Bonds blasts 756th home run for record

San Francisco Giants' Barry Bonds comes down the third base line and into immortality after breaking Major League Baseball's career home run record to surpass Hank Aaron's former mark in the fifth inning, off Washington Nationals pitcher Mike Bacsik during their National League baseball game in San Francisco on Tuesday. Reuters

In belting his landmark homer against the Washington Nationals, the 43-year-old San Francisco Giants slugger eclipsed the mark set by Hank Aaron in 1974.

Bonds, a seven-time Most Valuable Player in his 22nd Major League season, completed the feat off Nationals starting pitcher Mike Bacsik in the fifth inning to put the Giants 5-4 ahead.

The San Francisco Giants slugger broke baseball's most coveted record in front of his home fans when he connected on a full-count pitch from Washington's Mike Bacsik.

"Thank you very much. I got to thank all of you, all the fans here in San Francisco. It's been fantastic," he said shortly after crossing home plate, his godfather, Willie Mays, at his side.

"I got to thank my teammates. Through all of this, you've been strong and given me all the support I needed and I'll never forget it as long as I live."

After thanking his children, he said: "I'm glad I did it before you guys went to school."

He saved his late father, Bobby, for last.

"To my dad," he said, his voice broke as he pointed to the sky. Through tears, he added, "Thank you for everything."

Conspicuous by their absence were Major League Baseball's commissioner Bud Selig and Aaron himself.

Selig was on hand for the tiebreaking homer on Saturday, deciding to honor baseball history despite the steroid allegations that have always been attached to Bonds. But on Tuesday, Selig sent an emissary rather than attend in person.

As for Aaron, he said all along he had no interest in being there whenever and wherever his 33-year-old mark was broken. He was true to his word, but he did offer a taped message of congratulations that played on stadium's scoreboard.

"It is a great accomplishment which required skill, longevity and determination," Aaron said.

"Throughout the past century the home run has held a special place in baseball and I have been privileged to hold this record for 33 of those years," he said.

"I move over now and offer my best wishes to Barry and his family on this historic achievement."

The lucky fan who caught the home run ball was identified by the Giants as 22-year-old New Yorker Matt Murphy, who was not available for comment but other fans described the scrum in the stands for the valuable keepsake.

Mass scramble

"It was a mess, bodies on top of bodies, four layers deep for five minutes," said 52-year-old Mark Peel, who witnessed the mass scramble for the ball.

"I didn't think anyone was going to come up."

Bacsik became the 446th different pitcher to surrender a homer to Bonds and the slugger's 435-foot, right center-field shot was his 22nd home run of the 2007 season.

"He's the greatest of all time," Bacsik told reporters. "Giving it up to Barry Bonds is nothing to be ashamed of."

Earlier, Bonds had doubled to deep right center-field in the second inning and scored the game's first run on a single by Benjie Molina.

In the third, Bonds singled and scored on a home run by Molina.

After bashing his way into sporting history, the game was delayed for 10 minutes to celebrate the achievement.

Giants fans were ecstatic, chanting "Barry, Barry" as camera flashes filled the stands of San Francisco's AT&T Park and fireworks exploded in the night sky.

The accomplishment, however, is not without controversy.

While a hero in San Francisco, Bonds is often jeered in other ballparks because many baseball fans suspect he may not have spoken truthfully when denying steroid use.

"While the issues which have swirled around this record will continue to work themselves toward resolution, today is a day for congratulations on a truly remarkable achievement," Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig said in a statement.

Selig also congratulated Bonds by telephone.

Agencies

(China Daily 08/09/2007 page23)