SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -The Hall of Fame is getting all kinds of 756 collectibles from Barry Bonds’ history-making night.
Bonds handed over his batting helmets from his 755th homer Saturday as well as from No. 756 that he hit Tuesday night to break Hank Aaron’s 33-year-old record – and that’s just the start.
Hall of Fame vice president Jeff Idelson headed home to the East Coast on Wednesday with a shopping bag in his right hand holding the carefully protected helmets. He also received three game-used baseballs: one signed by the Giants’ starting nine and manager Bruce Bochy; one signed by the Washington Nationals’ starters and manager Manny Acta; and the third signed by the umpiring crew.
In addition, home-plate umpire John Hirschbeck offered up the indicator he used to call balls and strikes in the game. Idelson had some dirt from around home plate, tickets and the score sheet used by San Francisco broadcaster Duane Kuiper. Idelson was waiting on lineup cards and a base or home plate to be sent from both Bonds’ 755th and 756th homers.
Most of it was headed straight to Cooperstown, N.Y.
“It will be on display Friday morning when the museum opens,” Idelson said.
For Idelson, leaving San Francisco with so much stuff was a feat in itself. He had been following Bonds’ games for a week with the hope the slugger would be cooperative. He met with the slugger for 40 minutes back in late June before a game to discuss Bonds’ plans.
The uniform Aaron wore when he became home run king didn’t arrive to the Hall until well after he retired – and Idelson knew Bonds might be slow in sending his stuff from the milestone.
Hammerin’ Hank tied Babe Ruth’s 714 on opening day 1974, then broke the record with No. 715 four days later. Aaron’s last home run came on July 20, 1976, at now-demolished County Stadium in Milwaukee – during his 23rd and final major league season.
Around 35,000 artifacts are shown and stored in the Hall of Fame. About a dozen are connected to Bonds, and 30 to Aaron.
Currently in the Hall, there is a bat from Bonds’ rookie year in 1986 and spikes from when he became the first player with 400 homers and 400 stolen bases. Unsolicited, he sent the bat and ball from his 2,000th hit. A batting practice bat from the 2002 World Series was the last thing Bonds donated before now.
Add A Comment