Bonds One HR Away From Tying Record

Whether you like it or not, Barry Bonds will tie then beat the all time home record any day now. People have been waiting a long time for this. Unfortunately, there is enough of a scandal cloud over Barry Bonds that people may not be excited that he is the one that accomplishes it. I too do not want to reward players who cheat.

But since I do want to assume innocence until proven guilty, I am excited to see Barry do it. Steriods or not, it is an amazing accomplishment. But, it would be nice to have someone break the record you know is clean.

From The USA Today:

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Hammerin' Hank, here comes Barry Bonds.

Bonds hit his 754th career home run Friday night, moving within one of tying Hank Aaron's record.

Bonds sent a 2-1 pitch from rookie Rick Vanden Hurk over the wall in left-center in the first inning for a solo shot against the Florida Marlins, his 20th homer of the season.

Bud Selig wasn't there to see it, sending MLB president and chief operating officer Bob DuPuy in his place. The commissioner was back in Milwaukee, preparing to go to Sunday's Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Cooperstown, N.Y.

Bonds drew ball one and ball two — with boos raining down on Vanden Hurk — before a called first strike. Then, the 96 mph fastball was gone

Bonds stood and watched his ball sail, then began another trot and clenched his fist — hitting his latest homer in the Giants' waterfront ballpark where he's hoping to make history.

Fans, already on their feet for Bonds' first at-bat, screamed in delight as the ball was clearly a home run — Bonds' first at home since he connected for No. 750 on June 29 against Arizona's Livan Hernandez. They chanted "Barry! Barry!" as he rounded the bases...

A "Road to History" tribute played on the main center-field scoreboard with a greeting from Michael Jordan.

"Hey Barry, it's Michael Jordan," the message said. "I just want to congratulate you on your historic event. I'm very happy for you. Ever since the first day I saw you in the batting cage, you've been working toward this for a long period of time. So I want to wish you and Elizabeth and that beautiful girl of yours congratulations. I'm very happy for you."...

Selig is scheduled to be in Los Angeles starting Tuesday, when the Giants open a series against the rival Dodgers.