Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Saturday Morning News

Barry Bonds Hits 72nd Home-Run of the Season

Aired October 06, 2001 - 11:53   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Move over, Mark McGuire, Major League Baseball has a new home run king. Barry Bonds belted number 71 in his first plate appearance last night against the L.A. Dodgers. He drove a 1-0 pitch from Chen Ho Park into the right center field seats, securing his place in the record books. But as the fans soon found out, Bonds was in no mood to stop at 71.

Bonds went deep again later in the game, slamming number 72 off the same pitcher. However, the night was bittersweet for the San Francisco slugger, the Giants lost the game 11 to 10 and are now officially out of the pennant race.

Let's talk more about sports. America has been so consumed by the terrorist attacks that sports had sidelined a bit. But that's changing thanks to Barry Bonds and some others. Joining me is Ken Rosenthal of "Sporting News."

Hi, Ken.

KEN ROSENTHAL, "Sporting News": Good morning.

PHILLIPS: All right, so what do you think? At the end of the weekend, will he make 80?

ROSENTHAL: Well, it's a big weekend no question about it. And Barry Bonds, what he did last night, was huge. Enormous accomplishment 10 years ago was hitting 50 home runs. Now, in the last four years, we've had six 60-home run seasons. Now, two 70-home run seasons. And you wonder when this is going to end, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Ken, what do you think it's done for Americans right now, specifically right now in this time?

ROSENTHAL: Well, I think baseball is a diversion for American's right now and it diverts attention for people who are thinking, of course, about more serious things that are going on in the country and in the world. And really, sports is exactly where it should be, just giving people an entertainment outlet and not doing anything more than that. That's where it should be and where it stands right now.

PHILLIPS: A little slice of American pie. All right, let's back to Bonds for a moment here. He's usually a little weak kneed under pressure, that's been the situation in the past. But this year, boy, he hasn't been weak kneed at all. ROSENTHAL: Well, what's amazing about this season is it's not just the home runs. Of course, 72 home runs is a record, but he's going to set the National League slugger percentage record by almost - or more than a 100 points. He's going to set the All-Time Slugger percentage record. He's got the All-Time Walks record. Home run frequency, all of these things, he's accomplishing. Just a tremendous season, a historic season for Barry Bonds.

PHILLIPS: You talk about historic. Cal Ripken closing out. Tony Gwynn closing out. In a general sense, what's baseball losing here?

ROSENTHAL: It's a huge baseball weekend and Gwynn and Ripken, two of the all-time greats, of course, in their own ways and two legends, two ambassadors of the game. Ripken plays his final game of his career tonight in Baltimore. Gwynn does the same thing tomorrow in San Diego.

And these are two guys who spent their entire careers with one team. As I said, they've been great ambassadors and just gentlemen for baseball to say good-bye to over this weekend.

PHILLIPS: I grew up in San Diego. Gwynn, both of the brothers, the Gwynn brothers, what nice guys, yes?

ROSENTHAL: Yes, Tony Gwynn really is a special person. His laugh is infectious and he's one of the great interviews for media people. And hey, as a player, he was the elite hitter of this generation - eight batting titles. He set standards that are going to be really hard for people to pass. And a lot of people in San Diego, because he went to San Diego, grew up in Long Beach, have a special affection for Gwynn.

PHILLIPS: All right, you know, I've got to ask this question because CNN is headquartered in Atlanta. The Braves, first team to win 10 division titles in a row. What do you think?

ROSENTHAL: Well, 10 division titles in a row is a huge accomplishment. And the Braves have taken some heat over the years because they haven't won more World Series, just the one. But the key test for any Major League team is how they perform in the regular season. That's the first thing you look to when you're building a team and they've done it 10 straight years. This is not the best Braves team but they go into the post season. Who knows, maybe this will be the year they win another World Series.

PHILLIPS: Cal Ripken, what does he do now relative to baseball?

ROSENTHAL: Well, Cal Ripken's going to go into a lot of programs that he is very involved in with youth baseball. He's building or helping build a complex in his hometown of Aberdeen, Maryland. A youth baseball complex, minor league park. It's a huge project. He's contributing upwards of $11 million of his money to it. And he's going to be involved with Babe Ruth Baseball and youth baseball on a very big level.

PHILLIPS: It doesn't surprise me. Ken Rosenthal with "Sporting News." Thank you so much.

ROSENTHAL: Thanks.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com