Now that Barry Bonds has surpassed Hank Aaron's record for the most home runs in a career, the "big picture" looms, and with it, brings questions...
Why is it that the two players with the most renowned records in baseball, Bonds and Pete Rose are, shall we say, less than stellar individuals with histories or possibilities of federal indictments?
Here in Philadelphia, we have a team who's stars are some of the most likable individuals in all of sports, not just baseball -- Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, Cole Hamels.
Are the exemplary characters on the Phillies roster the exception to the rule that all star athletes are jerks, or, is it just a coincidence that both the Hit King and the Home Run King are persona non grata in many circles?
If you have an answer to any of these questions, I'd like to hear them.
-----------------
I have however, found a way to rationalize all of this that makes me feel a little bit better. Yes, Bonds and Rose have the most home runs and hits, respectively, of any player in history. But, does anyone consider them to be the best of all-time in those two endeavors?
The case can be made, though disputable, that Aaron or Babe Ruth were better home run hitters. And in terms of hits, there are few who would say Rose was the greatest hitter of all-time. That mantle could go to many others before it would go to Rose.
Incidentally, one could argue that Ted Williams was the best in each category. Had he not lost portions of or entire seasons to military service right in the middle of his prime, it's not out of the realm of possibility to think he might have reached at least 650 home runs.
In the seasons Williams played that were not affected by his service as a Marine aviator, he averaged 30 home runs a year. Giving Williams 30 home runs for his 1943-1945 and 1952-1953 seasons, his real total of 521 increases to 658. That is still quite a bit short of challenging for the all-time record, but at the same time, it is also probably conservative to award Williams just 30 homers a year during his prime.
Food for thought.
