Baseball must now erase Barry Bonds from the record books
November 16, 2007 at 11:29 am by Scott Freeman in News, SportsWhen is a new home-run record not a new home-run record?
Perhaps when the new home-run king is indicted for lying to the feds about steroid use, and there’s a drug test that backs them up. In short, an unprecedented mess awaits Barry Bonds and, especially, baseball commissioner Bud Selig. The big question Selig is going to face is simple: Does he erase the new (allegedly steroid-enhanced) home-run “record” that Bonds set last year from the record books?
Baseball has never seen anything like this before. When “Shoeless” Joe Jackson was given a lifetime ban from baseball for the Black Sox scandal after the 1920 season, his batting records were left intact. When Pete Rose was given a lifetime ban for gambling, it didn’t affect his batting records. In neither case was there a cause and effect.
But with Bonds, it’s very different. His alleged crime directly affected the records he set. Take Marion Jones, the Olympic gold medalist who confessed in October that she took steroids provided by BALCO, the same outfit that allegedly provided them to Bonds.
Like Bonds, she said she initially thought she was taking flaxseed oil. After Jones’ confession (she pleaded guilty in October to lying to federal investigators), she gave up the five medals she received at the 2000 Games in Sydney. The International Olympic Committee is expected to formally strip her of the medals prior to her sentencing in January.
Selig may have no other alternative than to “strip” Bonds of the records he’s set with the apparent use of illegal substances. How can anyone honor a home-run record set by a guy who was demonstrably bulked up on steroids?
The baseball commissioner has never been one to take bold measures. But in this case, he may have no other alternative. The home-run record Bonds set last year is now tainted. And Selig must take the lead of the Olympic committee and wipe Bonds’ stained stats from the record books.
Hank Aaron, home-run king. It has a nice ring to it. It has an honest ring to it. And to get out of this mess, baseball has got to rediscover its integrity.
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November 16th, 2007 at 1:36 pm
Wait for the verdict. I mean, you’re right, he’s guilty as sin but at least wait until the verdict is handed down.
November 16th, 2007 at 3:02 pm
I guess I agree — I have no love for Barry Bonds.
I, for one, believe that A LOT, meaning more than half, of baseball players were on sterioids in the 1990s and early 2000s. So, the questions becomes, do we erase ALL records from that era: McGwire’s 70 HRs? Clemens Cy Young streak? etc. etc. Or do they get a pass because they weren’t caught redhanded?
Utlimately, history will not treat Bonds well — record or not. It’s not like anyone really considers him the Home Run King! They don’t.
What a mess
November 16th, 2007 at 4:44 pm
dpb: Don’t forget that Shoeless Joe Jackson was acquitted of throwing the World Series and still banned from baseball. Pete Rose never pleaded guilty to betting on baseball, although that was why he was banned. All major league baseball needs is enough evidence to believe the allegation is true. If Bonds, as the federal indictment states, did fail a drug test, then that’s the grounds baseball would need to ban him and to wipe his records off the books.
November 20th, 2007 at 5:46 pm
Bye bye Hall of Fame
November 27th, 2007 at 9:20 am
Bonds is the greatest player to ever live. Stop Hating!!!! And yes, over half the world knows and acknowledges he is the Home Run King. Sorry, this information isnt all over CNN and Sportscenter because if it was, it is known all of you\\\’ll believe everything you hear and see on TV!!!