entire team roster, has absolutely no class, and frankly neither did his father.

Even though Babe may have been a scoundrel, Bonds is nowhere near his league.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Bonds is notoriously rude to fans and media. Babe was extremely fan and media-friendly. There is a ton of Ruth memorabilia on the market precisely because the Babe was so obliging in posing for photos, signing autographs, etc.

[tru_degenerate]

Yes he did. And there was more pressure, I think, on Roger. I say this because of where he played.

I agree the Babe was amazing, BUT, how long ago was that again.

[tru_degenerate]

It would be nice to see the whole interview. And not just little tidbits that could be used to make headlines. What lead to him saying this?

[Hatteras]

I said you didn't have to like him personally. But when the conversation is about Bonds and Ruth from a statistical standpoint. The point is made merely by the fact that Bonds is being compared to the greatest slugger ever. This is not comparing Bonds to DiMaggio, Gehrig, Ted Williams, Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle or Hank Aaron.

You're comparing Bonds' numbers to a legend, not those other guys who happened to have played a little baseball too.

It doesn't matter what they say about you personally, just get the name right. The numbers will speak for themselves.

[Mr. Jeeves]

Bonds isn't rude to San Francisco fans. He is rude to the sports media, a bunch of Keith Olbermann wannabes who for the most part royally deserve it. I imagine his irritation with their stupid questions is what led to the Babe Ruth comments.