Wane Gretzky's 92 goals in 1981, Nadia Comanche’s perfect score at a minor age of 14. Peat Rose's hit mark and Greg Lemond's title of only American to ever win the Tour De France.
These records and amazing feat of athletic achievement are wonders in it of themselves. These records stand as spectacular testaments to their sports, all achieved by the raw power of the human body. No one will ever beat Wane Gretzky's 92 goal year, nor will a younger person win at the same level that Nadia did all at such a young age, and as it stands, no human being of American blood might ever again win the Tour De France period.
But it seems that I may have left one more milestone record off that list. But for a reason.
Widely regarded as the greatest hitter in the history of baseball, Babe Ruth first burst onto the stage in the early 1900's hitting 714 career home runs and taking with him as he retired the all-time mark as, statistically the greatest home run hitter in the MLB's short history.
Now in the 65 years since Ruth died, his coveted claim to fame has been approached by many and even broke not once but twice. But nevertheless, when looking at the list of baseball's top home run hitters, when you judge by the pure human power that it takes to hit a home run, really the large majority of those within the top 10 on the all-time list needed more than what their bodies allotted them to do what they did.
First and foremost, you must acknowledge the name atop the all-time list: Barry Bonds. Throughout MLB history there is no name that brings more shame to baseball than that of long time San Francisco Giant Bonds. After he was drafted late in the 1985 MLB draft, Bonds began to show is colors in just his first year in the league. By 1990 he was an all-star and by 1992, just his 7th year in the league, he had gleefully eclipsed 150 career homers. But right as the rest of baseball finally realized the potential this kid possessed, his Pittsburgh Pirates became unable to compete with the big number contract, the Giants were offering mighty Bonds.
So off to San Fran he went and for Bonds, that was where things got crazy. By the end of the 2000 season, Bonds had smacked 472 home runs and was charging towards history as with so many years remaining on his contract, the approximately 300 long balls separating him from Hank Aaron's then all-time home run mark was well within reach.
Yet as quick as his skill had become evident, a 73 long ball season put Bonds under question and, just 2 years after that mega season, those questions were answered. Barry Bonds has cheated and although he did become the all-time home runs leader, one begins to wonder: if Bonds had not cheated would the record books still be the same?
You see it is guys like Bonds that make you angry, it is guys like Bonds that make you say, "these are records and there should not be any indecision of any sort."
But as time has gone on, Bonds was joined on the list of cheaters by a man who many hoped would erase the negative legacy left behind by Barry himself. Fact is you have always had this feeling that Alex Rodriguez is not the best of baseball. You have always had this feeling but until Monday, you never had any proof to solidify your argument to the fact that A-Rod was a cheater. Well, now you do. Over the next few weeks, Rodriguez' appeal will likely be shot down and baseball will finally be ridden of a blemish they have soon come to hate.
Records are records, there are good players and then there is the ONE player who reigns supreme as the best of them all. But for the MLB home run record that is not the case. Of the top 10 home run hitters in history, only 6 of them have gone without a positive drug test, a sore fact as when you look at it the 4 players, outside the top 10 that would be within that mark if any and all cheaters were removed include both Reggie Jackson and Mickey Mantle.
Baseball is the sport that raised this nation. But no matter how captivating or intriguing it is, it has it's blemishes and perhaps its biggest is one that could easily be its greatest strength: the home run. In a list riddled with cheaters while sparsely punctuated with honest sluggers, the Home Run Record is all but meaningless, its only use being its presence as a bruising reminder to when competition turns to cheating.
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