Another reason to not like Barry Bonds.

A few days ago it came to my attention that Barry Bonds might not donate all, or any, of his pieces of baseball history. Even with the steroid accusations, any home run balls, bats, jerseys, or other Bonds related memorabilia should probably be at Cooperstown. I think that even if Bonds records don't stand up to the steroid investigations he should still be at the Hall of Fame. Notice I didn't say IN the hall of fame. Pete Rose is AT the Hall of Fame right now. He is part of a display that talks about his betting in baseball. So even if Bonds loses the all-time home run record because he did steroids, which hasn't been proven yet, he should still be there relating to that subject.

On that note, Bonds is still a jerk. The Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY, is a museum. Museums are important cultural institutions that allow people to learn and connect with not only the past, but larger ideas and concepts. This might be my bias as a museum studies minor coming out, but I don't see this as a "Bonds v. MLB" type of argument. There is a much more important party involved in this.

That more important group is the fans, or another way of putting it is the people. The people who really lose from this are the people who someday want to connect with baseball history or teach their kids/grandkids about the rich history of the sport. Some people might say that Bonds isn't doing anything wrong and that he has the right to hold on to his stuff and they would technically be right. I think that Bonds has an obligation to donate the homerun ball and other items, not because Major League Baseball wants it, but because there might be fans that want to see it. After all, what is a player without the fans? Bonds might be hated by a large number of fans, but a large group loves him as well.

Let's say that he does keep everything for himself. Do you think that he is really just going to put it up in a display case at his house? I really wouldn't put it past him to start selling off certain items once he retires. That is part of what is wrong with sports though. The highest bidders are the ones who can afford to see the stuff. No one would ever get to see the baseball that broke the most hallowed record in the sport, because either Bonds or some incredibly wealthy person has it stashed at their house.

Bonds said last week, " Doesn't everybody have the right to decide to do it or not do it?" and the answer is yes, everybody does have the right to decide. But he can't complain about lack of fan or media support when he gives so little regard to anyone but himself. Bonds also said, "I'm not worried about the Hall. I take care of me." but it's not about the hall! It's about Bonds caring (even in the slightest) about the people that keep him employed. Not MLB, not the Giants, but the fans.