After much debate and delay, Major League Baseball Commisioner, Bud Selig, announced that he will be in attendance when Barry Bonds ties and breaks Hank Aaron’s all time home run mark. Selig will follow Bonds unless it conficts with his previous commitment in Cooperstown for the Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
“Throughout this season, I have watched Barry Bonds’ pursuit of the home run record. Now that he is on the verge of tying the record, the time has come to announce that I will make every attempt to attend the record-setting moment.”
“Out of respect for the tradition of this game, the magnitude of the record, and the fact that all citizens in this country are innocent until proven guilty, I will attend Barry Bonds’ next games to observe his potential tying and breaking of the home run record, subject to my commitments to the Hall of Fame this weekend. I will make an additional statement when the record is tied.”
The day before Selig announced his intentions (July 23) USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported that even if Selig is there he won’t be taking part in any on-field ceremony or celebration.
Bud Selig might be in attendance when Barry Bonds breaks Henry Aaron’s all-time home run record, but the baseball commissioner will not move from his seat to participate in any on-field celebration, according to two people with knowledge of the decision.
Selig attended all three Giants games in his hometown of Milwaukee earlier this week, but remained undecided. He wasn’t there for San Francisco’s game Monday night following the series with the Brewers when Bonds could have broken or at least tied Aaron’s mark.
Selig told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinal that reports that he would not participate in any on-field celebration were incorrect.
“That’s just wrong… No decisions have been made. I said all along that the Giants would handle any celebration. I don’t know what they’re doing.”
