Setting The Record by Don Angel

Babe Ruth 4 Roger Maris 4Mark McGwire 4 Barry Bonds, a set of names that will be forever intertwined and legendary for their home run prowress. Join Don Angel as he pays tribute to a part of this chain of sluggers:

"Case in point: the record-setting 73rd home run hit by San Francisco Giant Barry Bonds in the 2001 season. He did so with a maple bat—once thought too heavy for play—made by a Canadian upstart named Sam Holman, a former stagehand who founded the Original Maple Bat Co. out of his garage near Ottawa." - Carry a Big Stick in Forbes (April 2003)
Setting The Record

Written by Don Angel © in 10-2001

Published: Baseball Almanac (08-2003)

1998, Mark McGwire was the man.
Three years later would his 70 homeruns stand?
Coming home to the San Francisco Bay.
Three games with the Dodgers were left to play.
One more long ball would bring a new homerun king,
But Barry Bonds would rather have the ring.
Closing in on the record, Bonds has been walking as of late.
Los Angeles brought five runs across the plate.
During the first inning contest, Chan Ho Park would give it his all.
Bonds launched a 1-0 pitch over the right center-field wall.
Millions witness 71.
The Date — October 5, 2001
The night was still young,
His next at-bat was yet to come.
72 would be sent on it's way,
History was made twice today.
Joy would be short lived because of a Dodger's win,
The Giants playoff hopes would end.
Two days later we would see.
Homerun number 73.

Setting The Record by Don Angel ©



You may contact the author of this verse, Don Angel, and share your thoughts, memories, and opinions on his poem; or you can share your memories of the record setting moments you can recall on Baseball Fever.

Setting the Record pays tribute to the Mark McGwire / Barry Bonds occasion, but here are those who came before them:

Name

Years

Quantity

George Hall

1876-1878

5

Charley Jones

1879-1882

9

Harry Stovey

1883-1883

14

Ned Williamson

1884-1918

27

Babe Ruth

1919-1919

29

Babe Ruth

1920-1920

54

Babe Ruth

1921-1926

59

Babe Ruth

1927-1960

60

Roger Maris

1961-1997

61

Mark McGwire

1998-2000

70

Barry Bonds

2001-xxxx

73

This poem — Setting The Record — is a Baseball Almanac exclusive and appears here with expression written permission from the author.

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