Bonds Aaron Question

by NearestNorwich on Apr 28, 2007 9:22 AM PDT Comment 12 comments

I'm not all that into the home run record story (to start with, I strongly disagree with all that palaver about it being baseball's most hallowed record). I think it's silly in part because all true fans know everyone's totals have their own asterisks. Bonds will be for drugs. Ruth never had to face Latin and black pitchers. My impression is neither Ruth nor Aaron had to deal with getting walked as often as Bonds. And so forth. But if anyone has talked about the following question, I missed it and I'm curious. Aaron played 202 games as DH at the end of his career and, I believe, hit more than 20 homeruns in that time. Barry has 30 something but I don't know how many home runs. Has Bonds already passed Aaron as a position player?

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Re: Bonds Aaron Question

Aaron hit 22 HRs as a DH, and 3 as a pinch hitter.
Bonds has hit 9 HRs as a DH, and 4 as a pinch hitter.

by Salemicus on Apr 28, 2007 9:44 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Bonds Aaron Question

Doin' the math: Aaron at 733 non-DH HR's, and Bonds at 732 non-DH HR's.

I've got your back, Special Agent Jack Taschner.

by Larson2042 on Apr 28, 2007 9:47 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

One other random fact I came across

while looking at Bonds' HR's was that he has one off of Mike Krukow. That amused me, since I don't recall ever hearing Krukow mention it.

I've got your back, Special Agent Jack Taschner.

by Larson2042 on Apr 28, 2007 9:57 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: One other random fact I came across

He's mentioned it several times. Fer instance, when Barry hit 700, Kruk jokingly said that Bonds should thank him, otherwise he wouldn't have gotten to the number.

Mandowear | comics | Sugarman FTW

by Natto on Apr 28, 2007 11:43 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: One other random fact I came across

they actually showed it once during a game.

Free Tim Lincecum.

by nostocksjustbonds on Apr 28, 2007 1:41 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Bonds Aaron Question

Thanks -- I wonder whether the coverage will note this when Barry hits his next one. Tonight, I hope.

by NearestNorwich on Apr 28, 2007 11:03 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Bonds Aaron Question

Don't forget:

Babe Ruth pitched almost exclusively for 4 years and part of an additional season. 30 HR in 361 AB.

Willie Mays lost most of 1952 to military service after getting drafted (although I think he had a good year at Ft. Dix or wherever he was). Still probably under 700. (Yes, he played in Candlestick and lost HRS, but he also played in the Polo Grounds with 290 feet foul lines).

Ted Williams lost THREE+ years to WWII and virtually all of 1952 and 1953 to Korea. If you give him 30 per season, he's at 675 or so.

I've been reading some old books lately, and a lot of the descriptions of Aaron are similar to Bonds. Underrated as a fielder and runner, very hard hitter, very feared. I still don't get all the IBB's to Bonds though, in a historical sense (400 more than the nearest competition, G. Brett).

I don't question the wisdom necessarily- I'd rather to have pitched to any Giant in the last 10 years or so than Bonds. Aaron I guess had Mathews behind him most of the time. I don't know if there are IBB figures for Ruth, but I suppose that Gehrig guy was a problem for much of his run. I don't think the stat was recorded before 1955, but that would mean Mays and Aaron's totals should be close.

All those Giants fans down in Giants land love that Crazy Crab!

by BlackDougal on Apr 28, 2007 1:01 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Bonds Aaron Question

Aaron had Matthews hitting behind him. Also, Aaron and played a bunch of years at the Launching Pad in ATL, whereas Bonds has spent most of his career and main power years in pitchers parks.

Free Tim Lincecum.

by nostocksjustbonds on Apr 28, 2007 1:44 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Bonds Aaron Question

The Milwaukee stadium was also a notorious launching pad. Mays got screwed the worst by stadium. The Polo grounds was ridiculous and the pre-enclosed Stick not much better. IBB weren't kept as a stat when Ruth was playing, but you have to figure a significant percentage of his walks were pitch arounds, particularly in the years when he was out-homering other teams.

by Roger on Apr 28, 2007 2:46 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Bonds Aaron Question

No no no no -- Aaron got killed by that stadium in Milwaukee. Check out his home/road splits. And Candlestick, despite abiding perception, was not a home-run suppressing park.

Aaron owns the record because he was fortunate enough to be born a couple of years later than Willie. The parks didn't have anything to do with it.

by Evan on Apr 29, 2007 12:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Bonds Aaron Question

I don't know how many of you agree with my view that the home run record isn't as big a deal as some others but thanks for reinforcing my point that each person who holds it has his own asterisks. A lot can happen over the next few years but it sure looks like Bonds will only be a short-term placeholder for ARod in any event.

by NearestNorwich on Apr 28, 2007 4:46 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs