Maybe This is What It's About

I would like to offer my congratulations to Barry Bonds on becoming baseball's career home run leader. It is a great accomplishment, which required skill, longevity, and determination. Throughout the past century, the home run has held a special place in baseball, and I have been priviledge to hold this record for 33 of those years. I'll move over now, and offer my best wishes to Barry and his family on this historical achievement, My hope today, as it was on that April evening in 1974, is that the achievement of this record will inspire others to chase their own dream. - Hank Aaron

On August 7, 2007, Barry Bonds hit his 756th career home run at Mays Field, passing Hank Aaron as the new home run leader. It was truly one of the greatest moments in all of sports, one that will now be shown countless times, as is the video of Hank Aaron trotting around the bases with two long-haired fans.

At 8:51 PM, Mike Bacsik gave up Barry's 756th home run. He went back to the dugout to collect himself, but listened to Barry's emotional speech and Hank Aaron's message. Bacsik is the son of another former Major Leaguer, a pitcher of the same name, Michael Bacsik. Bacsik Sr. faced Aaron two months after Aaron hit 755, but did not yield 756. During the press conference, Bacsik Jr. addressed the questions from the media, in essence saying, "There's no shame in giving up a home run to Barry Bonds." He had a demeanor about him, one of friendly acknowledgment that he and Bonds would forever be joined in history.

In that moment, he became a child again.

Every record, every accomplishment, every milestone, is built up by a number of smaller things, seemingly insignificant in the light of the achievement itself. During his interview with Mike Krukow and his press conference after the game, Barry said he applied one piece of advice from his father, Bobby Bonds, that is, to load his back leg. During the 10 minute on-field celebration, Barry lost himself when he thanked his father. He doubled over, but with his fist still pointed toward the night sky, his voiced choked and teary.

Number 756 did not just break a record. It turned the 43,000 at Mays Field and the millions at home watching into a human again, a child again. In one moment, people of both the younger generation and the older generation were united in that simple, pure, untroubled happiness only a child experiences.

And maybe that's what so great about the game. It humanizes us, it touches the child-like awe and appreciation for the great in us. Maybe that was what Bonds and Bacsik were feeling last night. Maybe that is what keeps us, the children of baseball, together.