Bonds hits 756th home run to set MLB record

MarketWatch ^ | Aug 8, 2007 | staff

[Nonstatist]

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Barry Bonds became the most prolific home-run hitter in Major League Baseball history Tuesday night, slugging his 756th in front of more than 43,052 hometown fans to pass Henry Aaron. Bonds' record-setting homer came in the fourth inning to give the Giants a 5-4 lead over the Washington Nationals. Bonds hit a 3-2 pitch from Washington's Mike Bacsik deep to center field. The game was delayed by a standing ovation for Bonds, whose late father Bobby was a Giants player, coach and front-office employee.... Bonds also holds the season record for home runs with 73 in 2001.

The 43-year-old Bonds, who has spent 21 years in the majors, had tied Aaron at 755 on Saturday in the Giants' 3-2 loss in San Diego. Aaron's record had stood since 1976, when he retired after 22 years in the majors.

[SAJ]

Any chance the scumbag was thrown off the continent? (one CAN hope...)

[L.N. Smithee]

As Ruth's popularity grew, Cobb became increasingly hostile toward him. Cobb saw Ruth not only as a threat to his style of play, but also to his style of life. While Cobb preached ascetic self-denial, Ruth gorged on hot dogs, beer, and women.

Cobb was an arrogant, violent, racist jerk whose loathsomeness was only exceeded by his talent. He reportedly refused to shake Ruth's hand on at least one occasion because he thought of Ruth as a "nigger." The breadth of Ruth's nose may have led him to this conclusion, but there is no genealogical evidence that he has African-American lineage.

[Founding Father]

ass passes Class

[Junior_G]

I don't know if he has or hasn't. I do know that there hasn't been one positive test on him. He has been tested more than any other player in baseball.

I think it is telling that not a single Barry Bonds defender can say they don't believe he did steroids, or even that they doubt he did steroids.

Even you believe he was juicing, you're just not willing to admit it.

[SAJ]

Wow. 10 or 12 straw men in ONE post! My compliments!

Mr Aaron, you will note, hit ALL -- every single one -- of his home runs without chemical assistance (AND, ftm, without that levered arm plate that Mr. Bonds uses).

We'll just have to agree to disagree. Bonds is, and has been for years, a cheater.

[SAJ]

Yep! Damned straight, and for all time (well, I suppose someone might come along, w/o chemical assistance).

[SAJ]

Your question, I assume, is entirely rhetorical, right? Compare his 'pre-steroid' stats to his latter ones.

Yep, I was correct. Your question IS rhetorical.

[poinq]

Actually you know he has. He admitted to it. He merely qualified it by saying that he did not know he did. And then he did not play the next year with a knee injury while he worked out running track. He used steroids, no doubt. You can only guess if he knew it.

[poinq]

Actually you know he has. He admitted to it. He merely qualified it by saying that he did not know he did. And then he did not play the next year with a knee injury while he worked out running track. He used steroids, no doubt. You can only guess if he knew it.

[SAJ]

Also, just btw, Cobb did a photo interview with the NYT in 1935, after he'd retired. Front page of the sports section, w/photos, check it out!

He pulled up his pantlegs -- the scars on HIS legs were unbelievable -- and he never once mentioned, or complained, about the scars or the pain. Didn't complain to the Times guy, either. All he said was, ''That was the way we played.''

[poinq]

Bonds admits substance abuse. He just does not admit that he knew he was taking it. That he took it, is not speculation.

[SAJ]

Very eloquent phrasing, FF. Nicely done!

Mr. Aaron, although I can't count the times he beat up my Cardinals, was absolutely and always 100% a VERY classy man. (Rather like Musial, if I may say so.)

[L.N. Smithee]

Has Bonds ever failed a drug test? I’m just asking because I don’t know the answer. Is there definite evidence other than hear-say?

No, he's never failed a drug test. That is because -- allegedly -- the formula of the steroid-based solution that Bonds used was undetectable if he stayed on a tight schedule.

[CheyennePress]

You’re not seeing my point. I just find the outrage over Bonds to be a bit over the top.

Yeah, he cheated. I have no doubts he used steroids. I further roll my eyes when he said he thought he was taking flax seed oil. And yes, steroid usage is illegal in MLB.

My issue is more with the outrage over Bonds when this has been going on for ages and the general ignorance of steroid usage(all of the times they are ridiculously attributed to someone’s death (see Ken Caminiti above and Mark McGwire and Andro)).

Again, why these moronic Congressional hearings (what do they have to do with baseball?) now? And why not in the NFL, where usage is far more rampant? And why no accusations brought against Jamal Lewis, for instance (granted, no BALCO incident with him)?

I’m not defending Bonds. I just think the reaction to him is more visceral than I think is justified given the general usage of steroids in professional atheletes these days—well, these decades.

[GnuHere]

Ditto for me - Cards fan as kid and remember feeling some positive emotion when Hank did it - NOTHING now for BB and made no attempt to watch it - means nothing to me except the non-stop coverage can allow everyone to reflect on what a jerk he is, and review his size from decade to decade. *******

[jwh_Denver]

How many times have you copy/pasted that post?

[SAJ]

Oh, I see your ''point'' with very nearly perfect clarity.

Screw Bonds, AND McGwire AND Sosa AND Palmiero AND Giambi AND Caminiti (a mediocre player at best) -- wipe their ''achievements'' from the books.

Save your straw man arguments about the NFL and NBA. I don't care, nor do any baseball fans.

The only relevant argument here is that Mr. Aaron's accomplishments are his own, and unaided, whereas Mr. Bonds' ''accomplishments'' aren't.

Oh, for the days of Kennesaw Mountain Landis! Bonds would have been barred for life (and McGwire, Sosa, Palmiero, etc), and we wouldn't be wasting time on this discussion!

[jwh_Denver]

I’ll decide if the show is over, if there is something to see, and if it’s time to move on.

[Junior_G]

I just think the reaction to him is more visceral than I think is justified given the general usage of steroids in professional atheletes these days—well, these decades.

Cheyenne, the visceral reaction to Barry Bonds would be justified based solely on the fact that he's a complete a-hole. Putting his steroid cheating on top of that makes the visceral reaction mandatory.

[SAJ]

Junior, you said that better than I could have done in 20 tries.

Many thanks, and FReegards!