Baseball Musings
Baseball Musings
February 24, 2005
Home Run Record

There some discussion in the comments to this post over a reporter's question to Barry Bonds about Ruth's record. The question was:

In your pursuit of Ruth's record, how do you feel about coming to play -- with the knee surgery, getting prepared, how is that going to delay you?

And the comment that started the discussion was this:

It is infuriating that reporters are asking questions about "Ruth's record". For one, it's wrong, and blatantly so. For another, it simply supports Barry's argument that he (and Aaron, as an extension) gets different treatment from white players.

I don't totally agree with this comment. The comment implies that the reporter sees the home run record as belonging to Babe Ruth. That may be the case, but it also may be that the reporter mispoke, using "record" when he really meant "total." I think that's the most likely explanation. Also, even Barry were perfectly healthy it's unlikely he would break Aaron's record of 755 HR this season. The story in 2005 is Barry passing Ruth.

And when Barry does, he will break a record, most HR by a left-handed batter. Now, I don't think the reporter had that in mind, but it is indeed a record that Ruth holds. (The next closest lefty is Reggie Jackson at 563.) One Aaron record Bonds does have a shot at this season is 733 National League home runs.

So, in this case, I say give the reporter a break. He could have chosen his words better, but I'm sure he realizes Aaron has the home run record.


Posted by David Pinto at 10:37 AM | Records | TrackBack (0)
Comments

I agree. When Sosa PASSED Maris in 1998, sports reporters were saying Sosa broke Maris's record when McGuire is the only player to have broken Maris's single season record for home runs. Sports reporters are always making these kinds of mistakes due to sloppiness or carelessness. Race is only being injected to add another angle to the story.

Posted by: stmc8794 at February 25, 2005 07:56 AM
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