SHOULD WE RECOGNIZE BARRY THE CHEATER BONDS AS HOME RUN KING IF AND WHEN HE BREAKS HANK AARON'S RECORd?

Question

and also should he be allowed in the hall of fame ?

Answer 1

The home record should never be about a number. Right now it's 755, but what does that mean. It meant Hank hit an average of 30 home runs for 25 years when the average player hit what, 12?

When Bonds hit 73 in 2001, the average hitter hit 20. So, playing for 25 years, an average hitter would get 500 homers.

Hitting 756 in this day and age is no where near as significant as hitting 755 in Aaron's day (which wasn't as significant as hitting 714 in Ruth's day)

I can only think that the people that think it has to do with how brown a player's skin is (since there are no white players, just lighter shades of brown) must be themselves racist to believe that someone would withhold accolades from one person and retain it to another (who is also the same shade of brown)

He may get the #, but with baseball purists, it won't mean as much.

For those that contend that "Steriods weren't illegal in baseball", when anyone was asked how they attribute their success, did you ever hear anyone say Steriods?

See, when you don't believe you are doing anything wrong, you are WAY more likely to be open about it. They tell their friends, their family and their team.

"Hey, GM, this stuff is great, it's called steroids and you should put everyone on our team on it, we will win for sure". When you hide it, do it behind closed doors and have to pay cash for it, you know it's wrong.

on your last point, yes, he should get into the hall of fame for what he did prior to taking the juice. 600+ legit homers and 500 Stolen bases is enough.

Answer 2

Question #1: Heck, no. Hank Aaron did it legally. Barry Bonds did not. Hank Aaron's record is more valid.

Question #2: This is a harder question to answer, but I am going to be in the minority and say "Yes." I feel the same way about Mark McGuire and others like them. Steroids was BASEBALL's problem, and they failed to do anything about it. Fact is that they had an addiction, too, an addiction to all those home runs that were bringing in the fans when they had popularity problems after the strike. They did not enforce drug testing, and essentially gave players the OK to do what they wanted. It is Major League Baseball's fault that this happened.

The fact is that guys like McGuire, and even Bonds to some extent, are only different than a lot of guys because they were known users. The fact also is that some people from the past 10-15 years are going to be inducted into the Hall of Fame and DID USE STEROIDS. The only difference is that it will not be known, because they were cautious and got away with it. And had baseball been serious about this problem, and it was no secret that it was happening, then it would have been stopped in the first place. These guys would not have been taking the dope had they been prevented from doing it.

Steroids in the past two decades are a part of baseball's history now, whether anyone likes it or not. It would by hypocrisy to deny it and pretend like it did not happen, and I think this applies to the Hall of Fame as well. The league is as much at fault as the players were, so I say let them in... but put them in their own little steroid section with the big asterisk next to their name. That is the proper way to recognize the mistakes that were made, while preserving the integrity of the game. And you still will recognize the players, who steroids or not, had talent and skill. Bonds and McGuire still hit more home runs than other players who were on steroids. I guarantee you they were not the only ones.

That said, I respect the people who say no to this question. Steroids are a disgrace, and you want to protect the sanctity of the game. There is nothing wrong with making a stand here on this issue! I just hope that baseball has finally learned its lesson.

Answer 3

I'm a big Giants fan so perhaps I may be a bit biased but I think Bonds deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. Yes, he is one of the most controversial figures in sports, but he was a hall of fame player before all the controversy started. None of you can sit here and say that he was a complete joke before all the steroids issues; he's been awesome since he entered the league. End of story. For the people who say he has no talent, do you know anything about baseball? Steroids or no steroids it's incredibly dificult to hit a 90 MPH fastball. And before he got old and started falling apart he was an awesome defensive player. Steroids don't help you make incredible plays. People need to think about that.

He's going to be recognized as the Home Run King unless they somehow prove that he took steroids and also when he took them. Which by the looks of it they're not going to uncover anytime soon so don't plan on them taking the title away from him until that time.

Answer 4

I think we'll see Alex Rodriguez break the all time record several years from now. Pujols is looking good too.

So as much as I am trying to ignore Bonds, we'll always remember the legit HR kings.

Time will tell us whether or not Bonds deserves to be in the Hall.

Answer 5

The record will stand if he does in fact break it, reality is that he is a black man and if we try to not recognize his record achievement its going to be because he is black and we didnt like the way he was with us. Hall of fame he should never even get on a ballot, I know he will but he really should never get into the hall. So there you have it.

Answer 6

No way! No Hall of Fame either. None of the steroid 90's stars will make it to the Hall. No Palmero,McGwire,Sosa, or Bonds. I just wish they would all come out & admit they did it & it was wrong.

Answer 7

Yes...we haven't reset the single season home run record back to Roger Maris yet, as far as I know. Everyone who passed him was juiced.

In 10 years he'll be on CNN crying because he's dying of some horrific disease caused by steroid use. Then he'll say it wasn't worth it.

But until MLB baseball has adequate controls, rules and testing...you can't blame the players. It is an institutional problem. Players are just pawns in the big money game that is pro sports. He hit the homeruns in fair play...as far as I know, none of them have been discounted due to cheating...until you do that, you have to count the records too.

Answer 8

NO!! if he can cheat to break a record then he should be cheated out of any reconignition and out of the hall of fame he don't deserve it.

Answer 9

Well I guess that also pertains to Mark "I have no idea about anything" McGuire, Both cheaters and both need to be erased from the logs of baseball. Pete Rose is still ignored by baseball, why shouldn't Bonds and McGuire???

Answer 10

There is no way we should. Bonds cheated and everyone knows it. However, he could probably have gotten close to doing what he did if he didn't cheat. It is a close call, but I'll have to say no.