The even larger issue is that Baseball records are all conspicuous because of the differences in eras, the differences in Ball Parks, etc. Most older baseball guys will tell you that Willie Mays would have crushed the HR if he didn't play a lot of his career in Candlestick.
It was the torch that Mays carried on one of the Olympic Torch runs when it went through SF. Mays decided he would "pass the torch" to Barry.
That is because in the 1920's the 50 HR mark was reached 4 times, all of them were by one man. In the 1990's the 50 HR mark was reached 12 times by such baseball legends as Brady Anderson, Greg Vaughn, and Albert Belle. Ruth's numbers were pretty ordinary until 1920, probably at least in part because he was pitching 17+ games per year (at a sub 3 ERA). Once his starts were cut to 2 or fewer, he only once hit less than 30 homers until he was 39 years old (in a season that he only played in 98 games). There really isn't anything suspicious about his numbers. Bonds on the other hand never hits 50 in his career, until he turns 36 years old and suddenly hits 73, almost 30 more homers than he had ever hit before. Sammy Sosa never hits more than 40 until his 10th year in the league, when his total jumps to 66, 30 more than the previous season. Like Bonds, he also had a suspicious jump in batting average at the same time. Guys whose home run numbers suddenly increase by 25 to 30 late in their careers and have 25 to 50 point jumps in their BA at the same time don't seem suspicious to you?
Batting Average isn't improved by steroids, so it actually it would have an opposite affect on my suspicions. That just tells me he became a better hitter. No one else's batting average has had a jump like Bonds' but he isn't the only person questioned about steroids. But the overall point is players can only be judged against the peers of their era. To say Bonds' records are tainted compared to Ruth's for whatever reason isn't fair when Ruth's records are tainted against the guys' whose records he broke because they played in the dead ball era. No one was hitting hr's like Ruth and guys immediately after him till the ball was changed.
Interesting info. So steroids don't even warrant a mention, in your opinion? I'm aware of the cycles ... in which of the eras though were steroids being used en masse by players?
Yes they do ... and steroids make that a lot easier. Do they not? Last I heard the leader of the union has no intention of making adjustments and doesn't even consider it an issue. Is this info wrong? Neither was taking steroids a priority ...
How can you say batting average isn't improved by steroids? A home run = a hit. Flyout = out. How does it not improve your average?
Barry Bonds hit 46 hrs and batted 370 in 2002. Barry Bonds also hit 46 hrs in 1993. So I don't know how many of those hrs you want to attribute to steroids but lets say you attribute 10. He still would have batted 345 which is way above his career average. And that's being generous taking away 10. As a matter of fact, the only year that is a true anamoly for Barry Bonds in 2001 when he broke the single season record.
I know there is all the steriod controversy, but I got to admit it is pretty amazing to see this in our time...He may be an a-hole, but this is a great accomplishment, let alone the possibility of passing Babe Ruth in our generation...freakin amazing...
Bonds hit 661 tonight. Apparently, the same guy who fished the ball out of McCovey's Cove yesterday did the same today!!!
What are the odds of that happening........... This guy needs to go to Vegas or play the lottery ASAP!
the guy is keeping this ball. he got signed jerseys, bats and various paraphernalia, along with free future tickets in exchange for the first ball. and yesterday ESPN made him look like a hero for giving up the ball and asking for nothing in exchange. So I wonder if he's gonna be out there for 662? Or does he think his luck is finally up?
\ What are the odds...I saw him being interviewed and his friend missed his chance and he happened to be there...Good for him...
That's what happens when you do the right thing. Good for him. An act of God if I ever saw one. Damn. Barry just unloaded on both of those HR's. He sick. Reminds me of the Astro game where he just waited for three games for a strike and then BAM! The guy is just awesome.
Okay cool, I'm obviously ignorant ... I need to do more research on how easy it is to get around those tests. Probably not too hard, but at least they're testing, I suppose.
