by Bob Swanson

Created on: July 03, 2008

As a baseball fan I was very disappointed when on August 7, 2007 Barry Bonds hit his 756th home run. To me and most likely just about everyone that was not a San Fransisco Giants fan this was a dark day for not only baseball but sports. Barry launched a pitch from Mike Bacsik 435 feet for the record breaking home run. Just about everyone alive knows about the controversy surrounding baseball, steroids. Who was at the center of the steroid allegations? Non other than Barry Bonds.

Barry Bonds during the 1998 season began using steroids. Either these helped him drastically or it is extremely convenient that soon after he began using steroids he broke the record for home runs in a single season, 73. This came as a surprise to everyone. Bonds in prior seasons had no indication that he would suddenly have this explosion of power. From 1998 to 2001 Barry's totals were 37, 34, 49, 73. This looks like a huge spike in power to me. After that season his total went back down to 46.

A spike in home runs was not the only thing Barry had. From 1998 to 2001 Barry's weight jumped from 206 to 228. This included a jump from 210 to 218 from the end of the 2000 season to the end of the 2001 season. If you look at pictures of Barry from 2000 to 2001 he does not appear to gain any weight. This is because the weight he gained is that of lean muscle, not fat. I have asked several people in the medical field and they have all said it is nearly impossible to without some type of help to gain 18 pounds of muscle in a single year. All signs point to steroids.

In 1998 Barry began being injected with a steroid called Winstrol. This steroid helps the user lose fat while retaining their body mass. This drug is also used to increase strength without excessive weight gain. This would fit perfectly with what happened to Barry. Barry gained weight, not excessively while gaining muscle. All the effects of Winstrol point right to Barry and he admitted to the use of it. Barry cheated, that tarnishes his record.

Unfortunately we cannot strip him of his record because it would leave a huge gap in the record books. He may have the record but Barry in no way deserves it. Barry may have the most home runs of all time, but he is not the home run king. Hank Aaron is still the home run king regardless of how many home runs Barry hits. Hank broke the record on talent and class, nothing else. From 1998 to the day he stopped using steroids Barry should not receive full credit for his achievements. We cannot take them out of the record books but we can mark them with that asterisk that is on the record breaking ball. He may have the record but whenever someone looks at that record and sees the asterisk they will be reminded that Barry cheated, and almost ruined the game of baseball. Thanks in most part to Barry, this generation of baseball will forever be known as the steroid era. Thanks Barry, for nearly destroying America's pastime.

Learn more about this author, Bob Swanson.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.