Padres Fan Catches Bonds' Home Run Ball
Adam Hughes Says He's "Pretty Ecstatic" About Ending Up With Record-Tying Ball
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Bonds Ties The Hammer
Finally catching up to "The Hammer," Barry Bonds hits his 755th career home run to tie Hank Aaron's record.
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Bonds Hits 755
Barry Bonds hit his 755th career home run after an eight-day slump. He has tied the most hallowed record in sports set by Hank Aaron. Bill Whitaker reports.
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Adam Hughes, 33, of San Diego talks about catching San Francisco Giants Barry Bonds 755th home run ball against the San Diego Padres after their Major League Baseball in San Diego, Saturday, Aug. 4, 2007. (AP)
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San Francisco Giants' Barry Bonds watches the flight of his home run, his 755th, during the second inning of their Major League Baseball game against the San Diego Padres in San Diego, Saturday, Aug. 4, 2007. With the hit, Bonds caught Hank Aaron and tied the career home run record. (AP Photo/ Kevork Djansezian)
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San Diego Padres starting pitcher Clay Hensley throws against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning of their Major League Baseball game in San Diego, Saturday, Aug. 4, 2007. In the second inning, Hensley threw the pitch that Giants' Barry Bonds hit for his 755th career home run. (AP Photo/ Chris Park)
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Photo Essay
Hounding "The Hammer"
Follow Barry Bonds' pursuit of Hank "The Hammer" Aaron's home run record.
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Barry Bonds
Follow the career of the embattled baseball star
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Boys Of Summer
Swing and don't miss this interactive on baseball history, Barry Bonds' pursuit of home run milestones, and a look back at past World Series matchups.
"I'm pretty ecstatic," said Adam Hughes, a 33-year-old plumber from suburban La Jolla. "I just happened to be in the right place at the right time."
Did he ever.
Bonds hit No. 755 Saturday night, tying him with Hank Aaron as baseball's most prolific home run hitter. He sent a fastball from San Diego's Clay Hensley the opposite way into the lower left-field seats at Petco Park to lead off the second inning.
"I was kind of rooting for it," Hughes said. "As Barry Bonds said, records are made to be broken. It was quite an accomplishment."
The ball clanged off an advertising sign attached to the upper deck and fell into the seats below.
"I saw it hit above me and came down on the ground," a still dazed Hughes said. "I was at the back of the pile. I pretty much jumped up and said, 'I got it!"'
The ball traveled an estimated 382 feet in the direction of Hughes, who was in the front row with his cousin Justin Marquardt. They got the tickets through Hughes' mother, who bought them from a friend.
The specially marked ball was immediately authenticated by major league officials.
Bonds and Hughes didn't speak when they crossed paths at a post-game news conference.
"He's probably anxious to go out and celebrate with his family," Hughes said.
And Hughes' plans?
"Just go home and lay awake for hours thinking, 'Why me? How did I get so lucky?"'

Speaking about his own performance, the San Francisco slugger said, "The hard part is over right now."
"This is the hardest thing I've had to do in my entire career," he said. "I had rashes on my head, I felt like I was getting sick at times."
High above the field in a private box, Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig was a reluctant witness to history. Choosing to overlook the steroid allegations that have dogged Bonds, Selig watched with hands stuffed in pockets and nary a cheer on his lips.
"No matter what anybody thinks of the controversy surrounding this event, Mr. Bonds' achievement is noteworthy and remarkable," Selig said in a statement.
Hank Aaron was not in attendance. The Hall of Famer is not following the chase in person.
© MMVII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.



waste of the fans time...
cheaters are just that!
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Thisandthat1: Bonds was a great player in the 90's before he started using steroids.
sad sad little man
I wonder why? I must have been something he ate.
I wonder why? I must have been something he ate.
Posted by Stezzer at 06:57 PM : Aug 05, 2007
or something he injected?
LOL
You poor guy.
Must be sad that Babe Ruth of the 'white league' got left in the dust, yes? LO
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by hungry1968
August 5, 2007 11:33 PM PDT
- Who the hell was Babe Ruth (with his racist record) once Aaron passed his total?
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Reply to this comment
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See all 17 CommentsRuth racist record is not an American record; it is a white supremacist record.
Posted by Agnim at 09:31 PM : Aug 05, 2007
Babe Ruth set the record through his batting ability.
Henry Aaron's batting ability was a little bit better, allowing him to break the record.
Bonds was able to break the record, (he wasn't a bad hitter early in his career), but to make sure he broke the record he turned to "illicit substances".
Whether it was within the rules or not - there is no doubt that he used "performance enhancing substances" to break the record. Even if it's not against the rules, it clearly is a violation of moral standards. (Which means republicans probably won't have a problem with it.)