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Hall of Famers: ‘We won’t celebrate’
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Related Topics: COOPERSTOWN, N.Y.
COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. (Map, News) - If the words of two respected Hall of Famers speak for the entire group, Cooperstown could care less about Barry Bonds setting the all-time home-run record.
During an interview on July 27 — two days before Aberdeen native and former Oriole star Cal Ripken Jr. was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame — Brooks Robinson was asked about how he’ll approach Barry Bonds’ possession of the all-time home-run record.
“I didn’t celebrate that much when Hank [Aaron] broke [Babe Ruth’s] record, and I won’t celebrate that much when Bonds breaks Hank’s record,” the former Oriole said.
But Robinson, who won 16 consecutive Gold Gloves and the 1970 World Series MVP, isn’t necessarily against Bonds’ pursuit of his 756th career home run.
“I’m OK with anything that happens in the game,” Robinson said. “If you don’t like it, you don’t celebrate it. If you like it, you celebrate a little. I’m riding a fine line right now to see how this whole thing plays out.”
The “whole thing” Robinson speaks of is the steroid allegations surrounding Bonds, who hit his 756th career home run Monday night to surpass Hank Aaron on the all-time list. Aaron became king in 1974, when he surpassed Ruth’s mark of 714.
Eerily similar to Robinson’s response was the one from Hall of Fame third baseman George Brett. However, the former Kansas City Royal took it one step further.
“I didn’t celebrate when Hank Aaron broke [the home-run record] and I won’t celebrate it when Barry breaks it,” Brett said. “And I won’t celebrate it when [Alex Rodriguez] breaks Barry’s.”
Brett said he doesn’t concern himself with the game as much as he did in his playing days. But he does “still watch SportsCenter,” and took interest in Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa’s all-out assault on the record books in 1998.
Brett isn’t following Bonds’ performance, but he believes one of baseball’s most prestigious records will be held by someone else: Rodriguez. The 32-year-old Yankees third baseman hit his 500th career home run Saturday.
“He’s the best in the game right now,” Brett said.
