Barry Bonds passing Babe Ruth HR record

[RDK]

With Bond' steroid use, I don't know why y'all are even discussing this. The man cheated and I agree that this renders any record he might beat invalid.

But I'm not sure - at least in the beginning - if what Bonds was taking at the time was actually illegal (the difference between "supplements" and "steroids" for example). It certainly is now, but i think that Bonds' denial of doing anything even questionable is what's really sunk him. He should have used his injuries as an excuse to quietly retire while people still had some respect for him...

[Dave James]

Chris,

I absolutely agree with you. If Bonds never hits another home run, it would be the best thing that could ever happen to and for the game. Those morons in San Francisco who robotically cheer everything he does ought to have their heads examined.

The problem is that cheating in baseball goes much deeper than Bonds. If I had my druthers, I'd also expunge the records of Mssrs. Sosa, McGwire and Palmiero. But, it really doesn't end there either, and that's the crux of the issue. For instance, what do you do about the pitchers? Since baseball ramped up its steroid policy, more pitchers have been caught using than any other position. That would lead one to believe that perhaps there was more juicing going on among that group than among everyday players. So, what really overshadows the Bonds issue is this; if you start by making an example of him, where do you stop?

Up over and out.

[Adam]

Do I think steriods should be out of sports? Yes, because it's not really a personal decision. If one person is using them, it puts a lot of pressure on everyone else to use them to keep up. And if practically everybody is using them, you'd better, too.

I think it would be terrific fun if all athletes could take whatever steroids or performance-enhancing products they could find. Don't just stop at a juiced ball or corked bat. It'd be hilarious to see bulked-up players hitting balls 500 feet, then dropping dead rounding the bases. Bionic parts should be acceptable too. Could you imagine someone throwing a 150 mph curveball.

I bet if this happened, attendance would also go way up. I also have the cynical view that someday again some form of performance enhancements will return to the games for this very reason.

[Noj]

Has it been proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that Bonds used steroids in the traditional sense (injection)? I heard that he has admitted to using a steroid-based topical cream for an injury, but other than that he may have gained his size using products which were not banned at the time he was using them. I haven't read any of the books and don't follow this too closely.

One thing I find funny in discussions about famous sports figures--how often people make sweeping judgements about a player's personality based on the most surface of impressions given through the media. I've done it myself. In truth, most of us don't know these people.

An example is the late Darrell Russell, defensive lineman for the USC Trojans and at one point a Pro-Bowler for the Oakland Raiders. He was demonized in the media following a series of incidents which showed him to be a druggie, a pervert, and generally a troublemaker. I haven't met a nicer person in all my life, and before he was put in the NFL lifestyle he wouldn't drink or do drugs. I guess people change, but I'm just saying the media doesn't tell the whole story about anybody.

Edited May 16, 2006 by Noj

[Jim R]

A complex and interesting saga. I think an awful lot of people (media and otherwise) hate Barry Bonds, hated him long before these allegations arose, and that's the main reason for the attempts to demonize him and make him the primary target in terms of the whole steroid problem. The powers that be in MLB are just as much to blame (probably moreso) due to their failures in controlling the problems that exist in baseball. Assuming Bonds has been juicing for awhile, hey- listen to what Mike Schmidt has been saying. He said he might have done the same thing in Barry's situation, after the whole power binge that took place with McGwire and Sosa. Cheating at baseball is as old as the hills... maybe older, and there are a lot of ways to cheat (probably a lot we don't even know about). That doesn't make Barry right (and I'm not saying there shouldn't be asterisks used in record books), but please... Barry Bonds is one man, and he happens to be a great baseball player. The "morons" in San Francisco probably hate him less because he's not beating the shit out of their own pitching.

At any rate, as I said I think this whole thing is very complex. It's not so cut and dried as some would like it to be, imo. I appreciate and agree with the above comments of Bob Ryan, Noj (and J Larsen, although I really think the "prick" comment is foolish. You aren't Barry Bonds, you don't know Barry Bonds, you don't know what it would be like to be Barry Bonds, etc etc etc.). Again, I'm not saying Bonds is completely blameless, but look at the big picture. Bombarding people like Bonds with venom and hatred for what he's allegedly done is taken way over the top, imo.

[Christiern]

I do not hate Barry Bonds--in fact, I have never seen a baseball game (other than news snippets) and could care less about this so-called "America's pastime." So, my comments are totally objective--I think breaking records with the help of chemicals is a far greater departure from ethics than placing bets. At least, Pete Rose earned his stats the right way--sans artificial boosters.

[Neal Pomea]

Nice article by Ryan, Mr. Gould!

As I was reading about comparing athletes from different eras, I was also thinking about comparing musicians from different eras. Slippery slopes.

[Ed S]

Random thoughts:

I think that you can honor the breaking of a record from players of different eras without having to resort to trying to compare eras to argue which player is greater.

Steroids have been a controlled substance in the US since 1990. Use of them outside the realm of medicine is illegal. Human growth hormone is a prescription drug and therefore should be prescribed and used only under a physician's supervision. The fact that until recently they were not banned by baseball speaks to how poorly baseball is run and/or how badly baseball wanted to return from the labor strife in the early 90s, but should not be used to condone Bonds' and others use of these substances to enhance performance.

From 1985 through 1999, Bonds hit an average of 32 HRs per season. That's enough to consider him a great home run hitter. Starting in 1999 at age 35 - a time when one would expect performance to begin a gradual decline - through 2004, Bonds averaged 52 HRs per year.

As far as I am concerned, it's not that someone who is generally perceived as a jerk is approaching the Babe's mark and then eventually Aaron's record - it's that he's done it by cheating. And yes there has been cheating for years in baseball of various types. But I think there's a not so fine line between grease or spit or a file on a baseball or stick 'em in a glove or pine tar on a bat and enhancing your ability to perform artificially through the use of controlled and/or prescription medications. Bonds is way past that line. He's admitted to some use and evidence gathered in the writing of that book points to full blown steroid utilization - as does one look at before and after photos.

I took my boys to the baseball hall of fame last year and was disgusted to see the list of active leaders in most hitting categories - Bonds, Palmiero, Sheffield, Sosa. All suspected steroid abusers. Throw Mcguire in there too when talking about disappointment, though he had retired.

Baseball as an institution should be ashamed of the way it handled and even tolerated the steroid era. I am not saying Bonds records should be stricken or even astererisked. All I am saying is that for me, his passing of Ruth and perhaps Aaron has become completely meaningless. For that matter - the McGuire and Sosa season has become a joke. I still like watching a baseball game. But these guys and baseball itself have taken away one of the truly enjoyable aspects of the game - the assault on records that have been established over a century or more of play. Shame on all concerned.

[PHILLYQ]

If Bonds had never used any performance-enhancing substances(HGH, steroids, etc.), he'd have over 500 HRs now and there would be no doubt about his HOF credentials. Bonds went and ruined a perfectly good career in pursuit of more and more and more...

[BERIGAN]

Clearly, I don't like Bonds at all these days, but Russ Springer throwing at his head was some sorry shit! Don't make me feel sorry for Bonds, ever!!!!

[J Larsen]

I really think the "prick" comment is foolish. You aren't Barry Bonds, you don't know Barry Bonds, you don't know what it would be like to be Barry Bonds, etc etc etc

Hey, don't take it the wrong way. Some of my best friends are pricks.

[Ken Dryden]

I enjoyed watching the Atlanta Braves repeatedly intentionally walk Barry Bonilla to face Barry Bonds during the 1991 playoffs, where he almost inevitably was retired. I have long been sick of this arrogant player, whose sullen attitude is hardly a good example for kids playing sports. He ought to be grateful to have the opportunities that he has had.

Bonds' miracle improvement in his mid-30s almost has to be steroid related. As a result, his hitting records will always be somewhat tainted. He had the potential to reach the Hall of Fame on his own natural talent, before he chose the Dark Side and unnatural enhancement.

Bonds will pass Babe Ruth, he may still pass Hank Aaron's lifetime record, but he will never be regarded as the equal of either of them.