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I got you, Babe Barry Bonds tied Babe Ruth on the all-time home run list with No. 714 on Saturday. Now he turns his attention to Hank Aaron and 755. |
As news of the homer trickled throughout the league, both points of view on Bonds’ unique career were heard.
Even Bonds’ enemies had a grudging respect: Astros reliever Russ Springer was suspended for four games Friday for hitting Bonds earlier in the week in the latest chapter of their feud.
“Neutral,” Springer said of his attitude toward the accomplishment. “I’m not anti-Barry Bonds. I’m not pro-Barry Bonds. He’s a good player. I enjoy watching him play. He’s one of the better hitters. I’m just glad he didn’t hit it here, and he can hit all he wants somewhere else.”
Retired veterans expressed restrained admiration for Bonds, who passed Frank Robinson and Willie Mays while climbing the charts in recent years.
“I think if you’re going to be a realist, the home run is certainly not what it used to be,” said Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Palmer, now an Orioles broadcaster. “If you ever saw Frank play or if you ever saw (Hank) Aaron play or if you ever saw Mays play, you realize that 580 home runs is a lot of home runs, and that 660 home runs is a lot of home runs.
When asked if Bonds’ accomplishments are tainted, Palmer said: “Of course. What (Mark) McGwire did was tainted.”
But Mets closer Billy Wagner, who served up one of Bonds’ homers this season, was among those who were glad to hear about No. 714.
“I’m happy for him,” Wagner said. “They should celebrate in baseball. There’s no guilty verdict yet.”
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