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Bonds does it; Giants do not

Giants slugger blows past McGwire's record with homers No. 71 and 72. But the Dodgers prevail 11-10 to end San Francisco's playoff hopes.

[AP photos] Barry Bonds follows through on his record breaking home run in the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers Friday in San Francisco. He hit No. 71 off Dodgers pitcher Chan Ho Park to break Mark McGwire's record of 70.

©Associated Press

© St. Petersburg Times,
published October 6, 2001

SAN FRANCISCO — Even Willie Mays didn't think his godson Barry Bonds could break the record.

Bonds celebrates his achievement with his son, Nikolai, 11.

Bonds surprised the Giants' Hall of Famer on Friday night by not only hitting his 71st home run — breaking Mark McGwire's three-year-old single-season record — but adding No. 72 for emphasis.

``I am one he made a liar out of, because I didn't think he'd do it,'' Mays said.

The celebration of Bonds' feat was tempered because the Giants lost 11-10 to the Los Angeles Dodgers and were eliminated from playoff contention.

But many in the sellout crowd of 41,730 stayed for a post-game ceremony, despite the late hour. It was already early Saturday when the festivities got under way.

The enigmatic slugger couldn't contain his emotion when the fans chanted his name.

``We've come a long way. We've had our ups and downs. Thank you,'' he said, before burying his face in his hands and bursting into tears.

Bonds connected on Chan Ho Park's 1-0 pitch to break McGwire's 1998 record. It came on his first swing since hitting No. 70 Thursday night in Houston's Enron Field off rookie Wilfredo Rodriguez. Both homers arced high over the field in the same direction.

After hitting his 442-foot shot, an elated Bonds trotted around the bases and was mobbed at the plate by his teammates and his 11-year-old son, Nikolai — much the same scene that played out in Houston.

Bonds slipped into the dugout for a short time and talked by cell phone with his father, former major leaguer Bobby, before returning to the field.

As a ``71'' flashed on the scoreboard and fireworks soared above the outfield, Bonds hugged his wife, Liz, and daughter Aisha, as well as his mother, Pat.

They were barely back in the stands before the crowd went crazy again. Bonds hit No. 72 off Park on a 1-1 count, the ball just clearing the wall in center field near the 404-foot mark.

Until Big Mac came along, Roger Maris' record of 61 stood for 37 years. Before Maris came along, Babe Ruth's record stood for 34 years. Now, Bonds has rewritten the record book after only three years — and he still has two games to go against the Dodgers.

When the popular McGwire hit his record-breaking 62nd homer in 1998, he was overrun by high-fives, hugs and handshakes all around the bases from the opposing Chicago Cubs and Sammy Sosa, who challenged him for the mark.

In sharp contrast, Bonds — never the most likable player among fans, opponents and even some of his teammates — wasn't embraced by any of the rival Dodgers. Park didn't even turn around to watch the first home run.

Earlier this season, the Dodgers were infuriated when the Giants stopped the game at Pac Bell after Bonds hit his 500th home run against them.

This time, the on-field celebration lasted just five minutes, while the second homer drew only a curtain call.

Bonds has hit seven career home runs in 39 at-bats against Park, who was pitching with a 5-0 lead in the first inning and decided to go right after him — unlike the walkathon Bonds endured in Houston.

It was Bonds' 56th career multihomer game, and 10th of this season. He passed Jimmie Foxx for fifth on the career multihomer list.

Jerry Rose, 49, a season ticket-holder from Knight's Landing, Calif., caught the ball on the fly. He had no immediate plans for the souvenir.

``We'll keep it for a while and watch the game. The Giants need to win,'' he said.

But it wasn't to be. While Bonds got his record, he didn't get the one thing he wished for more: a chance in the playoffs.

The Giants' loss, combined with wins by the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Houston Astros, eliminated San Francisco from a chance to reach the postseason.

``It's a tough loss. We played hard. You have to commend the Dodgers, they played good, too. Nobody gave up,'' he said. ``It's just unfortunate we came up short. It was a great year all the way around.''

From the day he was born, the 37-year-old left-hander seemed destined for baseball greatness. But this season he surpassed everyone's expectations — even his own.

He grew up in the company of giants, raised in major league clubhouses by his father Bobby, an All-Star outfielder, and spent time on the diamond with Mays, his godfather. Reggie Jackson is a distant cousin.

He became the 17th member of the exclusive 500-homer club on April 17.

On Sept. 9, Bonds hit Nos. 61, 62 and 63 at Coors Field in Colorado, surpassing Maris' mark and giving him the most homers in a single season by a left-handed hitter.

Since then, he has moved into seventh place on the career list with 566 home runs, three more than Jackson. Harmon Killebrew is in sixth place with 573.

The 10-time All-Star set the new home run record on just about four hours of sleep.

After swatting No. 70 on Thursday night, Bonds arrived in San Francisco early Friday, then attended the burial of close friend Franklin Bradley.

``I'm going to miss you Franklin,'' Bonds intoned after the game. ``You believed in me and I did it.''

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