Or should he fall one short, purposely, to let Mr Aaron keep the record. I believe this act alone would assure him a first ballot hall of fame. There is talk that many voters are reluctant to vote him in the first time just to get back at him for being such a dick to reporters and fans throughout the years.
If he can regain enough of his health to return to the game long enough to make a run at the record, it would still take him at least through next season before he gets close. I beleive he’ll be like 42 or 43 by then. Still young enough to pop a few out but he won’t be cranking out 50 a year anymore.
I personally don’t think he’ll hit another homer in his career, his health and personal life are to effed up to come back…but if?
If he falls one short, not only would the books indicate that he could have played longer to break the record, but he would regain some of the fan loyalty that he no longer has.
What do you think?
I think Hank Aaron is a proud man and a fierce competitor who would feel he was being patronized. I think writers (who vote for the hall) and fans would feel the same. Deliberately letting the other guy win is vaugely insulting.
Records are made to be broken.
This was the same kind of dreck that insulted Lou Gehrig’s memory when Ripken “went for” that record.
Hey, Ripken just wanted to play baseball. And now you (generic “you”) say he can’t because you want your favorite player to be “special?” I don’t think so.
What happens when Bonds is up, down two runs, men on first and second, two outs, bottom of the ninth, last game of the season, Giants tied for first, Bonds tied for the all-time HR-record. If the opposing pitcher is stupid enough to pitch to him, you want him to do what, intentionally hit a triple? :rolleyes: Refuse to score the winning run because Hank Aaron’s fans can’t handle it? Come on.
Wayne Gretzky roots for people to break his records. I root for people to break mine. That’s what they’re there for.
Most baseball folk frown upon throwing games, as its just about the lowest thing one can do in uniform. Anyone who voted for him would be tarred and feathered, as would he.
Home runs are runs. They might be exciting and popular and all that, but they’re ultimately one of many ways a player can help his team win ballgames (remember, games, teams, competition, World Series, and all that?), and a player of his ability purposefuly slacking is unthinkable.
And if it’s so important that Hank Aaron’s record be kept, maybe he should’ve hit more home runs.
I don’t think he really cares, and I can’t blame him. He might be a dick, but people aren’t all flowers and candy around him, neither.
He doesn’t do PR, endoresements, or any of that other crap. The one thing he does it hit home runs. For him to stop doing that would be insane.
Troy:
While I understand what you probably meant by this, we should set the record straight - Barry Bonds is no Dave Kingman wanna-be. He not only hits a ton of homers, but he hits for high average, steals bases and is a superb fielder as well.
Bonds can retire today and be a first ballot HOFer in 5 years. No man in the last decade has dominated baseball as he has. He will lose few votes because of his personality. Some of the greatest HOFers did not have the best relations with reporters (Ted Williams comes to mind). And Aaron has gone on the record as rooting for Bonds to break his record, and I believe he is sincere when he said that. I once met Aaron, shook his hand, and chatted with him. He’ has a very pleasant, down-to-earth guy.
Right now, I doubt if Bonds will play in the field this year. It’s just too risky, but he may do some pinch hitting later in the year. I do think that he wants to pass Ruth as the greatest left-handed homerun hitter of all time, but I don’t think that Aaron’s record concerns him as much. In any case, Aaron’s record might be safe given Bonds’ creaky knees.
I find it kind of pathetic when an aging player refuses to hang it up, or still plays to achieve some meaningless record. Case in point – Ricky Henderson (at 46) just signing up to play in a new indie baseball league for $3000 a month. I seriously doubt if Bonds would do that.
Well, some of those are past-tense, but you’re right… I should’ve said “he plays baseball.”
I’m sure he would if anybody wanted him, and the reason they don’t is his attitude. The MLB was planning a huge ad campaign this year to coincide with his pursuit of the record, prior to the steroid controversy worsening and Bonds getting hurt.
No, he should not intentionally quit one short. That’s dumb, and it neither makes him a class act (it’s much too late) nor does anything for Hank Aaron. And Bonds is a first-ballot Hall of Famer anyway. If he never plays again he’s had four of the greatest seasons ever and an incredible career. And I do hope he never plays again because he doesn’t deserve this record. But patronizing Aaron would be pointless.
Incidentally, I remember Bonds stirring up trouble a few years ago by saying he wanted to beat Ruth, but would retire before he hit 755. A lot of people read racial implications into it. He’s since backed off that stance.
I hope he tries to play this year and permanently messes up his knees so he can’t pass either The Babe or Hammerin’ Hank!
And then they can trot him off to prison for income tax evasion.
I was gonna say “What Marley said,” but I like **Bob’**s idea better! 
I gotta disagree with you on this one.
If Rickey wants to play, let Rickey play.
Let me state for the record that I was, for a very long time, a Rickey-hater. I especially hated him when he played for the Mets and half-assed it.
BUT,
When he played for the Newark Bears a couple of years ago, there was no more gracious person than Rickey. He’d sign anything (as long as it was Newark Bears-related) that you put in front of him. He was out there drilling with the young guys, clowning in the dugout, just being a good teammate.
He did a whole bunch of PR for the Bears, and he was great about all of it. I’m pretty sure he put more asses in the seats than any ten promo giveaways. And for an independent-league team, such things are supremely important.
I remember when he was on Real Sports. I was prepared to hate it. But Rickey’s whole point was, “I love baseball. And even if nobody in the majors wants to give me a shot, I’m certainly good enough to play in the Atlantic League. So why shouldn’t I get to?”
And I agree with him.
I personally hope he never swings a bat again. Records are made to be broken, but only legitimately. We know Aaron set the mark honestly, we would never know the same about Bonds. So to avoid future controversy and asterisks, I’d be happier if he just hung up the spikes.
See, this is the crux of my position too. I think Bonds is a cheater and has always been, considereing his steroid useage. I think that if he breaks Aaron’s record it would be a travesty to the integrity of the game in general. I think if he purposely stopped 1 HR short of HA’s homerun record and then retired that that would be the ideal situation to please the greatest number of people. It would show his respect for Aaron while kind of admitting to his guilt as far as steroid use and keep the record intact as it should be.
I think Aaron has to be quietly displeased with the use of steroids in the game today and can’t be happy in which the manner that the record may be broken.
The guy hasn’t been busted for anything (you can hear the “yet” in this sentence as much as you want).
Pillory him when he has.
If Ricky loves the sport this much, I say more power to him.
Aaron’s amphetamine’s use doesn’t count as cheating?
I was suspicious of Aaron (and everyone else)'s cleanliness, but was too lazy to do the legwork. Thanks, Yookeroo and Neurotik.
What record is Henderson planning to break in this indie league?
I think it’s great Rickey Henderson wants to keep playing. I hope he plays in low end leaguers until the days he dies, if he wants to do it. Hey, I play baseball and I’m no major leaguer; do you think I’m pathetic? What’s wrong with Henderson enjoying baseball? Maybe he just really loves playing ball.
I find it both amusing and irritating that people constantly pound on major leaguers for allegedly not loving the game they way they did in olden days. Then Rickey Henderson shows he really does love the game, and he gets pounded for it.
If Bonds is convicted in court, he might admit he’s guilty. He’s never going to admit it tacitly through some kind of gesture. Doing that would give him the negative parts of confessing without the positives: he’d be beaten up in the media all over again and wouldn’t get credit from people who could say “at least he’s admitted it.” Anyway he’d also pass Babe Ruth in the process; I don’t know who he makes happy by doing that.