by Shakes Sales

Created on: January 10, 2007   Last Updated: April 27, 2007

I'm sure anyone that has had the pleasure of watching such greats as Joe Dimaggio and Mickey Mantle, Stan Musial, and "the say hey kid" Willie Mays, play on a regular basis would feel we are being cheated by the players of our time. I mean sure Carl Pavano is no Bob Gibson, obviously Roberto Clemente is rolling over in his grave thinking about the kind of money J.D Drew got this offseason ($70 million 5 years, thank God I'm a Yankee fan). But, and this is a big BUT, I believe we are watching one of the greatest players to ever bless high socks, and round the the bases in this sport of gentleman. To put it in perspective the future Hall of famer Derek Jeter, picture his name being said repeatedly by John Sterling the voice of the New York Yankees, has never won a league MVP. Even more amazing is imagine someone that has produced as well as or better than Darryl Strawberry and came in at the same time and still is a clean up hitter now long after Stawberry and his contemporary counterparts have long since turned in their jock straps. What this player has done is comparable to Alfonso Soriano repeating this past years numbers in non contract years, and no of course I'm not insinuating that Soriano's numbers were driven by the fact that he was looking forward to a big payday. Just like "Kenny Rogers just had dirt on his hands", sure, and Ty Cobb was a "gentleman" in the loosest sense of the word. And the last time I checked Ty Cobb has a pretty cozy spot in the Cooperstown. My favorite sports radio personality, Steve "Schmoooze" Sumers, affectionately refers to him as Balroid. I know him as the greatest player I have seen in any sport in my 31 and 1/2 years on Gods green earth. Bonds. Barry Bonds I say, loudly and proudly. I remember thinking watching "Sports Center" a couple of years ago I have never seen or heard of a player dominating his sport and peers as he has for such a long period of time. Tiger Woods loses, Barry gives pitchers nightmares. They say steroids, "Steroids", had something to do with it, if history and record books serve me, accused steroids users hit for power, Bonds, Baryy Bonds won a batting title at

a time when pitchers threw him nothing but junk. Derek Jeter(and remember I'm a Yankee fan) couldn't win a batting title with Ted williams and "Hammerin" Hank Aaron cleaning up the bases behind him. Roger Federer loses to Nadal, and Barry just got intentionally walked again......Ken Griffey Jr. Just broke his hand, sprained his ankle and pulled a hammy, Bonds just sent a souvenir out to the kayakers. Simply said he has a great eye for taking pitches, has the best power from the left side baseball has ever seen, would have hit .400 if Manny Ramirez was hitting behind him (see Big Papi), and steals bases like he's a fleet footed short stop (see Jose Reyes). And if your argument is age, how can he do this at this age, surely you have heard of Nolan Ryan. If your argument is he acheived this in a steroids era, well then we will need Roger Clemens to take this little tube into the bathroom and give us a sample. And while your at it exhume Babe Ruth and lets see what we find with our modern day testing. Or should we leave old secrets buried, hint hint, and revere, hold in reverence, and revel in Bonds. Barry Bonds.
The greatest player that has ever lived.

Learn more about this author, Shakes Sales.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.