Albert closing in on 700 homers

[Half Smoke]

_____________


Cards believe he will do it

he's got 692 - he's stated that this will be his final season

he will be (if he does it) one of only 4 who have ever done it

what a great player - has had a decline in production in recent years

he's 42 now


.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...ls/7858795001/



.

[Inner Dirt]

For some reason I thought he already retired. The first half of his career he was super human. My mind pretty much erases Barry Bonds from any discussion of great home run hitters. What I always wonder how many Ruth would have hit if he played in the live ball era and didn't live on hot dogs, beer, and whiskey?

[Marshall Bennett]

Steroid junkies stole a lot of the glitter from record books, particularly with home runs.

[Inner Dirt]

Originally Posted by Marshall Bennett

Steroid junkies stole a lot of the glitter from record books, particularly with home runs.

Hammerin Hank and Babe Ruth will always be the best as far as I am concerned, everyone else gets an asterisk.

[Marshall Bennett]

Steroid users wouldn't even get a (*) in my book. Their names wouldn't appear anywhere within the two covers.
Those who disagree, go publish a record book consisting solely of dopers.

[Half Smoke]

_____________


ALL HAIL KING ALBERT THE GREAT


he joined the 700 club last night -the most exclusive club in the world


.

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/23/s...home-runs.html



.

[JustRalph]

I was watching it live on AppleTV

#700 was a 99 mph pitch. He seems to still have incredible bat speed

[PalaceOfFortLarned]

Originally Posted by Marshall Bennett

Steroid users wouldn't even get a (*) in my book. Their names wouldn't appear anywhere within the two covers.
Those who disagree, go publish a record book consisting solely of dopers.

The really hard part to understand is Bonds, McGwire, and Sosa were all highly respected players before juicing. Bonds was widely recognized as the best player in baseball in his pre-steroid days as a 3 time MVP in the early 90s.

McGwire and Sosa both likely hit 500 HRs without the juice, and Bonds hits at least 600 and maybe peeks at 700. Bonds was a lock for the HOF, and McGwire and Sosa would have been strong cases.

And a huge congrats to Albert. That is a pretty damn elite club he entered.

[dnlgfnk]

Originally Posted by PalaceOfFortLarned

The really hard part to understand is Bonds, McGwire, and Sosa were all highly respected players before juicing. Bonds was widely recognized as the best player in baseball in his pre-steroid days as a 3 time MVP in the early 90s.

McGwire and Sosa both likely hit 500 HRs without the juice, and Bonds hits at least 600 and maybe peeks at 700. Bonds was a lock for the HOF, and McGwire and Sosa would have been strong cases.

And a huge congrats to Albert. That is a pretty damn elite club he entered.

Bonds was a 31-32 hr guy per year until after '98 season. Projecting only a 1 hr year drop for age, playing 9 more years w/o the DL list, he hits a generous 645 w/o steroids.

The spotlight on McGuire/Sosa '98 was too much to bear. I think in Game of Shadows , the authors describe Bonds having a great game the night before vs. St. Louis, and arriving to see 3Com Park roped off for interviews with McGuire, enraging him. By the spring of '99 the Giant players couldn't believe the physical change, but didn't challenge him beyond being told "working out".

[Inner Dirt]

Congratulations, Albert, especially doing it with a clean resurgence in your 40's.