Barry Bonds [1] just became baseball's all-time home run king. He hit his 756th against a slightly familiar lefty [2] on the Washington Nationals.
Some slightly familiar company he keeps:
Jack Fisher [3] gave up the home run that tied Babe Ruth's single-season home run record.
Tracy Stallard [4] gave up the home run that broke Babe Ruth's single-season home run record.
Steve Trachsel [5] gave up the home run that broke Roger Maris' single-season home run record.
Chan Ho Park [6] gave up the home run that broke Mark McGwire's single-season home run record.
Mike Bacsik [7] gave up the home run that broke Hank Aaron's career home run record.
And the fan who caught Barry Bonds' record-breaking home run? Our old pal Dave O'Brien [8] just reported with a touch of astonishment that he's wearing a Mets jersey [9].
Who says we're not a part of home run history?
In other news from Tuesday night, the team Hank Aaron [10] used to play for and still works for beat the team Mike Bacsik used to pitch for…beat them rather handily. With a 756th career home run being hit across the continent, I consider the matter [11] trivial. As Hank Aaron recorded a graceful, gracious, great message of congratulations to somebody he probably wanted nothing to do with, for one Tuesday night, I'm willing to let this Atlanta victory over the Mets go uncommented upon.
If Hank can extend a hand, so can I: Congratulations to the greatest hitter I've ever seen. However you did it, whatever happens to you as a result of however you did it, whyever you act the way you do, you could play some ball, with or without.
I wish you had done it without.