7-5-5 BARRY BONDS Ties HANK AARON'S Record in San Diego!
With a swing and a hit sailing 382 feet into the left-center bleachers, homer number 755 moved Barry Bonds, the San Francisco Giants left fielder, to a level equal with the legendary Hank Aaron.
Bonds is now within one home run swing of obtaining baseball's most coveted record. This historic sport moment came during the second inning of the San Francisco Giants Major League Baseball game against the San Diego Padres in San Diego, Saturday, August 4, 2007.
"The hard part is over right now," Bonds said.
"This is the hardest thing I've had to do in my entire career," he said. "I had rashes on my head, I felt like I was getting sick at times."
Observing from in a private box, high above the field Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig was a witness, albeit a reluctant one, to history. Without commenting on the ongoing controversy with regard to the steroid allegations surrounding Bonds, Selig watched reportedlly in cheerless silence.
"No matter what anybody thinks of the controversy surrounding this event, Mr. Bonds' achievement is noteworthy and remarkable," Selig said in a statement.
Selig said either he or a representative would attend the Giants' next few games "out of respect for the tradition of the game, the magnitude of the record and the fact that all citizens in this country are innocent until proven guilty."
Aaron was not in attendance. The Hall of Famer is not following the chase in person.
"We as baseball players, especially as African-American ballplayers, have so much respect for Hank Aaron and all our fellow African-American athletes as well. They have paved the road for what we're doing now," Bonds said.
Bonds' homer drew a mixed reaction from the San Diego crowd. Several fans held up asterisk signs — believing Bonds' record should be considered conditional — and the San Francisco slugger was booed as he headed to left field at the end of the inning.
"I want to thank the fans. They have been outstanding," Bonds said. "It's been a fun ride. I really appreciate the way San Diego handled it and the way their fans handled it."
Bonds walked his next three times up and left the game in the eighth for a pinch-runner. He raised his helmet with his left hand, then his right, and drew a standing ovation from many fans who chanted his name.
Bonds will not start on Sunday, saving his attempt to break the record until a series of home games starting on Monday.
Earlier in the day, Alex Rodriguez hit his 500th home run, and both men donated their helmets to the Hall of Fame.
33-year-old Adam Hughes, was whisked to a secure area so the specially marked ball could be authenticated; Hughes was the fan whose fortune it was to catch the Bonds ball. It is expected to garner at least seven figures when auctioned.
After Bonds crossed the plate, he lifted his batboy son, Nikolai, and carried him in an embrace, then kissed 8-year-old daughter Aisha and wife, Liz.
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Bonds is now within one home run swing of obtaining baseball's most coveted record. This historic sport moment came during the second inning of the San Francisco Giants Major League Baseball game against the San Diego Padres in San Diego, Saturday, August 4, 2007.
"The hard part is over right now," Bonds said.
"This is the hardest thing I've had to do in my entire career," he said. "I had rashes on my head, I felt like I was getting sick at times."
Observing from in a private box, high above the field Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig was a witness, albeit a reluctant one, to history. Without commenting on the ongoing controversy with regard to the steroid allegations surrounding Bonds, Selig watched reportedlly in cheerless silence.
"No matter what anybody thinks of the controversy surrounding this event, Mr. Bonds' achievement is noteworthy and remarkable," Selig said in a statement.
Selig said either he or a representative would attend the Giants' next few games "out of respect for the tradition of the game, the magnitude of the record and the fact that all citizens in this country are innocent until proven guilty."
Aaron was not in attendance. The Hall of Famer is not following the chase in person.
"We as baseball players, especially as African-American ballplayers, have so much respect for Hank Aaron and all our fellow African-American athletes as well. They have paved the road for what we're doing now," Bonds said.
Bonds' homer drew a mixed reaction from the San Diego crowd. Several fans held up asterisk signs — believing Bonds' record should be considered conditional — and the San Francisco slugger was booed as he headed to left field at the end of the inning.
"I want to thank the fans. They have been outstanding," Bonds said. "It's been a fun ride. I really appreciate the way San Diego handled it and the way their fans handled it."
Bonds walked his next three times up and left the game in the eighth for a pinch-runner. He raised his helmet with his left hand, then his right, and drew a standing ovation from many fans who chanted his name.
Bonds will not start on Sunday, saving his attempt to break the record until a series of home games starting on Monday.
Earlier in the day, Alex Rodriguez hit his 500th home run, and both men donated their helmets to the Hall of Fame.
33-year-old Adam Hughes, was whisked to a secure area so the specially marked ball could be authenticated; Hughes was the fan whose fortune it was to catch the Bonds ball. It is expected to garner at least seven figures when auctioned.
After Bonds crossed the plate, he lifted his batboy son, Nikolai, and carried him in an embrace, then kissed 8-year-old daughter Aisha and wife, Liz.
Visit Our Forum: Tell Us What You Think!
posted by You Think at 6:11 PM
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