Selig: MLB not planning any celebration for Bonds passing Ruth

MrAndMrsFish · April 27, 2006

NEW YORK ? (AP) ? Barry Bonds will have to wait until he passes Hank Aaron before baseball throws a party for him.

Major League Baseball is not planning any celebration for Bonds if and when he tops Babe Ruth's mark of 714 home runs, commissioner Bud Selig said Thursday.

"Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth's record,'' Selig said. "We don't celebrate anybody the second or third time in.''

Bonds has been the subject of steroids speculation for several seasons. The recent book "Game of Shadows'' detailed allegations against him, and a federal grand jury is investigating whether he committed perjury when he told another grand jury that he had never knowingly used performance-enhancing drugs.

Bonds hit his 711th homer Wednesday. His San Francisco Giants were off Thursday, and open a three-game series Friday night at home against Arizona.

Selig does not figure to be in San Francisco ? or in Milwaukee or Philadelphia, where the Giants play next week ? as Bonds nears Ruth.

"We celebrate new records, that's what we do. We're being consistent,'' Selig said during the Associated Press Sports Editors annual meeting with league commissioners. "There's nothing to read into that.''

Ruth is second on the career home run list, trailing Aaron's total of 755. When Aaron broke Ruth's record in 1974, commissioner Bowie Kuhn was not in attendance. Kuhn's absence rankled many, including Aaron.

Bonds has been hobbled by bad knees, and missed most of last season.

"He's had a remarkable career. Whatever happens, happens,'' Selig said. "We're going to let nature take its course. Commissioners don't sit around and say, 'I hope this guy breaks it or not.'''

Selig said he had read "Game of Shadows'' but not seen "Bonds on Bonds,'' the ESPN reality show about the slugger's life.

Selig said the book was among several factors that prompted him to launch a baseball investigation into

steroids, headed by former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell. There is no timetable for completing the probe.

Baseball's investigation, Selig said, is "not affected at all by the grand jury'' looking into whether Bonds committed perjury.

TSwift25 · April 27, 2006

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That's pathetic.

To say that he won't celebrate someone for being in "second or third place" is unquestioned hypocracy. He capitalized on the Red Sox and Cubs being second bananas with the deluge of media and merchandising put out for those two second place franchises over the last 6 years.

JonDigital · April 27, 2006

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That's pathetic.

To say that he won't celebrate someone for being in "second or third place" is unquestioned hypocracy. He capitalized on the Red Sox and Cubs being second bananas with the deluge of media and merchandising put out for those two second place franchises over the last 6 years.

What the hell does that have to do with this? The Red Sox and Cubs have not been celebrated except for when the Sawx won the WS. It's not MLB's fault the Sawx and Cubs just happen to be a couple of the more popular teams among baseball fans. Mechandise sells itself if the team is popular enough.

TSwift25 · April 27, 2006

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That's pathetic.

To say that he won't celebrate someone for being in "second or third place" is unquestioned hypocracy. He capitalized on the Red Sox and Cubs being second bananas with the deluge of media and merchandising put out for those two second place franchises over the last 6 years.

What the hell does that have to do with this? The Red Sox and Cubs have not been celebrated except for when the Sawx won the WS. It's not MLB's fault the Sawx and Cubs just happen to be a couple of the more popular teams among baseball fans. Mechandise sells itself if the team is popular enough.

Because the Red Sox and Cubs did nothing but fail for decades and they're shoved down the throats of anyone who turns on the TV (watch the last 3 hours of HBO?).

We're talking about Barry passing an immortal. A hell of an accomplishment and Selig says they don't celebrate second-place.

It's a pathetic double standard and just reinforces what a joke of a commissioner Selig is.

JonDigital · April 27, 2006

:thumbdown :thumbdown :thumbdown

That's pathetic.

To say that he won't celebrate someone for being in "second or third place" is unquestioned hypocracy. He capitalized on the Red Sox and Cubs being second bananas with the deluge of media and merchandising put out for those two second place franchises over the last 6 years.

What the hell does that have to do with this? The Red Sox and Cubs have not been celebrated except for when the Sawx won the WS. It's not MLB's fault the Sawx and Cubs just happen to be a couple of the more popular teams among baseball fans. Mechandise sells itself if the team is popular enough.

Because the Red Sox and Cubs did nothing but fail for decades and they're shoved down the throats of anyone who turns on the TV (watch the last 3 hours of HBO?).

We're talking about Barry passing an immortal. A hell of an accomplishment and Selig says they don't celebrate second-place.

It's a pathetic double standard and just reinforces what a joke of a commissioner Selig is. Well like I said there just happens to be alot more fans of the Cubbies and Sawx then other teams. MLB gives people what they want to see. That's why they get the prime time nationally televised games. It's what the people want. I understand your comment regarding Barry passing an immortal. Like it says in the article, he is passing someone in the record book, not setting a record.

You also have to look at it in both directions. Not everyone (and this is probably a stretch) considers Babe an immortal (especially Yankee haters). I don't want to say its a matter of being fair but who knows.

Take that Babe not being immortal comment with a grain of salt. I am just trying to look at it from both points of view.

Your entitled to your own opinion obviously.

April 27, 2006

So if someone was to surpass Gehrig's consecutive game streak by 1 with 2,131 should there be a celebration? I don't think so and this is the same thing I'd say.

TSwift25 · April 27, 2006

So if someone was to surpass Gehrig's consecutive game streak by 1 with 2,131 should there be a celebration? I don't think so and this is the same thing I'd say.

Gehrig's is a joke compared to this.

Everyone knows 714, everyone.

Das Texan · April 27, 2006

So?

MLB doesnt put the Red Sox and Cubs on ESPN and Fox.

that is what ESPN and Fox does to bring in ratings.

Should we have a big celebration next time someone passes 61?

TSwift25 · April 27, 2006

So?

MLB doesnt put the Red Sox and Cubs on ESPN and Fox.

that is what ESPN and Fox does to bring in ratings.

Should we have a big celebration next time someone passes 61?

So then why bother celebrating 700 homeruns, like MLB did last season?

Das Texan · April 27, 2006

ask them. maybe because its a nice round number.

i dont know.

Accord · April 27, 2006

MLB celebrated like it was New Years Eve when Barry passed tied Willie Mays and then passed him for 3rd all-time.

TSwift25 · April 27, 2006

MLB celebrated like it was New Years Eve when Barry passed tied Willie Mays and then passed him for 3rd all-time.

:o

So we'll celebrate third place?

April 27, 2006

MLB celebrated like it was New Years Eve when Barry passed tied Willie Mays and then passed him for 3rd all-time.

I must be getting old because I don't remember that at all.

TSwift25 · April 27, 2006

MLB celebrated like it was New Years Eve when Barry passed tied Willie Mays and then passed him for 3rd all-time.

I must be getting old because I don't remember that at all.

Remember they did the patches and things of Mays 660 and Bonds 661?

I think they even had a special store for it on MLB.com.

April 28, 2006

It's rather easy, Bonds is being investigated for using steroids. He is no longer a player MLB can celebrate with a straight face. Plain and simple. The end.

Accord · April 28, 2006

The fact of the matter is that whether MLB decides to celebrate it or not is irrelevant because Bonds will make sure that when he passes Ruth that he will do it at home where the Giants will most definitely celebrate it.

TSwift25 · April 28, 2006

The fact of the matter is that whether MLB decides to celebrate it or not is irrelevant because Bonds will make sure that when he passes Ruth that he will do it at home where the Giants will most definitely celebrate it.

Then he's going to have to do it this weekend.

PBMarlin · April 28, 2006

The fans will decide whether they want to celebrate Bonds passing Ruth.

I certainly am not interested in watching the games. Any accomplishment he achieves is tainted and proves nothing.

AJBurnett34 · April 28, 2006

So much hating for Bonds by everyone and now that they are testing him more than ever he is still hitting them out...ironic huh?

Passion · April 28, 2006

It's rather easy, Bonds is being investigated for using steroids. He is no longer a player MLB can celebrate with a straight face. Plain and simple. The end.

Wow, pretty much 100% accurate.

Well done, sir.

TSwift25 · April 28, 2006

It's rather easy, Bonds is being investigated for using steroids. He is no longer a player MLB can celebrate with a straight face. Plain and simple. The end.

Now let's be honest. They're turned the other way with McGwire and Sosa. Only difference is that MLB can't make "Pepsi presents #715" right now because no one wants to sponsor a record that may or may not be legitimately broken.

It's Selig's fault as much as anyone that baseball's gotten this far and I think it's bulls*** that he isn't taking at least some responsibility that his nonexistant and then toothless steroid program let baseball get this bad. What's ten times worse is that he takes a high and mighty attitude with this while not defending the league's best player and simply feeding into the "guilty until proven innocent" mentality overwhelming baseball right now.

Steroid rumblings have been there with Bonds for a while. BALCO was even part of the American sporting vernacular when Bonds passed Mays but baseball celebrated.

The only reason they're not celebrating it on a massive scale is that they can't sell a seven figure marketing contract for it.

TSwift25 · April 28, 2006

So much hating for Bonds by everyone and now that they are testing him more than ever he is still hitting them out...ironic huh?

That doesn't make sense.

No one ever said he needs roids to hit home runs. They influence the rate at which he hits them. He is still an awesome player but when he used the substance he tainted himself and the game.

So he absolutely positively never hit one off a pitcher who was also using a banned substance?

Can't just focus on the power numbers, pitchers are guilty too (and have more to gain from using).

Passion · April 28, 2006

It's rather easy, Bonds is being investigated for using steroids. He is no longer a player MLB can celebrate with a straight face. Plain and simple. The end.

Now let's be honest. They're turned the other way with McGwire and Sosa. Only difference is that MLB can't make "Pepsi presents #715" right now because no one wants to sponsor a record that may or may not be legitimately broken.

It's Selig's fault as much as anyone that baseball's gotten this far and I think it's bulls*** that he isn't taking at least some responsibility that his nonexistant and then toothless steroid program let baseball get this bad. What's ten times worse is that he takes a high and mighty attitude with this while not defending the league's best player and simply feeding into the "guilty until proven innocent" mentality overwhelming baseball right now.

Steroid rumblings have been there with Bonds for a while. BALCO was even part of the American sporting vernacular when Bonds passed Mays but baseball celebrated.

The only reason they're not celebrating it on a massive scale is that they can't sell a seven figure marketing contract for it.

You give Selig crap for turning his back to the problem....aren't you doing the same thing by turning a deaf ear to Bonds' steroid use and still defending him?

The guy was already making loads of cash before '98, and was already a HOFer. His own ego and inferiority complex was so big that he couldn't stand being out of the spotlight so he started shooting up the beef roids, growing his head, and becoming more of a jackass then he was while breaking records. How anyone can reasonably support someone like that is beyond me.

That they would actually care if he was celebrated or not by the league is pointless as well. Does it really mean that much to you if they stop the game for 10 minutes, have him get the crap booed out of him if he is outside of San Fran, get some meaningless plaque, have him shake hands with some dignitaries and then resume play? Who. Cares.

TSwift25 · April 28, 2006