I'd pay more for my son's first hit in little league ball than anything Bonds hits...

I've given this some thought.

I'd take the ball and invite the media around to watch me urinate all over it on my front lawn.

Then I'd say it's free to anyone who wants it.

I think you stand a better chance of catching number 714 in a mob of fans than you do getting Bonds to sign the ball at the post game press conference.

Barry Bonds? Is he still playing??

I don't care how much of a jerk Bonds is or if he used steroids. To have the recored breaking ball would be pretty cool.
If I had it, I may be tempted to hold onto the ball until a time when it would fetch more, rather than auction it off immediately. Who knows, maybe a few years after Bonds retires the market for this type of item would be in a major upswing.

-Jeeves
www.chisoxblog.blogspot.com

I was angered by the fact Bonds wouldn't sign the 713th ball for the guy that caught it (a member of the US Air Force at that). The Airman didn't ask for anything other than a signature, and Bonds smirked at him and didn't even dignify him with an answer. What made me even more angry, was Bonds had the audacity to have the Airman sign a waiver to appear on his reality show on ESPN. Bonds wants the Airman's signature, but won't give his own? It's awful and it's rude. I would not have give permission to anyone in Bond's camp for anything involving me or my likeness.

i laugh at all the journalists who get all high and mighty with regards to home runs balls and get all weepy when a fan gives a memorable ball back to a player in exchange for an autograph and a handshake.

same for fans who say "i want nothing to do with bonds or any ball he hits."

i don't know about you, but $250,000 pays for a lot of things - college for my kids, my mortgage, bills, etc.

what has a baseball player ever done for me? do they or any owner care about me in any way, other than to gauge me for high priced tickets, hot dogs, hats, parking, cable fees, whatever.

i will happy catch any ball and sell it to the highest bidder. let's all let a dose of reality enter into these discussions.

Jeeves is obviously another steriod user, as his use of those drugs has clearly impaired his judgment. Here's what you do: Sell $5 tickets, draw a big crowd and destroy the thing. Throw in getting some TV outfit to cover it, and you would have substantially more than anyone would want to pay for the ultimate "juiced" ball.

I'd ask for $20K from Bonds, give $10K of it to charity, then give the ball back to him...it's his ball America, quit being so damn greedy.

seattlesportsblog.com

Anyone that says they wouldn't want Bonds' 715 ball is a liar...and as far as Bonds being a cheater, sure he may have used steroids, but he has also hit the majority of his homeruns in the toughest ballparks in MLB. Candlestick was notorious as an unfriendly park for hitters and AT&T park, where Bonds currently calls home has a right-center field (Bonds' power alley) that measures 420 ft. with a 15 ft. tall wall! Compare this with Angel Stadium which only measures 361 ft. Regardless of anything he has taken or done, he is an amazing ballplayer and deserves credit for his Ruthian accomplishments.

Nothing symbolizing anything YOU ever do in your entire life will ever be auctioned for six figures no matter what, when or why.

The constant din of negative Bonds rants from the "journalists" working at SI is quite tiresome.

Why not a speculative story about how few people will attend Barry's funeral when he dies?

That pile of BS will have the same value as your speculation on the future value of Barry's 714th home run ball.

Can't you think of anything else to write about or has piling-on become an Olympic sport for the writers at SI?

Bonds is a baseball GOD. Actually, I'll restate that. Bonds IS God. It's an absolute shame how racism has clouded baseball and has brought down the greatest player in history.

steroids will help you do that, big guy... whether the outfield stretches 200 ft or 600 ft.

where were these monsterous blasts when he was with pittsburgh? oh yes, he was too busy stealing bases, getting hits, and hitting for average... using hardwork to achieve these feats instead of drugs.

As a Cubs fan, all I can say is....FIRE DUSTY NOW!

Barry Bonds is to baseball what Michael Jackson is to pop music. No one ever admits to actually liking the guy, yet everyone wants to watch every move he makes--and talk about it for hours on end. Together, the media and fans have made Barry an icon who is larger than baseball itself.

For every person who talks trash about Bonds, especially in a public format like this, the value of Ball #714 goes up. The more we discuss this, the bigger the issue this becomes, the more screen time it gets, the more people want Ball #714, and, thus, the more someone will pay for it.

I mean, don't you think someone would still pay millions for one of Michael Jackson's famed gloves if he threw one into the stands?

Or would that perosn only want MJ to sign it? Gimme a break.

The perfect end to the steroids era?
The fan who catches 714 or 715 throwing it back.

Give ball 714 or 715 the Cubs Fan / T.O. treatment. Once you've captured either 714 or 715, pull a sharpie out of your sock. Scribble your favorite Bond's slur on the ball (Cream ______, Clear ______ , Juice ______, Fatheaded _______, Syringe _______ ). Then wind up and through if back Cubbie fan style. The Canton janitorial staff can try to scrub it off, but you'll have already established yourself as the symbolic leader of all fustrated sports fans.

i would like to respond to the idiot before that said racism has tainted Bonds and his "Godness" Lets speak of the hearings for the steroid issue that were held, a caucasian man (mcgwire)and dominican (sosa) and im not sure who else was there. Its equal that its not a racial issue. its an issue of CHEATING and being a CHEATER, not race. Bonds is a cheater, as is mcgwire and the others, but in no way is Bonds the best there was. He doesnt play all the time anymore because he is washed up, he cant run, he cannot even run the bags from his home runs without wincing in pain, now that all the 'roids have worn off. He always says he is a man and honest, maybe he should live up to his own words and own up to what he really has done to baseball...and that is cast a horrible legal and moral battle over Americas greatest sport. He should be left to rot.

an aside...if i were pitching to him and the bags were loaded i would GLADLY walk him and the run in to avoid giving him another home run. Sure Ruth was an alcoholic yet Bonds is a jerk, and liar. The home run record belongs to a legend, Bonds should give up now and allow the records of real men stand, not whiners that cant be a man and admit his fault. I would respect him much more if he would own up to it

No doubt I would sell the ball for the money, but at the same time I would use the fame of being the holder of the ball to share my opinion about Bonds and steroids in baseball to the world.

Also the guy who says Bonds is "GOD" and then blames the whole thing on "racism" may not realize that Hank Aaron, whom also was black, did it with out steroids. And no one disputed his record because of his skin color. Race has nothing to do with this debate, who ever uses steroids, no mater their skin color, is still a cheater.

I'd say he's more like Milli Vanilli than Michael Jackson.

I want to ignore the whole thing, but keep thinking that some kid without a role model will think of Bonds as one instead.

It is sad Barry Bonds will not admit his mistake and be a real man. I would actually have some respect for him if he asked that his home run records be erased. He could just try to help his team win some ball games.

I am trully amazed at the iniquitous comments that are being generated about Barry Bonds. Is your existence so empty that you can generate such viciousness about a person who you do not know. How shallow. Has anything been proven about Barry using steriods?

Oh, I forgot you are willing to accept the words of a guy who is trying to save his hide so he implicates Barry. Oh, I also forgot about the two reporters, who "lucked" upon Grand Jury testimony. Which they wrote a book about for profit.

I hope that when Barry hits 715 that he turns slowly and looks into the camera and smiles. Because no matter your rantings Barry WILL surpass 714.

Hypocrites. All of you are hypocrites. You act like you wouldnt have done the same things that Barry has allegedly done. Look at all MLB players. They all get bigger as their careers continue. Seriously, look at a picture of Manny when he first played for the Indians and then tell me he isnt 4 times the size he used to be. When there is undisputable evidence that Barry cheated then condem him, but dont condem because hes a jerk. Who cares. That doesnt diminish what hes accomplished. And whether you guys want to admit it or not, he is the GREATEST player you have ever seen play the game. Period. Cant dispute that. Pete Rose bet on baseball, but that doesnt make him a bad player or erase the fact that he is the all time hits leader. I hope Bonds crushes 800 HR's and all you get all upset about nothing. Its a baseball record, its not the end of the world. Get over it.

Bonds is the greatest player in history?

Until Bonds racks up a career equivalent to Ruth, i.e., a Hall of Fame hitter AND pitcher, Bonds will only ever be a way above-average player...and that was BEFORE he decided to cheat (and for those who think he didn't, check those GJ transcripts and the BALCO calendars!).

Once Bonds is indicted for perjury, he'll find himself having attained something else of Ruthian proportions:

Trouble.

has anyone ever wonderd that maybe bonds didn't do steroids. He's never failed a drug test, he was always good a thitting homeruns, not like he is now but he still hit over two hundred homerund in pttisburg. Athletics at the level of bonds are freaks, pure
and simple. thier body's are differn't than other peoples, and respond differn't to certain things. Anyway i would try to get him to sign it, then sell i need the money

hey, anyone notice Pujols has 18 homeruns?

It's amazing how easily off track we get when anything Barry comes up. I believe JL's question was simply how far would you go to get ball #714 or 715, yet this has turned into another "bash Barry" or "blindly support Barry" or "blame racism/the media for what Barry has to put up with" blog. So I'll just answer the question. For a six figure ball I'd go quite a ways. I'd hope I would't do anything illegal (ie - commit battery on another park-goer), but I'd certainly jump over some people. Maybe even a little kid. If I had the money to buy an entire section of bleacher seats, that wouldn't be a bad idea. But for some reason I can't say I'd sit in a kayak in freezing water doing nothing for 3 hours, though.

I would like to get 714 and 715 then cut them in half and send the worthless halfs to the non ball signing steriod player who hit them.

I would get a video camera and tape myself cutting the laces open with a razor blade, slicing through all the rubber, cutting the cover into fragments, and then burn the mess and the core into ashes. I would then ship the ashes in the mail back to Barry with a nice little note c/o the SF Giants, and finsh up by putting the video on YouTube.

I would offer the ball free to the Baseball Hall of Felons, I mean Fame, in return for them letting in Pete Rose.

It's impossible for me to care any less about Barry Bonds and his woes. I'd sell the ball and take the money. If the current hysteria dictates that some clown will pay me $100,000.00 for a baseball I'll take it and laugh all the way to the bank.

If I caught the ball I would write 'HIT BY A STEROID USER' on the baseball, then loan the ball to the Hall of Fame.

The decreasing value of the homerun balls is a sad reminder of what steroids is doing to the sport. As the integrity of baseball history has gone down since Big Mac broke Maris' record due to the slowly increasing waive of performance enhancing drugs questions, so has the value of the price for baseball history. The lack of value for these balls shows that baseball is losing the one thing that makes it the national pasttime; integrity.

If you catch #714, sign it yurself and send it that guy who caught #713. If you catch #715, sign it "How's the cream?", and then through it back.

I do not understand all the readers comments about the record ... the record belongs to Hank Aaron ... Bonds is merely becoming second eith his next two home runs ... call me when he passes Hank ...

You people are all liars. Let me emphasize that. You are all LIARS!.

If you are lucky enough to catch 714 or 715, every single one of you liars would be in a hurry to make a quick buck. There is no way your greed would come before your so-called integrity.

It's amazing how many of you point the finger at Bonds, yet I bet all of you were quiet during McGwire/Sosa chasing Maris.

Double-standards? I think so.

I would sell the ball for a large sum of money only to provide my funding for the reality show "Chase of 756" who's changing their lifestyle, I would have 12 people videotape their lives during the chase. The only problem is I couldnt get Bonds to sign a release to be on my show.

Actually i just thought of a new one too, its who cares about Bonds breaking the record, Pujols is going to break every hitting record, including 73 homeruns this year

I was thining of posting a response to the original question but after reading the other comments Im not. The responses I have viewed in relation to the original post show just how obnoxious, ignorant and arrogant sports fans can be. Like a previous poster said this has turned into how hard can you bash Bonds or how can you show support for Bonds, totally irrelevant what you would do to get Bonds 714 and 715. One poster says he will sell tickets for $5 a piece and destroy the ball. After you make about $25 destroy the ball and realize you lost over $100,000 by being a jerk(now whose the bigger jerk Bonds or that guy.)Why is Bonds so hated, I dont understand. It cant be the steroids he was hated before the steroids.

For the guy that doesnt think race has to do anything with why Bonds is so hated you need a reality check. By comparing smiling Sammy Sosa and Mcgwire to Bonds. Sosa and Bonds are both minorities but the main difference is society has a huge issue with minorities who speak there minds and dont do the song and tap dance routine. Sosa is the Yakov Smirnoff of baseball(what a country!!) Bonds doesnt play that game. I respect Bonds more for being real and just being himself then any player who acts like he has to apologize for being a wealthy pro athlete.

As far as taking Bonds record out of the books or putting an asterisk by it that is nreasonable. Bonds definately was not the only player using steroids. Since Bonds wasnt the only player using steroids then how many juiced up pitchers did he face. Why is that Jose Canseco career home run number are no where near Bonds and Canseco use roids alot longer then Bonds did.

This is a shameful situation that sheds a light on more then just baseball its sheds light onto where we are as a society and country.

I'd return the ball to Barry and hope that if nothing else I'd get to look greatness in the eye. I agree with the dude a while back who said that Bonds is a Baseball GOD. There is absolutely no denying it.

The racism issue is simple. He closes in on Ruth and all of a sudden gets hounded by all the negative press. Much like Aaron was surrounded by negativity in his quest. Aaron my not have used steroids, but racists tried to bring him down before he caught Ruth and peole are doing the same thing to Bonds.

Anyone who says they'd destroy a ball work 6 figures is insane and/or a liar. If you don't want the money, I'm sure I can think of a few things to do with it.

What's sad is someone as great as Pete Rose is left out of the Hall of Fame for gambling, but I'm certain the Hall will welcome a juiced up Bonds into their ranks in his first year of eligibility.

Milli Vanilli??

Blame it on the cream yeah yeah
Blame it on the clear yeah yeah
Whatever you do don't put the blame on you
Blame it on the roids yeah yeah

I still don't see why everyone is making such a big deal about Bonds' 714th homerun. All of the other homerun balls that were sold for money were THE record breakers, not the second place breakers.

So Bonds, let me know when you come close to Henry Aaron's record, that ball I might pay for.

God people, get over yourselves. Sure Barry's a "cheater" and he's a jerk, and he killed Santa Claus. But juice or no juice, he's on a very short list with Ruth, Aaron, Mantle, and Mays. And, if you're going to condemn "cheaters," stop being hypocrites and condemn them all. Ruth got busted for corking his bat (look it up), Mantle did speed, Gaylord Perry threw spitters. Do you hate all of them too? The same time Barry allegedly started juicing they also juiced the ball, the strike zone, and the ballparks. The only thing that really makes Barry different from the others in his era is that he's better than ALL of them.

A buddy of mine was the guy that got McGwire's 62nd. He was rewarded with his 15 minutes of fame (talk shows, etc) and a fat job at Anheuseur Busch. He will make more across his lifetime because of his gesture of giving it back, guaranteed.

Any fool that says they wouldnt want 715 is only kidding themselves. Its baseball history and those people arent baseball fans.

Not signing the ball had nothing to do with bad attitude. It was strickly a business decision more related to number 714 and 715. It may have looked bad to some of you emotionally fragile fans, but it was a brilliant "collectible" decision that will only make the next two worth more. Especially if he signs them.

vegaft is on it 100%, I watched in awe as an 8 year old white kid while Henry Aaron went for 715 ( so am I racist about Barry and not Henry, as anonymous @8:55 pm states?) Henry endured death threats in his pursuit of the all time HR record, all Barry has had to endure is the spotlight of truth. Any true fan of the game won't care about an asterix or purged record (In my mind Maris holds the 162 gm HR record, Ruth the 154) Maguire, Palmeiro, and Sosa won't be in the Hall because of the juice, neither will Barry.

Anyone want to explain why we chuckle and wink at Gaylord Perry's juiced baseballs, and crucify Bonds? Let's compare:

Perry was breaking a written rule in the BBall handbook / Bonds was doing something that wasn't even enforceable until last season.

Perry is still in the Hall of Fame with no discussion of his removal / There is a solid majority who believe he shouldn't be in the HoF

Perry was fun-loving and a good interview for the press / Bonds hurt the feelings of Sports Illustrated staff.

Gee, I wonder what the difference is? Bonds may be a jerk, but so was Ty Cobb. I guess in baseball, you can be a jerk or a cheater, but not both.

Hey, "Matty Bonds", since you know your history so well, why did you publish that the strike zone and MLB parks shrank at the same time as Bonds' recorded juicing. Take your own advice and "look it up," you fool. Parks have been getting smaller since the early '90's with the rise of Camden Yards. Strike zones? The strike zone has been much smaller that what is described in the MLB rule book for decades. Speed..yeah, I'm sure Bonds never took that. Corked bats...how do they compare to the maple bats that Bonds uses? For you, and all of the Bonds apologists who continue to defend him despite mounting evidence to the contrary, you credit racism for the scrutiny and speculation because you, in fact, are racists yourselves.

I've never been a fan of Barry Bonds, or Sammy Sosa, or McGwire. I am a huge fan of players like Tony Gwynn & Albert Pujols, These guys play the game the way it was meant to be played, NO CHEATING, and no Hot Dogging it. Going all the way back there has ALWAYS been players that were trying to get an advantage, There are ALOT of players that play with heart and ability ONLY. Those guys I respect. As far as the ball goes, I would sell it to the highest bidder (I'm not Nuts).

I like the idea of the fan signing the ball -- I think any fan should consider writing "You're Welcome" along with their signature. After all, where would any of them be without the FANS?

The answer to the original question is, of course, 99.999% of us would sell the ball to whoever is crazy enough to cough up 6 figures for it.

Bonds was a near lock to be a Hall of Famer before his mysterious late career power surge. And deserves some amount respect for his playing ability regardless of other considerations.

Whether or not Barry is juiced has not been proven in a court of law, and we're supposed to be innocent till proven guilty. I believe he is a juicer, but also believe many others are or were too. Steroids may not have been against the rules in baseball, but they were always against the law.

So, maybe juicing wasn't technically cheating, but it was illegal. Either way, no one can say using steroids wasn't wrong.

Barry has been a difficult person for the media to deal with all his career. So would many (if not most of us under the level of scrutiny he's faced). Deserved or not, he's percieved as a jerk (When I hear about not signing the 713 ball, then asking for a release to be signed, the perception seems warranted).

One other thing, just because a person doesn't care for Barry, doesn't make that person a racist. Any more than watching the coverage of him makes you a fan of his. They're both just personal choices, not beliefs.

Hammerin Hank still holds the record, and judging by Bonds current play, probably will for quite some time. So it's impressive, but not yet historical.