714

"You can't say enough of what he did and it's an honor to be in the same class."

This was Barry Bonds' quote following the home run he hit to tie Babe Ruth for second all-time. Soon, he will pass the Bambino.

In much of the past several weeks we've had comparisons, good and bad, on the numbers of these two ballplayers. We've had two basic camps -- the San Francisco/ESPN camp, and everyone else. I happen to be an everyone else.

I wrote my rant on statistics specifically for this event. I wanted anyone who read me to be clear about the differences between Babe Ruth and Barry Bonds. Let's take a look:

714 is a lot of home runs. In any era. When Babe did it, he had already been the first player ever to 200. And 300. And 400. And 500. And 600. And 700. Bonds is third to 700. It also took him longer to get there -- Babe homered every 11.76 at-bats. Barry took over an at-bat longer.

Babe's first four full seasons, he was a pitcher. It's only speculation, but I'd bet he'd likely have had more than 755 had he only been a right fielder.

I've read time and again about the distinct advantage Babe had not having to face black players. This is certainly true. To balance it, however, he played in ball parks that were far bigger. And he had to face the spitball. And he war a cap, not a helmet. And he didn't have armor protecting his elbow.

And while it is definitely true Babe Ruth did not face black players in the majors, he certainly faced them in barnstorming leagues offseason. Oh, and he fared pretty well, too. One story has been told that he hit a home run that went so far that the pitcher met him at home plate to shake his hand. That pitcher? Satchel Paige.

Some Barry Bonds apologists have suggested that Barry's steroids usage is akin to the game-fixing that used to go on back in the early part of the last century. An example used by an ESPN writer was that Ty Cobb and Tris Speaker -- the biggest names in baseball at the time after Babe Ruth -- were implicated in throwing games. It was common -- as steroids is common now.

There are two ways to answer this. First, my parents (and everyone else's, I hope) taught that two wrongs do not make a right. That others have cheated doesn't mean I can cheat. Case in point: the steroids-equivalent of Babe Ruth's era was throwing games. Joe Jackson, Ty Cobb and Tris Speaker (among others) have been written about, investigated, etc.. throwing baseball games. Babe Ruth has not. The Babe could have gone the way of Barry Bonds. He chose not to.

Barry's weakness gave him the single season home run record. It also got him to 714. He would never have been within 100 home runs without steroids. We all know that. His is a paper number.

Babe Ruth was a phenomenal clutch player. He was 2-0 with a 0.87 World Series ERA. He had hit 15 career home runs in the World Series, more than anyone until Mickey Mantle. His lifetime postseason batting average is .326. Barry Bonds has been anything but clutch. 2002 not included, because he was cheating at the time, Barry has been known as one of the worst choke artists in history. He made A-Rod look like Derek Jeter. Look at it this way, even with 2002, he has a postseason batting average of .236. And only one of his 9 home runs came in the pre-steroid era.

There are several legendary stories about the Babe. He was loved by everyone, especially the children he was never too busy to talk to or to sign balls for. One of my favorites was the story of his hospital visit when he promised the sick boy he'd homer for him. He even signed a baseball promising the little boy as much. That night, Babe Ruth hit three.

What do we know of Barry doing anything for children? Or anyone?

Barry, you said you were in the same class as the Babe. I think you ought to rethink that statement.