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Home > Terence Moore > Archives > 2009 > February > 13 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USAaron: Bonds can keep the record
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Hank Aaron doesn’t want his old home run record back.
He really doesn’t.
“In all fairness to everybody, I just don’t see how you really can do a thing like that and just say somebody isn’t the record holder anymore, and let’s go back to the way that it was,” Aaron said Friday, referring to the controversy involving the legitimacy of sluggers Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Alex Rodriguez and their artificially enhanced peers.
So, at the very least, Bud Selig should use his power as commissioner to make “755” baseball’s official number again when it comes to all-time home runs. Selig wasn’t available for comment on Friday. Even so, he told USA Today earlier this week that he is considering such a thing, and that’s a wonderful thing.
But Aaron disagrees. This is the owner of the most homers during a career before the feds said Bonds used more than just a Louisville Slugger to slam his way past Aaron to 762.
“If you did that, you’d have to go back and change all kinds of records, and the [home run] record was very important to me,” Aaron said. “It’s probably the most hallowed record out there, as far as I’m concerned, but it’s now in the hands of somebody else. It belongs to Barry. No matter how we look at it, it’s his record, and I held it for a long time. But my take on all of this has always been the same. I’m not going to say that Barry’s got it because of this or because of that, because I don’t know.”
With apologies to Aaron, you have Bonds facing perjury charges for his role involving performance-enhancing drugs. You have Rodriguez as Bonds’ heir apparent to the home-run throne admitting this week that he was a steroid user. You also have USA Today estimating that 18 of the 52 MVP and Cy Young awards since 1996 went to those linked to performance-enhancing drugs.
In contrast, Aaron was addicted only to adrenaline during a 23-year career that produced enough other records to confirm that he remains the game’s most complete player. That’s why if Bonds is convicted next month, Selig should give Aaron his crown back.
Actually, courtesy of what we already know (Bonds doesn’t deny using performance-enhancing drugs but says he didn’t knowingly use them), Selig should restore Aaron’s record right now and be done with it.
“Really, it’s sort of a tricky call when you start going down that road of who is legitimate,” Aaron said. “I don’t know if Barry would have hit as many home runs or hit them as far — if that’s the case that he did use steroids — but I still don’t think it has anything to do with him having the kind of baseball career that he had.
“He could have had an excellent career, regardless of what he did. So it would be something that I don’t think the commissioner would like to get involved in, really. There are things out there besides worrying about a home run record that somebody now holds. Barry has the record, and I don’t think anybody can change that.”
Well, Selig can, and he has been Aaron’s pal for more than 50 years. According to Aaron, they’ve never discussed the possibility of this record-changing thing, not even last week when Selig was in town for Aaron’s 75th birthday bash.
As for this week, the talk around baseball and beyond has involved Rodriguez’s confessions. To which Aaron sighed, before saying, “It’s just a sad chapter in the game to have one of your star players come forward and say he’s been guilty of this, but Alex did admit guilt.
“To me, I don’t think there is anything else he could do. I don’t think any of us ever has walked on hallowed ground, that we never committed anything. Alex admitted he made a mistake, you know. That’s about all that anybody can do, I guess.”
That and try to remain as eternally humble as Aaron.
Permalink | Comments (31) | Post your comment | Categories: Braves/MLB
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By Ted Striker
February 13, 2009 4:31 PM | Link to this
Good article, Terence. This is far less of of an issue to Mr. Aaron than it is to his fans. That said, Selig would be doing the right thing to restore legitimacy to the “official HR title” but like Mr. Aaron, I think many of us are tired of hearing about steroid controversies.
By Chop Chop
February 13, 2009 4:32 PM | Link to this
My guess is that Selig won’t do anything about the record. People will just view Barry Bonds (and probably A-Rod) the way people viewed Roger Maris back in the early ’60s. The difference is that this time the outcry will be completely legitimate. (The fuss about Maris playing eight more games than the Babe and getting the record was an absolute crock.)
By Clay
February 13, 2009 4:41 PM | Link to this
Barry Bonds did illegal drugs in order to break Hank Aaron’s record. Every knew it then and we know it now, so Bonds never had the record. Mr. Aaron has to much class to ask for it to be reverted but the vast majority of American baseball fans want it reverted. Hank Aaron is still the Homerun King! Meanwhile Barry Bonds dishonored himself more by lying in court.
By Trey
February 13, 2009 5:01 PM | Link to this
Henry “Hammerin Hank” Aaron is a very noble person, and even though he says Bonds can keep the record, Aaron deserves it back. Someone that humble deserves his record to be fairly broken that you know for a fact did not use steroids, and until that day comes, Aaron is still the Homerun king in my eyes.
By dean
February 13, 2009 5:15 PM | Link to this
I continue to be in awe of hank Aaron and the way he composes himslef. I will admit he is a better man than me but I hope someday to be in the same category as he. But, I do have to say that we, the fans need the record to be at 755. Those of us who love the sport need to be able to tell our kids what a great accomplishement 755 is. To all of us southreners we need it. It is a highlight that a man from Mobile, playing for many years in Atlanta was able to break Babe Ruths record. But mainly, it jsut needs to be 755 in honor of fair play and integrity. When someone breaks the record in theright way then the new number will be imprinted on our collective history and minds. I believe in innocient until proven guilty but Bonds physique alone pretty much implements him. 755 is the number and hank Aaron is the man who holds the legitimate home run record. Thanks Hank! You’re always the leader to me.
By Jeff
February 13, 2009 5:17 PM | Link to this
Nice piece, Terence. Though most of us - especially in Atlanta - believe Hank is the true king, this further proves why he is so well-liked and respected, for comments such as these. And while I would like it if Bud reinstated his record, I tend to agree with Hank’s assesment - how can you say how many less homers Bonds would have hit without using steroids? Too complicated.
By vermont 39
February 13, 2009 6:05 PM | Link to this
That’s why Henry Aaron is a Hall of Famer…
By Hawk
February 13, 2009 6:14 PM | Link to this
And that’s what makes him great.
By WR
February 13, 2009 6:16 PM | Link to this
Humble is definitely the word for Mr. Aaron, not only humble but confident and honest. For all the bashing and guilt of Barry Bonds and his steroid use, does steroids make him see a ball better than any other player. I agree and find myself humbled by the fact that Aaron says that he doesn’t know if steroids made Bonds hit the ball further than any other player, but he does know that it takes great skill to hit the ball in the first place. Is this an attempt to overshadow the wrong that Bonds has done, no, it is a statement of purpose and that purpose is to say Hank what a MAN. He steps beyond the media, beyond naysayers, beyond even his friends, to say that what Bonds accomplished is a major acheivement even in scandal, more so he truly establishes himself as an American Icon, the home run title or lack there of doesn’t diminish his achievements or character which truly makes him a king in baseball history.
By hankfan
February 13, 2009 6:25 PM | Link to this
When I was a boy, I used to collect autographs. Myself and 5 of my friends wrote seperately to Mr. Aaron asking him for an autograph. All of us received signed autograph pictures. Thank you Mr. Aaron for appreciating your young fans. You are truly something special. I once asked Bill Russell for an autograph, and he told me that he didn’t give autographs for free.
By Hank Fan
February 13, 2009 6:30 PM | Link to this
Henry Aaron is a great man. No one can take THAT
By DG
February 13, 2009 6:34 PM | Link to this
Hank Aaron saying that Bonds should keep the record, That’s what one with the true character should say. More than records Hank Aaron is a testiment of the kind of person I look up to.
By Harry Rand
February 13, 2009 6:43 PM | Link to this
Do the research on how many at bats more that both Bonds and Aaron had than Babe Ruth did, in the end you’ll come to the same conclusion that I did. Ruth had thousands less ABs to set the homerun mark with. So it’s really still his. When someone else hits a homerun every so many ABs then I’ll concede the all time HR mark.
By Larry
February 13, 2009 6:52 PM | Link to this
Seriously, does Henry Aaron have an ounce of courage in his body? He whined about not getting enough attention during the home run chase, he whined about the idiots who sent him threatening letters aht don’t have the courage to confront anyone in person, and he is so passive and indifferent about an illegal drug user who cheated his way past his record.
You all say Aaron is classy and noble—I say he’s just a big old wuss from Mobile, Alabama who just happend to have a great eye for a little, white round ball. He’s as dumb as a box of rocks and doesn’t even have the moxy to stand up for what is right.
By bravesfanbob
February 13, 2009 7:18 PM | Link to this
Hank doesn’t need the official record to tell me who I call the record holder. I agree that if you take the records off, you go down a slippery slope that you may slide down forever. Barry, Roger, and A-Roid… They will have the added conversation of steroid use every time their name is mentioned for eternity. I think that’s a better punishment than not mentioning their names at all.
By John
February 13, 2009 7:30 PM | Link to this
Give it back to Hank. Unless and this is a big unless. There is no chance steroids were being used in his era? They were in athletics. Remember the Russians. Not that he did but it stretches the Steroid era. Two more words. Josh Gibson.
By joe
February 13, 2009 7:43 PM | Link to this
I have read these blogs for a while now and usually chuckle as the bloggers go back and fourth but I dont think I have read anything misinformed than complaing that someone whined about death threats. If you dont like Hank fine - if you think Barry should keep the record fine but your crazy if you dont think the threat to Hank that April wasnt real wasnt something to be concerned for
By Dadgum
February 13, 2009 7:55 PM | Link to this
Hank Aaron is the all-time home run king! The baseball gods have a way of working it all out. Let’s see, A-Rod averaged 52 dingers while admitting he was on steroids. He had 39 average per year during the years he was supposedly not on roids. Throw those averages over Bonds’ years and he is south of 700 homers.
HANK AARON IS THE HOMERUN KING!
Rock on… don’t believe me do your own math.
By Grace
February 13, 2009 8:05 PM | Link to this
Love ya, Mr. Aaron. You’re a class act.
By bigbravesfan
February 13, 2009 8:06 PM | Link to this
Larry, Henry Aaron is one of the most couragous men I have every seen. Unless you have been in his shoes, you don’t know what he went through during his home run chase. The 70s were a different time for black athletes and he DID and still does have class and integrity. He is a role model for young men today - not a wuss and he is most assurredly not as dumb as a box of rocks, but keep posting your negative comments about him and people will believe you are.
By LBS
February 13, 2009 8:20 PM | Link to this
I don’t think Selig should reinstate Hank’s record,,,,, I think Bonds should The question we should be asking is “Why has Bonds not stepped down as the record holder?” Even if Barry “accidentally” took drugs, he should acknowledge that he wouldn’t have gotten those homeruns without them and step down as the record holder.
By Susan
February 13, 2009 8:20 PM | Link to this
Hank Aaron is the Homerun King and will be for at least another decade. Possibly within that period some steriod free player will arrive on the scene and earn the record the old fashioned way. Funny how times change…Ruth & Mantle partied hard, ate like pigs and achieved greatness; Bonds & A-Rod partied with steriods and achieved great numbers and low opinions.
By Frank
February 13, 2009 8:24 PM | Link to this
Hank is correct, it’s Barry’s record. Steroids have nothing to do with vision or instincts. Barry had to see the ball in order to hit it. Remember, he was on that streak when he was with Pittsburgh. Players in Aaron’s day may have used something else that improved their performance. Who knows? Let God decide!!
By Mike A
February 13, 2009 8:45 PM | Link to this
In our day, it’s steroids. In Aaron’s day, it was amphetamines, which he even admitted trying while he was in a slump. Both were illegal substances designed to make players better. And both did. So let’s erase Aaron and Mays’ (he used reds) records. Mike Schmidt too. Pete Rose. While we’re at it, Gaylord Perry, Don Sutton, and many others threw illegally scuffed balls. Take them out. Ty Cobb sharpened his spikes, John McGraw held opposing players’ beltloops as they ran by, Babe Ruth allegedly had a shot filled with sheep testosterone, the ‘51 Giants stole signs…
Pretty soon, we’re not going to be left with too many records. Fact is, players have cheated since baseball began. To take records away because the ‘cheating’ has gotten more sophisticated (and allegedly helps players more) seems to be a very slippery slope.
As a side, to say Hank Aaron has no guts is flat-out ridiculous. He handled himself with grace and poise in the face of death threats and racism during his pursuit of Babe’s record. Very few people would have done as well as Hank Aaron in his situation, and he should be forever remembered for his play on the field and his class off the field. To say he lacks courage is beyond the pale.
Back to the point at hand…One thing I would want reversed, though…how ‘bout giving the Braves the 1991 WS title? Kent Hrbek definitely pulled Gant off the bag.
By JW
February 13, 2009 9:02 PM | Link to this
I hope the commisioner is listening to Henry. It’s called class. Bud wants to save his own hide and legacy. No one really knows what the drug of choice was back in the early days of baseball, but just like todays professionals I am sure they were looking for an edge.
Is Bud also considering changing Clemens records? How many Cy Yougs will need to be returned? I know it is an ugly situation,but we need to move on.
By Robert E
February 13, 2009 9:08 PM | Link to this
This just proves to me how much of a class act Hank is. He is truly an exceptional human being
By oldfan
February 13, 2009 9:21 PM | Link to this
If Selig messes with this then he should also take into consideration that pitchers threw the right pitches to Hank Aaron to help him beat Roger Maris’ record. At that time no one accepted that Maris had beaten the Babe Ruth record. Why shouldn’t he just clear the slate and declare that Ruth’s record still stands?
By FEC
February 13, 2009 9:43 PM | Link to this
“if…he did use steroids…,I still don’t think it has anything to do with him having the kind of baseball career that he had. He could have had an excellent career regardless of what he did.” REGARDLESS????…MAYBE….BBUUUUTTTT…with all respect to Mr. Aaron, let’s reverse those thoughts and ask…”WHAT IF HE (Mr. Bonds) HADN’T?”…and Terence, that’s your and all of our points…IT HAD AND DID HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT!! WITHOUT A DOUBT IN MY MIND (and most others, I dare say yours too Terence) THE 755 HOME RUN NUMBER WOULD STILL BE STANDING and quite frankly might never have been broken for any number of reasons. All the love and respect for Mr. Aaron, but this “baseball-fraternity love” that players express during this topic seems much like the mother who turns her back knowing an abusive father is hurting her children. DENIAL of a fact does not lessen the accuracy or truth of that fact!!! WOW…why have so few players EVER “come out” against their peers?…UNION…MONEY…FREE-AGENCY…”the brotherhood”…like “DIRTY COPS”
By Roid Head
February 13, 2009 9:50 PM | Link to this
If I hear 1 more person say “A-Roid admitted to taking steroids I am going to claw my ears off. The sorry no goof SOB got busted and then admiited to taking steroids. There is a big difference in admitting before and admitting after you get caught for something.
I am p** that all of these selfish, narcissistic, losers have ruined the Americas TRUE passtime we all have grown up to love called BASEBALL.
All of these RoidHeads need to join a sport where this is accepted like Pro Wrestling.
By red
February 13, 2009 10:20 PM | Link to this
We can all agree that Bonds, McGwire others are guilty of use steroids. What about Bud Selig? Do you guys really think his hands are clean in all of this. There were reports that Mcgwire was using during that the chase for Maris’ record. The only reason he didnt investigate it was because baseball was on its last leg. So if you ask me he deserve just as much blame as those players because he was in position to act but did nothing until the whole thing was busted wide open.
By LivininAL
February 13, 2009 10:24 PM | Link to this
Hammerin Hank is the King, and I think his opinion should be considered. The others are cheaters and everyone knows it. I think Seling is coming off like a jackass. All this is a result of 2003 when the players were lied to about the survey. Release the names of the other 100 or so ,let him act horrified again and then move on. What is he gonna do? Disregard the hits and errors that all of them had during that period?.