Barry Bonds is no stranger to milestones.
In the past four seasons, Bonds has hit home runs number 500, 600 and, to pass Willie Mays, 661. In that span, Bonds has also broken the single-season home run record (73 in 2001), led the major’s in batting average (.370 in 2002), created a new playoff home run mark (eight in 2002), became the only player with at least 400 home runs and 400 stolen bases (698 and 506, respectively) and drew more intentional walks than any player in one season (over 100 so far in 2004).
This year Bonds has merely batted .374, knocked out 40 home runs, obtained a .610 on base percentage and an .824 slugging percentage. With all these records and milestones, it is easy not to get overwhelmed by yet another. But when Bonds likely blasts out his 700th home run, the accomplishment should be met with the exultation deserved by a feat of this proportion. Bonds will join only two other players—Hank Aaron and Babe Ruth—who have hit more than 700 home runs in the history of baseball.
One significant reason why Bonds’ achievement will not be celebrated like Aaron’s or Ruth’s is because of the recent increase in home runs throughout the major leagues. “When Babe Ruth was hitting 60 home runs in a season, the next closest player was only hitting in the 20s,” is a frequently used argument.
But in Bonds’ case, this contention holds little weight. If pitchers threw to Bonds the same way they pitch to other major leaguers, there is no telling how many more No. 25 would splash into the McCovey Cove.
The way Bonds slashes through milestones should also be noted. As The New York Times’ Lee Jenkins pointed out, unlike many players who press themselves once on the verge of a record or milestone, there is a small interval between the time Bonds eyes the record and breaks it. For example, when he was on the verge of hitting his 500th home run, he hit six long balls in seven days. The day after he tied Mark McGwire’s record for most home runs in a single season, he ended the stalemate when two balls flew off his bat and out of SBC Park. When he tied Mays’ 660 career home runs mark, he hit No. 661 the next day.
“The guy’s a drill bit when he gets close; he just bores right through,” the Mets’ Mike Piazza said to The New York Times. “I remember when I got close to my [most home runs for a catcher] record, I pressed, then I got mad, then I got frustrated. After I hit every color in the spectrum, I finally threw my hands up in the air and it came. Barry’s not that way. He doesn’t struggle with this.”
Bonds isn’t currently talking to the newspaper media after games, claiming he needs to focus. The lefty is, however, regularly recording his thoughts on www.mlb.com. Though he mentioned the 700 mark, most of his most recent rumblings have discussed his team’s playoff chances.
“There are plenty of other things I can do if I don't hit one out, like hit the ball to left field to beat the shift and work that key walk,” Bonds said. “I'm going to get to 700 eventually. I'll pass 700 and then all eyes will be on Babe Ruth (714) and Hank Aaron (755). But what we do as a team along the way is just as important.
“We're 3 1/2 games behind the Dodgers now in the division race, and there's still a long way to go. We're also right there in the Wild Card. Anything can happen. We're going on the road this week for eight games in Denver, Phoenix and Milwaukee. There's 23 games to go. We have to have a good road trip and then come home.”
So sit back this week and enjoy watching something that may never be done again. Behind Michael Jordan, Bonds will be the second most dominant team sports player you’ll ever see. Forget about the media’s constant criticism of the left fielder’s attitude and ignore the unproven allegations of steroid use. Look at Bonds for what he is: The greatest baseball player of our time.
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