“But to be the best, you must face the best. And to overcome your fear, you must deal with the best.” Barry Bonds was determined to be the best player in Major League Baseball, and with that mindset, he has smashed multiple records. Bonds did not spend much time in the Minor League before he was brought up, each season being a good season for the young Barry Bonds. He started out in the minors, was brought up to the majors by the Pittsburgh Pirates, and was sent back down again. He was brought up yet again by Pittsburgh, and spent the rest of his career in the Major League. In his first Minor League season, he played 71 games, with 76 hits and 13 home runs. Of his 76 hits, he drove in 37 runs, with an on base percentage of .383.
Black History Month is a very important one. My favorite person that we can celebrate this month is Hank Aaron. Hank is an incredible baseball player. He set glorious examples for all African Americans who wished to have an accomplished career in baseball. Hank Aaron is one of the best performers I know of.
The Major League Baseball organization is one of many sport organizations that takes a strong stance on athletes that use performance enhancing drugs. Mark McGwire played for the Cardinals in 1998. He had an amazing career as he broke the homerun record with 70 homeruns. Through his accomplishments, there was speculation that he took steroids. He was questioned about it in Federal Court and at first, he denied it. Later on, he admitted using Andro, which is a form of anabolic steroids. Another baseball player had a very similar story. Barry Bonds played for the San Francisco Giants. He likewise had very notable achievements, such as beating McGuire for the homeroom record and he passed Hank Aaron as the career all-time home run hitter.
The Boston Red Sox was founded in 1901. The team was originally named the Boston Americans but later changed to the Boston Red Sox after Boston’s first professional baseball team the Boston Red Stockings, now known as the Atlanta Braves. The Red Sox first played Huntington Avenue Grounds but later moved to Fenway Park in 1912. Fenway Park remains the home of the Sox to this day.
The purpose to televising the episode, “ Does Barry Bonds Belong in the Hall of Fame,” is to express their opinion that he should be inducted, despite suspicion of steroid use and negative outlook from media, both Parker and Bayless believe Bonds is a “no doubt Hall of Famer.” The intended audience is directed towards baseball fans who are concerned whether Barry Bonds should get inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. The audience would also want the perspectives from professional sports commentators.
Throughout the history of major league baseball we have seen countless astonishing hitters come pass through, some putting up record breaking numbers, at times too good to be true. Barry Bonds, known as the “homerun king” was able to put up an amazing total of 73 home runs in 2001. The very next season, he continued to present his skill with a .370 batting average. Between 1999 and 2007, Bonds’ stats were shocking, hitting 351 home runs, winning four national league MVP awards, and racking up 780 RBI’s, 69 stolen bases, and just over one thousand hits. Alex Rodriguez, better known as “A-rod” is another huge name when talking about the greatest hitters in baseball. For nine seasons out of Rodriguez’s twenty two season career, 8.5% of the balls he would put into play were home runs. By the end of his lengthy career, he was able to collect 698 home runs, over two thousand RBI’s and runs scored, with over three thousand hits. He was also named All-Star fourteen times. With numbers like these, it is hard to
“I’ve heard people say that the trouble with the world is that we haven’t enough great leaders. I think we haven’t enough great followers. I have stood side by side with great thinkers- surgeons, engineers, economists, men who deserve a great following- and have heard the crowd cheer me instead. I love my profession. I like playing baseball. I love the fans too, but I think they cheered too loudly, and they cheered for the wrong man.” This was quoted by Babe Ruth explaining why he isn’t selfish and why he thinks that others aren’t honored enough for their positions. Leading up to Ruth’s career, he had a terrible life. He later became one of the best baseball players of all time. And now, he inspires others. Because Babe Ruth was confident in
Attention Getter: On August 7th, 2007, Barry Bonds hit home run number 756, passing Hank Aaron for the most home runs in Major League history. However, this record is controversial, due to steroid use.
Since Major League Baseball all-star Ken Caminiti openly admitted to Sports Illustrated to have used steroids during his career, steroid use as a muscle and performance enhancer has been uncovered and become a big issue Major League Baseball is wrestling with. The “ongoing and delicate subject, baseball’s dirty, little secret that is no secret anymore,” is a huge and growing problem (Curry B20). Now that light has been shed on the issue, critics are beginning to realize the magnitude of this problem and do not like it. Steroids are a cheating virus that is spreading quickly. Users cheat other players, themselves, the fans, and the game itself. Action must be taken to rid Major League Baseball of this virus
Not only are professional baseball players an inspiration; they are also leaders. They have risked life and limb on the field; they inspire us to be better and strive for excellence. For many fans these athletes are
Several years ago, I was talking to my late grandpa who had gone to see Hall of Famer, Ken Griffey Jr. give a speech to some young children. After his speech, a dad stood up and asked “Mr. Griffey, you and I have something in common. I have been playing baseball all my life just like you. We are about the same age and we even come from the same hometown. The only difference between us is that you are a celebrated All- Star ballplayer, and I-- despite decades of hard work-- have never been able to play past college ball. This breaks my heart. I have dedicated my whole life to baseball, but to no avail. My spirit has been completely diminished by all the rejection and disappointment. I was wondering if you have any advice for me, but please do not just dismiss my question and tell me to persevere. I have heard that too many times and
George Herman Ruth Jr. was known to us as Babe Ruth. He was one of the most decorated athletes of all time even though he had a troubled beginning. His baseball career spanned for twenty-two seasons from 1914-1935 and playing for three different teams.
Jackie Robinson once said “A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives”. True heroes, living among ordinary people, have paved the roads of today's world. One person who has exactly done this and not received nearly enough credit is Jackie Robinson. When people think of Jackie Robinson they think of the man who stole second base continuously, when in reality he did more, Jackie Robinson opened the gate for African American’s to play major league baseball. Born in 1919 Jackie was brought up in a society that was characterized by racial segregation and inequality, He fought through the era and made himself known all around the world for being the first African American to play major league baseball. Jackie
Hank Aaron is most commonly known for beating Babe Ruth's home run record of 714. He overcame racism and became one of the best players to ever play the game of baseball. He is a very rare, cross hitting Right Fielder. If you are a left handed hitter, you will have your left hand on the top of the bat handle and the right on the bottom. For righties it is vice-versa. But Hank was different. He was a lefty but he had his right hand on top and it made his swing look very awkward. However, he broke many records, had an award named after him, and even wrote his own book!
The Milwaukee Braves had recruited Hank. He signed for $10,000, and was put on one of the team’s farm leagues where he did very well. Hank Aaron made his Major League debut in 1954. He was called up after one of the Brave’s outfielders was placed on the Injury Reserve. His first year, was a solid one.
Barry Sanders was, if not the best, one of the greatest football running backs in the history of the NFL. Barry was a hard worker at home, and that is what carried him in the game of football. This, in the end, is what helped him achieve a legendary status. In general, Barry Sanders was one of the most versatile football players, but was also a very quiet person on the inside.