San Francisco – Barry Bonds hit No. 756 to the deepest part of AT&T Park on Tuesday night, and hammered home the point: Like him or not, legitimate or not, he is baseball’s new home run king.
Bonds broke Hank Aaron’s storied record with one out in the fifth inning, hitting a full-count, 84 mph pitch from Washington’s Mike Bacsik 435 feet to right-center field. The Nationals won the game 8-6.
“Thank you very much. I got to thank all of you, all the fans here in San Francisco. It’s been fantastic,” he said shortly after crossing home plate, his godfather, Willie Mays, at his side.
Conspicuous by their absence were the commissioner and Hammerin’ Hank himself.
Though Bud Selig was on hand for the tying homer three days ago, deciding to put baseball history ahead of the steroid allegations that have plagued the Giants slugger, 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.
As for Aaron, he said all along he had no interest in being there whenever and wherever his 33-year-old mark 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.
“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.”
A woman who answered the phone at Aaron’s home in Georgia shortly after Bonds’ homer said Aaron was asleep.
“I think Hank is his own man,” Mays said. “I think if he wanted to be here he would be here. When he hit 715, the commissioner (Bowie Kuhn) wasn’t there.”
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.
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 – two daughters and wife Liz. 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. They were all right, unlike in San Diego where some fans held up signs with asterisks indicating that his power was steroid-induced.
Bonds has always denied knowingly using performance-enhancing drugs.
He had already doubled and singled before hitting the solo home run. He took his position in left field to start the sixth, then was replaced and drew another standing ovation.
Matt Murphy of New York emerged from the stands with the souvenir and a bloodied face, and was whisked to a secure room.
Even with Bonds at the top of the chart, fans will surely keep debating which slugger they consider the true home run champion. Some will continue to cling to Aaron while other, older rooters will always say it’s Babe Ruth.
“It’s all about history. Pretty soon, someone will come along and pass him,” Mays said before the game.
Alex Rodriguez might have the best chance, with his 500 home runs at age 32 far ahead of Bonds’ pace.
Aaron held the top spot for 12,173 days after connecting for No. 715 to pass the Babe on April 8, 1974.
Career runs leaders
(Player No.)
1. Rickey Henderson 2,295
2. Ty Cobb 2,245
3. x-Barry Bonds 2,212
4. Babe Ruth 2,174
4. Hank Aaron 2,174
x-active; y-played prior to 1901
