All Sport Report

Yesterday was a day for Baseball milestones to be reached. If you have not heard that Barry “the Steroid User” Bonds hit homerun number 755 to tie with Hammerin’ Hank Aaron’s record for the most career homeruns, then you have been living under a rock. To those of us who respect Aaron’s record this was hardly news. Meanwhile, A-Rod hit number 500 in his career, an amazing feat for someone of his young age. This has made A-Rod the youngest player to hit 500 in a career, making his own little record in the process. To round things out, steadfast Atlanta pitcher, Tom Glavine, pitched his 299th winning game of his career.

Still, it is Steroid Bonds who is getting the most attention, and not all of it is positive. Sure, Bonds is doing something…somewhat remarkable…by getting 755 career homeruns, but does he really deserve all the credit? Personally, I think the record books should list him as Barry Bonds & Steroids, when he finally manages to hit 756 and beat Aaron’s record. After all, without them he might be batting homerun number 155 not 755! Since we haven’t seen what Bond can do without having taken the career enhancing drugs (and his silence was an omission of such) it is hard to say where Bonds would be in his career otherwise.

Apparently, the general public agrees with me in assessing how much Bonds is worth. In an interesting turn of events, the owner of the 70th homerun ball Bonds hit (in 2001) sold the ball for just $14,000. The ball, which was originally purchased for $60,000 has depreciated in value, especially since the slugger has been accused of using steroids and failed to state he never used them, silently admitting his guilt in the process.

Meanwhile, Hank Aaron memorabilia met and exceeded the prices established by the Auction House, Mastro Auctions, in an auction held on Friday, July 3, 2007. In the auction, a jersey Aaron autographed sold for an amazing $40,000, nearly 4 times the cost paid for the Bonds ball! Meanwhile, a 1954 Topps Rookie card of Aaron’s went for over $19,000 and his contract he signed with the Milwaukee Braves as a rookie sold for over $31,000!

Doug Allen, the president of the auction house responsible for the sales has said that vintage memorabilia continues to rise in value. However, items from Bonds, Maguire, and other recent players, especially those who have been accused of using steroids, has depreciated and it doesn’t seem like it is going to change soon. Unfortunately, if Bonds does manage to hit just one more homerun, the record books will say he is the holder of the record. So, I have to wonder if in 100 years they will know of the steroid use Bonds did to make such a record or if history will rewrite him as a hero amongst the ranks of Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb. Will he remain the villain many of us loathe today? I guess only time will tell.

Barry Bonds, Steroids, 755, Home run, Hank Aaron