Henry Aaron or Barry Bonds?

BLUEJAYWAY

In your mind who "owns" the all-time Homerun record? I pose the question as some seem to favor Aaron due to the non-steroid use factor. Others base their view in favor for Aaron because of their dislike for Bonds. Others look at it strictly as a number quailification that Bonds attained. The preference for who "owns" the record can't be based on a race issue for obvious reasons. I know Mr.Aaron has conceded the record to Mr. Bonds. What say you and why? And I wonder who the players would vote for in a poll.

lahmejoon

I favor Aaron, because that's my name.

Dialj

If it is based soley on the number of homeruns hit, then I would say Sadaharu Oh. Pesonally, I would vote for Aaron.

bishop

Oh.

itzagoner

numbers don't lie, only people do.

Dialj

numbers don't lie, only people do.

My accounting teacher once said "Liars can figure, but figures never lie."

itzagoner

this is one of my favorite arguments, since of course i'm madly in man awe of Hank. so the struggle to escape denial completely will never end. my heart is always with Henry Aaron, the REAL Home Run King.

reality says Barry until another bypassing interloper causes more consternation.

rtimmer

Clearly Bonds, all kinds of records are held by someone you might not like, but I just don't see them getting overturned.

hyperchipper09

I do believe Barry Bonds does. It is what it is and won't ever be changed in the record book, somebody has to pass him.

olb31

Barry Bonds - not a fan, but he may have been the best player ever.

doog71

The vast majority of Hall of Fame voters don't acknowledge Bonds' numbers.

Neither do I.

Aaron.

dennis07

Who's Barry Bonds?

Bravesguy44

Hank Aaron. Besides the obvious PED argument, Aaron primarily played in an era before expansion diluted pitching quality on most teams. He also played during a time where pitchers largely dominated (Koufax, Gibson, Drysdale, etc). If you choose to factor in character and class, the discussion ends quickly IMO.

DanBessette

<< <i>The vast majority of Hall of Fame voters don't acknowledge Bonds' numbers.

Neither do I.

Aaron. >>



+1. He's a cheater. But if anybody here likes bonds, I have a couple dozen cards I'd like to trade you!

hyperchipper09

Class and character judging of athletes can be a slippery slope. People get fooled doing that more often than not.
Barry's going to have his detractors for the rest of time. That is what it is also. There's really no changing that. I can't comment on any players class or character off the field that I don't know personally, and I know none. So I'll leave that sleeping dog on the porch. I do know what Bonds offered to do for Brian Stow's kids, pay for college education, was a nice gesture. Now some people will rip that apart as well. Fine, free country. No one has control over what one thinks about such a gesture. But I will say I didn't see a lot of folks coming forward offering that to Stow's kids. I'll assume no one on this board made that offer. I certainly don't have that kind of money either. If I did would I make such an offer to someone I don't know from Adam? Nope. Maybe Aaron made a similar offer. Maybe Willie Mays. Maybe Barry beat them to the punch. Maybe, as some will say, it was all for good publicity. So be it, as I said, free country to love or hate. Regardless, it's a gesture not everyone was making. Sure, other athletes do things for folks also. And get pub, or in some cases don't. Barry's in that same boat. Some seek publicity, some don't. Sometimes the publicity leaks, sometimes it don't. Sometimes we see in people what we should see. Many times we see in people, what others want us to see.
I wouldn't judge the class or character off the field of Aaron, Cobb, Mays, Bonds, Griffey, my mailman, or anyone I don't know personally. But that's just me. I don't know what goes on behind closed doors. On the field, Aaron, Mays, Griffey, Ripken many more. Class, character impeccable. But that's all I know of them. On the field. And records books don't have a "All Time Class and Character players" statistic...
Edit..As for Greg Anderson and Barry Bonds. Takes two to tango. If someone wanted to say, Barry bribed him, then Anderson accepted. I suppose that would make him a prime Federal witness however, considering how the feds work . Hell, if I needed a lot of money who's to say I wouldn't or couldn't take a bribe. I have no idea what it was like being in either's shoes...

oldrivers

<< <i>Who's Barry Bonds? >>





<< <i>Hank Aaron. Besides the obvious PED argument, Aaron primarily played in an era before expansion diluted pitching quality on most teams. He also played during a time where pitchers largely dominated (Koufax, Gibson, Drysdale, etc). If you choose to factor in character and class, the discussion ends quickly IMO. >>





<< <i>+1. He's a cheater. But if anybody here likes bonds, I have a couple dozen cards I'd like to trade you! >>



Hammerin Hank hands down. Any questions?

scotgreb

As long as MLB recognizes that Aaron hit 755 and Bonds hit 762, the all-time leader is Bonds -- no one's opinion matters.

rtimmer

<< <i>Hank Aaron. Besides the obvious PED argument, Aaron primarily played in an era before expansion diluted pitching quality on most teams. He also played during a time where pitchers largely dominated (Koufax, Gibson, Drysdale, etc). If you choose to factor in character and class, the discussion ends quickly IMO. >>



If this was how they determined the records than Aaron would have never surpassed Ruth. Ruth played in the dead ball and long outfield wall era. Ruth set the HR record 5 times while Aaron never came within 75% of it, atleast Bonds broke it and came within 75% 6 times. Ruth also lead the league in HRs 12 out of 14 season while Aaron only did it 4 times in 23 seasons. Aaron's greatest claim to the record is that he played for a long time 23 years to accumulate a nice career milestone. I think what Bonds accomplished in his HR career is more along the lines of Ruth's dominating accomplishments so I'm glad he broke both big HR records before he left the game.

shagrotn77

Aaron without question.

bobsbbcards

Bonds

magikbilly

I know, as all of you can attest, nothing of sports. Autographs, Cunard woodwork, vintage transparencies, many things but not sports. But, when I was a boy my mom sent away to some boxtop place I guess for a cream colored plastic bat, maybe 6", with "Hank Aaron's autograph" (a plastic pre-print if that). I treasured it - even then, not knowing how to even hold a ball let along throw one, I knew it was HANK AARON. That name meant integrity to this child.

Eric

Time4aGansett

<< <i>Bonds and his online pharmacists are the record holder.

Now, if you're talking about the single person record, it's Aaron. >>



100% agree.
How many people know how many HR Bonds hit off the top of their head, and without looking it up?
I'll bet a lot less than those who could name Aaron's number.

HAMMERFAN44

<<<-----------

JoeBanzai

Setting aside my dislike for Bonds, I still feel that Henry is the true Home Run King.

I just don't believe Bonds would have been able to break the record with out steroids.

In fact we will never KNOW for sure.

Ironmanfan

Did you know that if you subtracted Hank's career 755 HR's, he STILL would have more than 3000 hits?

Hammerin' Hank all the way!

IMF

ThoseBackPages

I'm no scholar, but 762 is more than 755

itzagoner

<< <i> How many people know how many HR Bonds hit off the top of their head......? >>



perhaps this question should be directed to the bleacher drunks at AT&T.

soundgard

Aaron. If it were Bonds, he would already be in the Hall.