Barry Bonds and Hank's record

There definitely should be a star next to his record and McGwire's, Sosas et al and they should be ineligible for the hall. They have done at least as much as Pete Rose in damaging the integrity of the game.

 

Since those guys never tested positive for any banned substances, it will be hard to place an asterisk next to any record.

With that said, I hate it that a mean spirited guy like BB is going to eclipse a gentleman like Hank Aaron. I hope Hank stands him up when it comes time to hit 756.

 

I don't know how they can put an asterisk next to his name since he never tested positive under a sanctioned drug test. We all know he did it, though. If he does break the record, it will be corrected through the writing and opinion-making of baseball history. There will always be a shadow of doubt over the record.

Baseball is a game of stats; records mean more to baseball than any other sport. But the truth is, some records mean more than others based on their historical context. For instance, Cy Young has the career wins record of 511, which will never be touched because the game has changed so much. So as time passes by, that record becomes less significant in the minds of baseball fans. Another one: Chief Wilson has the single season triples record with 36 in 1912. That's another one that will never be touched, but baseball historians are able to account for anomalies like that based on the context in which they occurred. And the same thing will happen with Bonds and his homers. Over time, the context of his record will be remembered, thus diminishing its significance. So one of the casualties in all this will be the record itself, which at one time was one of the most revered, will now become ordinary and era-specific, like Young's wins and Wilson's triples.

 

Truth is baseball did it to themselves by not having a policy that tested these guys. When you have the money on the table that they have (this off season as a perfect example) guys will do anything to stay in the game especially if it isn't illegal.

BB played by the rules that where in play, history will have to be the judge, he gets the record, no qualifiers. What makes you think you would like Mantle any better if you had a camera up his nose every minute of every day? Guys where rude and ugly back then as well, just no ESPN to share it with the world.

BTW pitchers are way better now then in the "good ole days". Smaller ballparks, tighter baseball, smaller zone, mound height adjustments. Also you cannot forget, only whites where allowed to play for a majority of baseball history. And when they where allowed to play the playing field was hardly level for a period of time.

Let me also say, what makes me most sad about the situation, it that Bonds was a Hall of Fame type player before the juice. I mean he was really great in all areas of the game. He didn't need it, unlike Sosa and Big Mac evidently.

 

It's almost painful to imagine someone like Bonds passing Hammerin' Hank's record when Hank really is such a gentleman (like was mentioned earlier).

 

How about the fact that he passed Babe Ruth, who actually did the opposite of Bonds and killed his body with alcohol and who knows what else.

Can you imagine The Babe on steroids? We would've broken 800 homers.:laugh:

 

As long as they can't prove he took steriods, there'll never be an asterisk by his name......If he had any class at all, I mean even a little bit of respect for the players and fans, he would have retired this year and saved himself and the fans the agony of him breaking the record. Can you imagine the embarrassment of him hitting the homerun to break the record in Chicago, and the fans throwing the ball back on the field and booing him?

Sidebar: Was The supplement that Mark Mcguire took legal when he took it and then later banned? If so, He should probably not be lumped with Bonds

 

Bonds

I never thought Bonds would play another year to break the record. I thought he would retire after last year .It will be very interesting the day he breaks it .I wonder what Hank will say and do ??

I did see Hank a couple of years ago talk about Bonds on TV .It seemed he didn;t care much for Bonds .You know the media will be talking to Hank as much as Bonds as the day comes nearer to the breaking of the record .

 

I would be watching for people not to pitch to Bonds when and if it gets close. Bonds will never be recognized as the home run leader by true baseball fans. He did not play under the rules of the day. Steroids were illegal. There is no doubt that he took them.

 

No, there should not be an asterisk. Fans can make their own judgment between Hank Aaron and Barry Bonds.