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San Francisco Giants slugger Bonds broke Hank Aaron’s storied record with one out in the fifth inning, hitting a full-count, 84-mph pitch from the Washington Nationals’ Mike Bacsik 435 feet to right-center field.
“Thank you very much. I got to thank all of you, all the fans here in San Fran-cisco. It’s been fantastic,” he said shortly after he crossed home plate, with Giants legend Willie Mays, his godfather, at his side.
Conspicuous by their absence were baseball commissioner Bud Selig and Hammerin’ Hank himself.
Though he was on hand for the tying homer three days ago, deciding to put baseball history ahead of the steroid allegations that have plagued Bonds, Selig wasn’t there for the record-breaker.
Instead, he sent two emis-saries, Major League Base-ball executive vice president Jimmie Lee Solomon and Hall of Famer Frank Robin-son.
“While the issues which have swirled around this record will continue to work themselves toward resolu-tion, today is a day for congratulations on a truly remarkable achievement,” Selig said in a statement, released after he spoke to Bonds by telephone.
As for Aaron, he said all along he had no interest in being there whenever and wherever his 33-year-old mark was broken. He was true to his word but did offer a taped message of con-gratulations that played on the stadium’s video board.
“It is a great accomplish-ment which required skill, longevity and determina-tion,” he said.
“Throughout the past century, the home run has held a special place in baseball and I have been privileged to hold this record for 33 of those years. I move over now and offer my best wishes to Barry and his family on this historic achievement.
“My hope today, as it was on that April evening in 1974, is that the achievement of this record will inspire others to chase their own dreams,” he said.
A woman who answered the phone at Aaron’s home in Georgia shortly after Bonds’ homer said that Aaron was asleep.
With a long, satisfied stare, Bonds - the 43-year-old seven-time National League MVP - watched as the ball sailed over the fence and disappeared into the scrum in the first few rows. Then he raised both arms over his head like a victorious prize fighter, fists clenched, and took off.
His 17-year-old batboy son Nikolai was already bounc-ing on home plate as Dad rounded third and ran the final 90 feet to make it official. After a long em-brace, the rest of the family joined in - two daughters and his wife, Liz. And then there was Mays, who removed his cap and con-gratulated his godson.
Bonds saved his most poignant words for last, addressing his late father, former major league All-Star Bobby.
“My dad,” he said, looking to the sky and choking back tears. “Thank you.”
Bonds had wanted to break the record at home, where he would be assured of a friendly crowd. They were, all right, unlike in San Diego where some fans held up signs with asterisks indicat-ing that his power was steroid-induced.
Bonds has always denied knowingly using perform-ance-enhancing drugs.
He had already doubled and singled before hitting the solo home run. He took his position in left field to start the sixth, then was replaced and drew another standing ovation. The Nationals led 8-6 in the eighth inning at press time.
A fan wearing a Mets jersey wound up with the historic ball. Matt Murphy of New York emerged from the stands with the souvenir and a bloodied face and was whisked to a secure room.
Even with Bonds at the top of the chart, fans will surely keep debating which slugger they consider the true home run champion. Some will continue to cling to Aaron while other, older rooters will always say it’s Babe Ruth.
“It’s all about history. Pretty soon, someone will come along and pass him,” Mays said before the game.
Aaron held the top spot for 12,173 days after connecting for No. 715 to pass the Babe on April 8, 1974.
Bonds homered exactly three years after Greg Maddux earned his 300th victory at the same ballpark. It’s been quite a week of baseball milestones - last the weekend, Alex Rodriguez hit his 500th home run and pitcher Tom Glavine earned his 300th victory.
Bonds hit his 22nd homer of the year. Bonds broke Mark McGwire’s single-season record by hitting 73 in 2001, and while he’s no longer such a force, opposing pitchers remain wary.
Bonds’ once-rapid quest for the record had slowed in recent years as his age and balky knees diminished his pace. He hit 258 home runs from 2000-04 but has only 53 since then.
While steroids have tinged Bonds’ pursuit, it was race that was the predominant issue when Aaron broke Ruth’s mark in 1974. Aaron dealt with hate mail and death threats from racist fans who thought a black man was not worthy of breaking the record set by a white hero, the beloved Babe.
Former commissioner Bowie Kuhn watched Aaron tie the record but was not present for the record-breaker, a slight that bothered many fans of Aaron. Selig is a close friend of Aaron’s and offered Bonds tepid congratulations when he tied the record.
“I think Hank is his own man,” Mays said. “I think if he wanted to be here he would be here.”
“When he hit 715, the commissioner wasn’t there,” he said. “You may not blame him because he wasn’t represented the right way.”
In a matter of years, Bonds went from a wiry leadoff hitter with Pittsburgh in 1986 - Temple College baseball coach and then-Atlanta Braves pitcher Craig McMurtry allowed Bonds’ first homer - to a bulked-up slugger.
That transformation is at the heart of his many doubters, who believe Bonds cheated to accomplish his feats and should not be considered the record-holder.
There are plenty of fans already hoping for the day that Bonds’ total - whatever it ends up - is topped. Rodriguez might have the best opportunity, with his 500 home runs at age 32 far ahead of Bonds’ pace.