Barry Bonds Passes 700 Home Run Mark

In between April, 2005 and April, 2006, the world’s baseball fans will keep their heads up to see Barry Bonds (San Francisco Giants) go through the season.

In the Major League Baseball match up against the San Diego Padres in the San Francisco Giants’ home stadium, SBC Park, on September 18th, Barry Bonds came up in the 3rd inning, his second at-bat, as the leadoff batter and launched a home run off starting pitcher Jake Peavy to join the 700 home run club as the 3rd major leaguer in league history.

On September 19 against San Diego, Bonds recorded another homerun off David Wells in the second inning to mark his 701st homerun, which is his 43rd of the season.

The two big figures Bonds, who is determined to be on top of total home run list, has to overcome are Hank Aaron (755) and Babe Ruth (714). Bonds, with 13 games remaining in the season, is unlikely to hit 14 more homeruns to surpass Ruth`s record this year. But next April, Bonds will likely step up to be the runner up in total home runs in major league history when the new season begins.

The United States sports channel ESPN estimates that with 55 homers for Bonds, April 2006 would be the most likely date Bonds taking the top spot in the career homerun standings.

But if Bonds` homerun pace kicks up to a homerun in every three games, like he has hit ever since the 2000 season, with five more homeruns this remaining season, and 50 home runs next season, Bonds will reign as the new homerun king next year.

Then who is the greatest slugger?

Comparing the records of the past and present players, Bonds leads in homeruns per season, the number of home runs per hit, and the most walks. Bonds lead Aaron (20 seasons) and Ruth (21 seasons) in joining the 700-club as he reached the 700 mark in 19 seasons and also was significantly superior in slugging percentage and producing walks. That Bonds was a quick-footed clutch hitter before turning into a feared slugger in his mid-30`s is an interesting factor.

On the other hand, Aaron, who played 23 seasons, only led the league in 1957 with 44 homeruns, but displayed steadiness each season to become the most prolific homerun hitter in major league history. Compared to this, there is no doubt that Ruth stands on top in numbers of homers per game, numbers of home runs per at-bat and the best batting percentage. He represents the best in the view of producing home runs. Ruth took the home run championship 11 times. But in the era of Ruth, the level of baseball was comparatively low. Ruth seized the home run championship in 1918 with 11 home runs while wearing a Boston Red Sox jersey.

Hwan Soo Zang zangpabo@donga.com