Total Bases
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I’m sure it will, but I don’t see it soon. Pujols might have just signed with the Dodgers but there is no way he makes 900 bags there, even if he were still playing at his peak level.
I did find it interesting that Barry has more HRs than Hank, but was nearly 900 bags short of him.
I did find it interesting that Barry has more HRs than Hank, but was nearly 900 bags short of him.
I think it's one of the records that will never be touched, Pujols and Bonds got close in part to the roids. In the history of the game Musial is second and he's 700 shy.
I’m careful of “....this record will never be touched....” anymore after the roid era. You’re right, this is going to be maybe just a tick more unbreakable that than DiMaggios 56 game hit streak. Both will be tough to beat.
This also proves more how great Aaron was. Many laid the narrative at the time that he just matriculated to beating the Babe by playing long enough. But only 44% of his total bases came from HR. With Bonds HR was 51% of his total bases. Not a super huge difference, but statistically significant.
Barry Bonds was an unlikeable person and attacking the Home Run record put a target on his back, but he may the best hitter to ever walk to the plate. If you add Base on Balls to the Total Bases it would be Aaron 8,256 to Bonds 8,234. Bonds had to bat against pitchers on steroids and Aaron was no angel himself (In his autobiography I Had a Hammer, which was co-written with Lonnie Wheeler and published in 1992, outfielder Hank Aaron wrote that he accepted an amphetamine pill from an unnamed teammate and taken it before a game during the 1968 season, after becoming frustrated about his lack of offensive performance.). If Bonds (in his prime) was on the bench and Aaron (in his prime) was at the plate, I would pinch hit Bonds for Aaron. I remember seeing when they would Intentional Walk Bonds with the bases loaded. This isn't to throw hate at Aaron, but protective of Bonds. He is the only person that belongs in the Hall of Fame before "Sweet" Lou Whitaker ... then Clemens and Rose.
I will absolutely give you credit on the intentional walks angle. Bonds would have surely threatened the record more without all the intentional walks.
As for you’re saying that Aaron once taking a pill is equivalent to Bonds steroid use....that’s a bit a stretch. Look, I don’t give a shit if a guys took greenies or steroids when they were hot. It’s never been an ethical question for me....they shouldn’t use them, but they could have been available to any player that wanted them. Measuring them over the generations and arguing the drug use as any determinant to validity of the record is pointless IMO. Life goes forward, and so should baseball.
I wasn’t arguing Bonds was any less a natural talent as Aaron. I just didn’t live through Aaron’s career, so I’m constantly amazed about his achievements.
You're a homer but I agree Lou deserves it, before Trammell IMO. I agree with the rest as well as they never proved Pete bet against the Reds.
I did live through most of Aaron's career and honestly I would rather have Willie Mays ... I have never been an Aaron fan (put an Olde English D on his chest I would change my mind).
Oh yeah, definitely a homer ... still a Lion's fan after 1 victory in my very old life
Oh yeah, definitely a homer ... still a Lion's fan after 1 victory in my very old life
Honestly, Smitty and I have talked about this, who has had it worse Lions fans or Vikings fans? I believe the Vikings fans because we have had a shitload of talent and great teams and never won anything, the Lions have had some great players like #20 which of course is Lem Barney but they have pretty much always sucked, never teased their fans like the Vikings have.
Seeing how he single handedly won WWII ... Nope just kidding ... Greenberg was a great player, an easy Hall of Famer, but not the Elite of the Elite.
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I'm pretty sure he was only ever walked once intentionally with the bases loaded and it made sense given the situation.
Bonds went from a generational talent to borderline video game talent because of steroids.
I'm not excusing Aaron using greenies, but there's a bit of a difference between taking something that was sitting on trainers' tables and having your personal trainer give you a "rubbing balm" and "flaxseed oil" that make your hat size change 3 times.
Bonds was a great hitter before he went on the juice, and "clean Barry" already is the only player in baseball history with 400 steals and 400 homers, and probably would have gotten to 500/500 without juicing. But he wasn't the offensive force he became as a "normal" human.
If Bonds used steroids or another PED (I believe he did), many, many other players did (pitchers too). Baseball did nothing to stop it. Baseball made no rules, and turned a blind eye.
Baseball had an unenforced rule. Steroids were outlawed in '91, but there was no testing in place until 2003. Baseball did turn a blind eye, but it 100% was banned when Bonds was on it.
Why do you think McGwire had that whole thing with the Andro bottles in '98?
Yeah....I would bet the walk home was maybe once. And the batter behind him was probably a much lower threat than he was with the bases juiced (pun).
But, the point holds and I was remiss on it....the only defense against fat head Bonds was to walk him. And he was a lot late in his career.