Bonds Clubs #756, Breaks Aaron’s Career HR Mark
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Well, he finally did it. After a wait that seemed like years, leftfielder Barry Bonds finally cracked Hammerin’ Hank Aaron’s mark of 755 career homers.
With Tuesday’s game between the Giants and the Washington Nationals tied at 4-4 and Nationals 3rd year lefthanded starter Mike Bacsik opened the 5th by by retiring rightfielder Randy Winn on a fly out to leftfield.
AP Sports writer Josh Dubow describes Bonds’ record-breaking at bat for Yahoo sports;
Bonds’ shot to break his tie with Hank Aaron and take sole possession of baseball’s most hallowed record gave the Giants a 5-4 lead in the fifth inning. He drove a 3-2 pitch from Mike Bacsik over the wall in right-center, making Bacsik his 445th career victim.
The record took a long time in coming. Bonds started the season with 734 homers and hit 8 in the month of April. He then hit 4 homers in each of May, June and July as well as the tying and record-breaking blasts in August. Bonds had but 3 homers in his last 41 at bats over 15 games since July 20 through the record-breaker on August 7.
AP Sports Writer Janie McCauley adds more color and commentary to the event;
On Tuesday night, in his home ballpark, it didn’t matter how many of them might have been fueled by steroids or performance-enhancers. Bonds has the title of home run king all to himself, ending Aaron’s 33-year reign.
“This record is not tainted at all. At all. Period,” Bonds said.
And more than 43,000 adoring Giants fans, including his godfather, Hall of Famer Willie Mays, surely agreed.
Bonds raised both arms over his head like a prize fighter in victory, fists clenched — and then he took off. It was over at long last.
Bonds did it with a shot to the deepest part of the ballpark with one out in the fifth inning against Washington’s Mike Bacsik.
Bonds sent the 84-mph fastball arcing high into the night, 435 feet into the right-center field seats. And then, the celebration began in force — fireworks, streamers, banners commemorating the accomplishment, and even a party in McCovey Cove.
Bud Selig wasn’t there for the record-breaker.
Instead, he sent two emissaries, Major League Baseball executive vice president Jimmie Lee Solomon and Hall of Famer Frank Robinson. Selig also issued a statement.
“While the issues which have swirled around this record will continue to work themselves toward resolution, today is a day for congratulations on a truly remarkable achievement,” Selig said.
Bonds also heard personally from the commissioner with congratulations.
As for Aaron, he said all along he had no interest in being there whenever and wherever his record was broken. He was true to his word, but he did offer a taped message of congratulations that played on the stadium’s video board during a 10-minute, in-game tribute.
“It is a great accomplishment which required skill, longevity and determination,” he said.
“Throughout the past century, the home run has held a special place in baseball and I have been privileged to hold this record for 33 of those years. I move over now and offer my best wishes to Barry and his family on this historic achievement.
“My hope today, as it was on that April evening in 1974, is that the achievement of this record will inspire others to chase their own dreams.”
With a long, satisfied stare, Bonds watched as the ball sailed over the fence and disappeared into the scrum in the first few rows. Then he raised both arms over his head like a victorious prize fighter, fists clenched, and took off.
“I knew I hit it,” Bonds said. “I knew I got it. I was like, phew, finally.”
His 17-year-old batboy son, Nikolai, was already bouncing on home plate as Dad rounded third and ran the final 90 feet to make it official. After a long embrace, the rest of the family joined in — his mother, two daughters and wife. And then there was Mays, who removed his cap and congratulated his godson.
Bonds saved his most poignant words for last, addressing his late father, Bobby.
“My dad,” he said, looking to the sky and choking back tears. “Thank you.”
Bonds had wanted to break the record at home, where he would be assured of a friendly crowd.
“This is the greatest record in all of sports,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “We are all fortunate to witness it. It’s awesome. This road to history has been a lot of fun.”
Bonds homered exactly three years after Greg Maddux earned his 300th victory at the same ballpark. It’s been quite a week of baseball milestones — over the weekend, Alex Rodriguez hit his 500th home run and Tom Glavine won No. 300.
A seven-time NL MVP, the 43-year-old Bonds hit his 22nd home run of the year. Bonds broke Mark McGwire’s single-season record by hitting 73 in 2001 and while he’s no longer such a force, opposing pitchers remain wary.
There are plenty of fans already hoping for the day that Bonds’ total — whatever it ends up — is topped. Rodriguez may have the best chance, with his 500 home runs at age 32 far ahead of Bonds’ pace.
Bonds said he hadn’t yet thought beyond 756. He plans to play in 2008.
“I’ll tell you one thing: I’m going to hit a lot better from now on,” he said after a champagne celebration in the clubhouse.
Somehow, I just don’t feel psyched or greatly affected by Bonds’ blast and his assumption of career homer recordholder. Maybe it’s the steroids thing which has not seen light of day on this blog. Maybe it’s that the Giants are a last place team going nowhere but down. I can’t put my finger on it. But whatever it is, I feel an absence of pressure or drama. I felt more drama last season when Phillies 1st baseman Ryan Howard was within reach of a clean 62. He finished with 58 dingers for the season.
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