Bonds sets new US home run record
Barry Bonds has hit his 756th home run, beating Hank Aaron’s all-time record of 755 home runs in American Major League baseball, set in 1974.

Courtesy of the BBC. (Click)

The San Francisco Giants slugger broke the record in front of his home crowd, hitting the run off a pitch from Washington Nationals’ Mike Bacsik.

His achievement has been overshadowed by claims he has used steroids.

The left-handed Bonds has never tested positive for drug use, and denies having done so knowingly.

But rumours have persisted since his home run tally took off after he turned 35, moving past the legendary Babe Ruth into second place in May last year with his 715th career home run.

“Thank you very much. I got to thank all of you, all the fans here in San Francisco. It’s been fantastic,” said Bonds, after he crossed home plate.

He then burst into tears, as he acknowledged his late father, Bobby.

“To my dad,” he said, pointing to the sky. “Thank you for everything.”

Hank Aaron was not present to see his record broken, but he sent a tape message of congratulation.

“It is a great accomplishment which required skill, longevity and determination,” Aaron said.

The BBC’s David Willis, in California, says that to fans of America’s national sport no record means more than the home run record.

But away from the fireworks and celebration at the San Francisco Giants’ stadium, a cloud hangs over his achievement, our correspondent says.

In September, 2003 US federal agents raided a nutritional supplements company in the suburbs of San Francisco.

The company, Balco, was found to be supplying performance enhancing drugs to top American athletes.

Among those arrested and subsequently jailed was Barry Bonds’ trainer.

Bonds himself has always denied wrongdoing and has never failed a drugs test.

But, our correspondent says, even die-hard fans question whether his strength with the bat is for real.

No matter how reluctantly, many believe that in setting a new record in American sports Bonds has almost certainly cheated, he adds.

Sad day, indeed.

A new generation of killer robots.

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Rageous - 08 August 2007 08:09 AM

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Yep. Whilst that’s all they’re going to do, I am holding out hope that Bud Selig will actually ban Barry Bonds from Major League Baseball and revoke his record. I’d love to see Bonds join Pete Rose as those who will never see the Hall of Fame.

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Rageous - 08 August 2007 03:43 PM

http://store.theonion.com/cheat-to-win-lifestyle-bracelet-p-57.html

ROFL. That is great.

Bud should ban himself first.

raven848 - 09 August 2007 07:21 PM

Bud should ban himself first.

Hopefully he does ban the bugger.

I was in San Diego and actually attended the game where Bonds hit 755.  First off, Petco Park is the most beautiful stadium I’ve ever seen.

Second, the number of people (kids mostly) wearing plain white shirts with drawn “*” marks on the front and back was pretty amazing.  While I agree, Bonds cheated, it’s still an impressive feat.  Fear not though, he won’t hold the title for long.  A Rod is already passed 500… let’s hope he stays healthy!

When will baseball fans realize that long ago the rest of America switch to football as the national pastime? 

When will baseball fans realize that long ago the rest of America switch to football as the national pastime?

When that statement becomes true, I imagine.

By the way, Bonds should be asterisked, I won’t defend him.  However, maybe there should be many more asterisks on the records.

Consider that performance-enhancing and testosterone-boosting substances have been in existence since the 30’s (intended for treatment of injuries and hormone replacement therapy), but testing didn’t begin at a professional level until the 70’s.  How many players, in any sport, do you think took advantage of that?  I’m going to be vilified for even suggesting this, but maybe Ruth didn’t “do it on hot dogs and beer.”

Think about how many athletes in their 40’s to 70’s who are confined to wheelchairs, are missing a limb, have heart conditions, look like a topographical map of rivers are printed on their skin, or have simply died well before their time.  While they brought it on themselves, some felt it was the only way to continue to be of worth to their team or the game itself.

I’d normally have the apathetic stance of “it’s their bodies, let them destroy them if they want to,” but if we let that go, everyone will be on them in order to remain competitive.

I think that Bud and the MLB are not doing enough to penalize or test them.  There should be mandatory urine tests before every game, and mandatory hair follicle and blood tests twice a month.  The penalties should also be more severe.  First positive should be an 81-game suspension without pay, second should be a one-year suspension and loss of signing bonus, and third should be a lifetime ban from the MLB and all related activities.

Okay, so I suck at making my point.  Babe Ruth did most of it on hot dogs and beer.  He didn’t have many HRs after February 1931 when the first anabolic steroid was invented.  I’m sure the break-neck speed of 68-mph fastballs didn’t hurt his chances, though.

To the contrary, have you ever tried hitting a 68 mph fastball 400 feet with a wooden bat? There’s a reason changeup pitchers like Jamie Moyer frustrate the hell out of hitters—you can’t hit them hard enough to clear the fences. Catching enough wood off a rookie closer’s 99 mile an hour heater, however, is more than enough to clear the Green Giant in Boston.

Baseball will cease to be the true American pastime right around the time Mad Dawg actually becomes convinced it is, and gives up on football.

Rageous - 14 August 2007 03:08 PM

To the contrary, have you ever tried hitting a 68 mph fastball 400 feet with a wooden bat?

Yes.  I had 38 home runs in high school.  However, in this day and age, pitch speed varies anywhere between 50mph and 105mph.  Back then, it was more like 45mph to 70mph.  Yes, the maximum speed was about 70mph.  You had plenty of time to watch the spin on the ball and tell where it was going.  Home run counts weren’t enormous in the 20’s and 30’s, but batting averages sure were.