Juan: Barry, sweet, sweet, barry

411 HRS, 445 SB, 1216 RBI, 1360 BB, .290 BA, .495 OBP, 7 Gold Gloves, 3 MVPs and 8 All-Star appearences. 4 30/30 seasons, 1 40/40. Led league in OPS 4 times, Slg. 3 times, and BB 5 times. The only player is history to have 400 HR and 400 SB.

These are Barry Bonds career number through 1998. (13 seasons) That is when the Chronicle's writers claim that Barry began using HGH and steroids. There should be no discussion about being worth of cooperstown. There is no relative argument against him. Quick comparison with other OF H of F members.

Mel Ott:
511 HR, 89 SB, 1860 RBI, 1708 BB, .304 BA, .414 OBP
Kirby Puckett (I know, bad timing, good guy, short life RIP)
207 HR, 134 SB, 1085 RBI, 450 BB, .318 BA, .360 OBP
Willie Stargell:
475 HR, 17 SB, 1540 RBI, 937 BB, .282 BA, .360 OPB

Only Willie Strgell won an MVP, he tied with Keith Hernandez in 1979. As baseball goes, the numbers speaks for themselves. To Puckett's defense, he only played 12 years because he woke up in 1996 not able to see due to pre-mature glaucoma.

We could talk to hours about why the media never attacked McGwire. Or how everyone voted for Giambi for the Comeback Player of the Year Award even though he came back from a gland problem due to excessive steroid abuse. Or Palmeiro lying in front of congress under oath. Or that there are pitchers in the H of F that were known for spitballs which have always been illegal. Or about the media's grudge against Bonds. But I digress.

The point is this: In baseball the numbers are all that matters. I don't care who you are, where you played or what kind of person you are. The stats from the 60s were said to be inflated versus the 20s. the 20s to the 1900s. That is what makes baseball the greatest sport. Do not let the media continue to tear down our sport. Don't listen to the nay-sayers who talk down about the WBC and won't vote for Palmeiro. Baseball will rise again. The world is what matters, not what American writers have to say. Baseball will reach the heights of soccer and beyond no matter how hard they try to push it down.