nandorman's Journal: 661

Well, Barry Bonds has broken Willie Mays's "record" of 660 career home runs, and I don't give a flying flip. At least, I don't care about Barry Bonds; I think it's a tradgedy that Willie Mays is now in fourth place.

Let's pretend that Barry's not using an illegal drug to enhance is performance. (Let's pretend, since we all know that his hat size didn't grow on its own. Whether or not it's illegal, he using something. Let him be tested to prove me wrong.) Of course, MLB cannot implement testing until Barry retires. They can, but they won't. Write it down: April 14, 2004. I predict that within 2 years after Barry retires, MLB will implement drug testing. But if they did it now, then what about all of those records that Barry "broke?"

But what about upcoming records? What if Barry gets 755? Well, here's my solution: let's look at a player's home runs per pound. We'll call it the HRP statistic. I know that this is slightly problematic since players are also different heights, but I think it's a good first approximation. Here's the raw data:

Hank Aaron

HR: 755

Weight: 180

Height: 6'0"

HRP: 4.19

Babe Ruth

HR: 714

Weight: 215

Height: 6'2"

HRP: 3.32

Barry Bonds

HR: 661

Weight: 230

Height: 6'2"

HRP: 2.87

Willie Mays

HR: 660

Weight: 180

Height: 5'11"

HRP: 3.67

Even if has only used "legal" steroids, not only has he caused his head to swell a couple standard deviations beyond what is considered normal, he still hasn't improved his HRP. Willie Mays is still better than Bonds, and NO ONE will ever come close to Aaron's HRP. Bonds would have to hit 965 home runs to beat him. Not going to happen.