by B.A. Weltmer

Created on: July 08, 2011   Last Updated: August 05, 2011

“Any time you think you have the game conquered the game will turn around and punch you right in the nose.”

            Mike Schmidt

It seems as if Mike Schmidt, the hall-of-fame third baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies, was speaking directly to Barry Bonds when he made that quote.  Most likely he meant that you can never get too high in the game of baseball, because your low may be right around the corner.  Fans got high on Barry Bands.  His 2001 history-chasing season drew thousands of new fans to the game, and captivated a nation.  As a person, Bonds had an ego that matched the size of his gigantic head.  Both seemed to have grown over time.  

He didn’t care what people thought of him during his player days.  Maybe he should have.  Maybe if he took the time to listen to historians and baseball fans, outside of San Francisco of course, he would understand that in the end; he was terrible for the game of baseball.

            The all-time home-run record is perhaps the most sacred in all of sports.  History has shown that fans never have liked the men who come along to overtake the previous record holder.  Babe Ruth held it for decades before Hank Aaron came along.  Many felt that the Bambinos choke hold on the record would forever stand.  So it was understandable that fans would sour to the idea of Aaron overtaking, perhaps the greatest man to ever play the game.  When Barry Bonds was closing in on Aaron it was different.  Fans had their suspicion of Bonds being linked to steroid use, even though he denied it with the same consistent fervor, which was one of his greater qualities as a player.

            Many will argue that steroids don’t have as big of an effect on home run totals as is discussed.  They will be quick to tell you that you still have to hit the ball, which is no easy task with pitchers hitting triple digits on the radar gun.  I couldn’t agree more with those arguments.  However, there is one thing that is clearly forgotten when talking about steroids impact on a player’s performance; how steroids help a player continue his career.  At the age of 35, most ballplayers are past their prime, and their body is unable to cope will the daily strains of a major league season.  Due to this, statistics are supposed to decrease significantly.  Instead, at the ripe old age of 36, Bonds enjoyed one of the greatest seasons in MLB history, slugging 73 home runs.  Maybe steroids weren’t the reason he hit that many, but they were certainly the reason he was out on the field and able to do it.

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