Weird and Creepy
There was a time that I really enjoyed BLB Jr.'s play. That was 15-20 years ago. In fact, I actually owned a cotton replica unnumbered button-down Pirates jersey -- the Pirates were fun to watch, the Yanks sucked at the time. I cheered for the Buccos against the budding dynasty that was the Braves. I marvelled at this talented skinny dude, BLB Jr. who had all the tools, the glove, the D, the incredible hitting ability.
I didn't feel like I needed to necessarily weigh in on the whole 755+1 thing -- I just will provide a few observations at why I am not so eager to celebrate this accomplishment.
His career numbers basically illustrate it out, in a ridiculous way. If you cut his career down the middle -- he had hit 292 when he was 30, or in his 10th season. By comparison, ARod who hit his 500th today hit 464 by the time he was 30.
BLB Jr., by all accounts and measures, at the time he signed with the SFG in 1993, was certainly in the discussion for best player in the game, along with GriffeyJr. at the time. Was there any reason to believe he would hit another 464 over the most recent 12 seasons?
It's funny because when I was growing up, I found it hard to accept that people grow old, their talent goes away. A study by GustavusAdophusUniversity found that for most of the great HR hitters (those with 500+ HRs), their peak of home run hitting performance happens between their 6th and 10th seasons. This conforms with the common sense, "believe what your eyes see" approach -- players rise, have a peak/prime, then decline
If we accept the conclusions of the well-researched GameOfShadows, BLB Jr. had a whole regimen of performance enhancers that he was on. The absolutely unbelievable aspect of this whole story is that BLB Jr. was a HOF first balloter even without the "assistance".
Deep inside, as sports fans, we hope to see amazing things, good competition, and we want to believe what our eyes see -- that's why things like the whole NBA gambling ref fiasco and the breaking of the career HR record shake the confidence of this common fan to the core.
The man with 755 was by all accounts a great player -- consistent beyond belief, never had a 50 or more HR season -- just year after year putting up 40s, into his 40s. His career numbers are a testament to consistent performance.
The man with 755+1 obviously let his own personal vanity get in the way. How can you tarnish a sure thing HOF career, one that was arguably going to go down as best player of a generation, without "assistance". I find the vanity of trying to a) break the single season mark -- motivated by jealousy of Mac&Sammy's popularity, and b) tarnish the all-time HR record with questions, clouds, and controversy -- it's all just creepy and weird.
Did we all love BLB Jr. more for these things? Make no mistake about it, the guy can hit, probably has the best "eye" for reading pitches ever, just look at his career walks -- amazing.
We should be celebrating this achievement -- I just feel like vomiting in my mouth over this whole thing because it is clear that one man's pursuit from being a top 5 baseball player in a generation to become an all-time baseball god was so misguided and selfish.
And at the end of the day, less fans like him ... and the great game is tarnished for selfish reasons.