Who’s YOUR home run king?

By Kevin Stewart

          Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard is closing in on Roger Maris’ former single-season record of 61 home runs. Howard currently stands at 56 home runs with 17 games remaining in the Phillies’ schedule. So I ask you this, if Howard hits 62 or more, would you consider Howard the single-season home run king? I’d say no.

          Here are your candidates: Babe Ruth (60 in ’27), Maris (61 in ’61), Mark McGwire (70 in ’98), Sammy Sosa (66 in ’98), Barry Bonds (73 in ’01), or possibly Howard.

          I still consider McGwire the single-season home run king when he hit 70 in 1998. Yeah, he was bigger than he was when he first came up as a rookie in 1987, but if you look at a simple statistic, it doesn’t really matter. McGwire hit 49 home runs that season, setting a rookie record, and he was nearly a twig.

          Most baseball players get bigger as their careers elaborate. For example, Bernie Williams was pretty small when he first appeared in the early 1990’s and he became much bigger. But it does not mean at all that he was on steroids.

          There have been many breakthroughs in weightlifting and expanding muscle mass since ’87. McGwire never to me appeared to look awkward according to muscle mass distribution.

          Now, when it comes to Bonds, therein lays a different story. McGwire was always a power hitter. Bonds averaged just about 33 home runs a year from 1986 through 2000; his then career-high was 49 achieved in 2000. Then out of nowhere, boom, 73! That is a number extraordinarily higher than every other one of his single-season totals in 15 years of Major-League experience.

          Like McGwire, Bonds was a skinny little twig when he started playing in the Major League, but he never had the power like McGwire had. Bonds was a guy who could hit for a good average, hit 20-30 home runs, steal 30-40 bases, and drive in a solid amount or runners each season. Then he became a power hitter in 2000, out of the clear blue sky. Can anybody say "conspiracy?"

          But, if there is anyone in the league who can challenge Bonds’ record, it’s Howard and Albert Pujols. There is a significant chance Howard can pass Maris this year and many people will consider him the single-season home run king, which is fair. Everyone has their reasoning for why they believe certain players did or didn’t "juice."

          I hope one of the two is able to break Bonds’ record, though. It bothers me, and millions of other baseball fans, that a guy who cheated the game has that glorified of a record. It boiled my blood when Bonds passed Willie Mays’ mark of 660 and then Ruth’s of 714. Now he’s 25 away from tying Henry Aaron for the most all-time. Granted, nothing has been proven yet whether Bonds has or hasn’t taken anabolic steroids, but there is a significant amount of speculation.

          There is one thing I don’t understand about this whole Bonds fiasco: Why don’t they subpoena him and make him take the witness stand? It is the only way we will find out for sure. If in fact he did not take steroids, then all the power to him and he deserves the record(s). Until then, no one will ever know the truth.

          The saddest aspect about this whole steroids speculation, is the fact that every player that comes close to the home run records or has a career-year is going to be questioned.  People will be talking around the water coolers discussing whether they believe the player is taking steroids or other performance enhancers and it really is a shame.  Especially to the players who have worked hard their entire life to live the dream of being a Major League ballplayer and never did anything to cheat the game.  Those are the players to feel sorry for and it really is a shame this is going to happen.

* Howard photo courtesy of criticalfanatic.com

* McGwire photo courtesy of netrition.com

* Bonds photo courtesy of ESPN.com