Hank Aaron On Barry Bonds' Use Of Steroids: 'It's Hard For Me To Digest' | TODAY
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- Опубликовано: 12 фев 2020
- Baseball legend Hank Aaron sat down with Craig Melvin for a wide-ranging conversation about his rise from the Negro Leagues and how he wants to be remembered. Asked about Barry Bonds, Aaron says he still considers him a home-run king despite breaking his record aided by steroids.
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#HankAaron #BarryBonds #TodayShow
Hank Aaron On Barry Bonds' Use Of Steroids: 'It's Hard For Me To Digest' | TODAY
Rest in peace! Such a great player. Wish I got to watch him play
He is not dead
Oh sorry I thought you meant barry bonds
"Bob Costas EXPOSES Barry Bonds' STEROIDS & HGH!"
Stay natural buddy!
Class personified. A true American legend and treasure. Absolutely one of the greatest stories of the twentieth century. Love to see him interviewed. He deserves MUCH more praise from all Americans.
I didn’t know it’s classy to take greenies, cause that’s not cheating right? Lmao.
The ball looks like a volleyball to him, but that’s not an advantage?
I can foresee the response now..... “not like steroids’ advantage” lmao
The world just lost a truly great human being
if you take away his 755 HRs he still has 3000 hits
alien observer and?
@alien observer and Bonds hit .298. Mays hit .302. Do you know how hard it is to hit 300? Especially given that Aaron played in the golden age of pitching.
@alien observer amphetamines dont do anything but wake a person up. It's like drinking 3 cups of coffee. Ted Williams didnt play during the golden age of pitching. He retired in 1960 before the strike zone was widened. And when did William's bat against the likes of Drysdale, Koufax, Gibson, Marichal? Was Williamd a better hitter than Aaron? Absolutely but if you think Williams would have ended up with a .344 average had he played through the 60s, you're delusional. Musial was a better hitter in terms of average but he didnt have Aarons power. Also Musial played two years in the golden age of pitching which, for the record was 1962-68. Aaron dominated that stretch. Wider strike zone and higher pitching mound and Aaron still gave every pitcher headaches.
alien observer your point being? He had 3,771 hits. He first in RBIs. He never struck out more than 100 times per year. You just cannot get better than this naturally, if you know what I mean.
You act as if steroids don't help your misses and grounders rocket through the infield. Its cheating
Such class. Unbelievable. The talent combined with the humility--you do not find that anymore. RIP, Mr. Aaron.
"Well.....I'm with you"
Bruh I choked on my spit
That's a great laugh - 1:40
Hank Aaron would be HOF worthy without a single Home Run, look at his other numbers!
Absolutely. Not only a tremendous, tremendous, ball-player but class and grace personified.
Now, how hits would Bonds have without all of his 762 home runs?
@@J_Ru31352 still over 2000 he deserves to be in the hof
Hank Wouldn't have one hit if he faced Mariano and other pitchers in this era Hank was hitting 70-80MPH from weak pitchers in his era
@@sinchman1 and he played in the 70’s they were throwing 92-93
RIP Hammerin' Hank
He was the 1st player I met in 1967 and I will always remember him for being nice to all of us kids who were his fans in Atlanta. I remember being sad when parents said we were moving to Florida only to be happy when I grandfather told me that the Braves did spring training in West Palm Beach only a few files from our house. Hank Aaron will always be the greatest to me.
I know he's too much of a gentleman to diss Balco Barry, but in my eyes, Henry Aaron is still the Home Run King.
How priviledged of you to think you can say what he really means. Take the man at his word.
Anyone can be a superhero with steroids 💉💉💉💉💊
Aaron #1 in home runs and humility.
@@twisterroot2470 who is the all-time home run king is not a matter of opinion, Bonds hit more than anyone in MLB history.
Bonds, Baseball's home run king, never admitted to using PEDs and never tested positive. And it looks like Aaron bulked up over his career as well but that is never mentioned is it?
Never hit 50 hrs in a season yet still managed to break Ruth's record incredible. I was lucky to have seen him play.
It’s called longevity young padawan
Needed 4,000 more at bats than Ruth to hit 41 more homers. Had the Babe had as many chances, would have hit 1,055 homers! Not taking anything away from Aaron, but apples and oranges.
@@bobriedel3277 yeah but the pitching during Mr Aaron’s time was light years and more complex then Ruth’s time. Have to factor that in as well
@@cashmerethoughts8096 just about any of the other greats played as long as Aaron did, only for Aaron to remained productive throughout his 23 years unlike some others. No need to try downplaying Hank Aaron's greatness as though he was just consistent to played a long time simply by breaking a all time HR record of Ruth's. Hank Aaron was and is truly one of the all time greats to ever play the game of major league baseball... Period!
@@bobriedel3277 No one can ever what The Babe coulda done if he played in Hank Aaron's era for the seasons to remained longer when Aaron played due to league expansion plus for games going from 154 to 162. And, if Ruth coulda really produced insurmountable numbers to never get eclipsed, he woulda done it facing weaker pitching in his era, than Aaron had facing dominant pitching, especially coming from the NL. Plus, Aaron stayed healthy the longer he remained playing unlike Ruth into his latter years.
Hank Aaron was a great one...but I disagree with him on Bonds and Rose
From Cincinnati so I totally agree
Juicing is cheating.
hank used to take speed, so did willie mays, both banned peds today, both self admitted
@@iamjp1 that's why he dodged the question if he took anything with a joke. It's also why he is pro Bonds because he knows everyone was taking their choice of enhancers.
61 is the clean record Roger still the man !
Pete Rose deserves to be in the Hall of fame
Absolutely not. When one bets on a game in which he either plays or manages, there is the cloud of suspicion that he cheated to lose.
@Nimfa McDonald it is what baseball rules state and for a good reason. The integrity of the game is stained when a player or manager bets on a game. Your little crush on Pete Rose does not change the facts.
No he doesn’t. He’s a lier who sacrificed the integrity of the game. Not only when he was a player but a manager!
Pete Rose never bet on a game he lost
@@abqnm8811
A real classy MAN-- He is the home run KING
Sorry, Hank, but you had 800 more games and much smaller ballparks. Babe is still King!👑
Same field size + Aaron had to face tougher pitching
@@CosmicStar3Yeh Most of them were Sobre unlike the in the time of Ruth .
in the early 1990s i had a chance to meet and talk with hank aaron at length as a 12 year old boy at a baseball card show and i have met alot of players in my lifetime Him and Ozzie Smith are probably the two most down to earth likeable guys you will ever talk to or meet. I was saddened to hear of hanks passing last month and he will always be remembered as a baseball legend but also a baseball pioneer
The real home run king....hammering hank Aaron
Not not to Hank Aaron to him it's barry bonds
@@RobandDaveLPs roiders don't count
@@RobandDaveLPs you should know that
DA HAMMER
@@tonyanthonyfowler legitimately great players should count towards all time records
Thank god Barry bonds brought the home run record back to the greats for so long it was associated with the most overrated baseball player of all time.
Hammering Hank Accumulator as I call him
Hank Aaron is one of the greatest players of all time. Every homer is legit. All of his homers were all heart and muscle!!
Hank is still the all time MLB home run leader.
If a lot of those cheaters are allowed in the HOF then Pete Rose should be in because he was every bit as good of a player as any of those steroid clowns or guys who cheated in other ways, no question
As long as he was betting on his own team to win and not throwing the game to win money.
Betting leads to many problems, whether Pete Rose bet on his team or not is irrelevant, he broke the rules and the penalty is lifetime ban.
@@josecarranza7555 Agreed...
@@stewartgoodwin9488 irrelevant point...As..."NOT BETTING ON YOUR TEAM," can be construed as a signal that the fix to lose is in...and someone else places a bet on the fixers behalf...Think about it...
I love how some people justify it is ok for cheaters but Rose.. nah he can't get in.. Even the way Hank says it.. you cannot say one thing is worse than the other in this case.. THEY ALL CHEATED THE GAME! PERIOD! No one gets in.. and the HOF should absolutely have stipulations in place that if later they find out someone cheated and there's evidence of it.. that person is then removed from the HOF.. end of story. Biggio admitted on camera to taking supplements.. have 2 of the best seasons of his career and then swore off the stuff.. still.. he got in.. he shouldn't be. But sure lets all look past cheaters.. same with the Astros cheating.. nothing happens.. baseball did nothing.. and end result is.. game continues on.. even If they don't play in 2020.. the game moves forward with no new rules.. nothing.. and that is why when people say Sosa/McGwire saved baseball.. I say that is officially when the game as everyone knew it.. died.. it hasn't been good since.
Henry Aaron is the true homerun leader of MLB. He was also a great man, having to overcome despicable racism on his road to greatness. Rest in peace, Hank.
Absolutely.
His RBI total was his most unrecognized great achievement even though it's one of the three parts of the triple crown stats.
12 year old me: Hank Aaron is my home run champ!
58 year old me: You got that right.
Craig, so glad you had a chance to meet Henry! Your interview shows his kindness, humility and personality (I’ll so miss his laugh and smiling face). Great work ... Carla Koplin Cohn aka Jenn Cohn’s mother
25 seconds (3:30-3:55) perfectly sum up this classy legend! And he is absolutely still the home run king!
Hank Aaron Played 23 Years. Barry Bonds Played Major League Baseball for 22 Years. Aaron was There back then, He should know if Anyone Else Cheated, and They Still Made the HOF. Barry Bonds appeared at the Ball Park and the Plate. He Broke the Record and Hit 6 More Home Runs after Breaking the Record the last Month of the Season. He had the Best Walk, Intentional, and Highest Walk Rate in the History of MLB. He would have Hit More Home Runs after Breaking Hank Aaron Home Run Record, and if They had Pitched to Him.
Totally free with his responses, honest and kind... rare person!
Mr. Aaron you are the greatest all time. No one will ever convince me otherwise.
Agreed. When I watch Hank speak, I experience humility. When I watch Bonds speak, I experience arrogance. What did Aaron do when Bonds hit number 756? He made a public congratulations via satellite at SF stadium, congratulating Bonds. Class act Aaron is.
@@davidgriffin1967 Admittedly ten years ago you and I could have gone on for days, but I've softened a bit on my Bonds critique. At minimum I think he's paid for his actions in some capacity which is more than I can say for several others. They are truly a contrast: Aaron's humility at times I feel costs him getting the credit he deserves, but I don't think that drove him at all. The result? High praise from guys like you and me, and far too often overlooked/disrespected. Bonds? His need to not only be the best, but acknowledged as such tarnished his achievements. This probably haunts him greatly on one of his many boats or private airplanes. Sad.
Thx for the great interview.
Pete Rose made bets that his team would WIN. How can that be considered so bad. Yea he broke a rule, but come on, he is every bit as good as Hank Aaron. Maybe the best hitter to ever pick up a bat
Because of the insinuation that Cincinnati played harder in games when he bet on them as opposed to games when he didn’t. I’m not necessarily agreeing with it, but I’m repeating what many former players have said at signings and trade shows over the years.
He used his bullpen differently on the days he bet on the reds vs the days he didn't (& depending on the amount he placed).
He was banned by the MLB. Bonds, Clemens were not even found to he breaking rules.
And Hank did so much for baseball as a civil rights leader and the Home Run King. To me, the true Home Run King.
The Record is Henry's.....Period.
It’s wild that Hank Aaron is still underrated. Whenever top hitters ever are discussed I’ve never seen him as top 5.
agree. his stats are mind blowing
Because he played in Atlanta. I mean. It's shade. But it's also true.
@@towertito2149 he did win a World Series with them though, but I don’t know how good they were other years
Hey Craig, read his biography. I read it in junior high school. this man worked hard to get where he got. it is a good read
Just read his biography. What a legend.
Barry Bonds was a great ballplayer. But for me, Henry Aaron will always be the home run king. Aaron did it all with distinction by tremendous skill and hard work alone. And he was a total class act from day one, as a ballplayer and as a man.
Mr. Aaron R.I.P. You inspired a lot of African Americans and myself who wanted to be a Ball Player Thank You SiR for sharing your Talent
We can all root for Mookie Betts and the Dodgers if we don't make it ✊🏿👏🏿
@@David.lovesU no mookie betts is stupid screw that guy
Hank was 5-11, 180 lbs his whole career. He averaged 37 HRs a year. Until someone brakes the record with a consistent annual HR total rather than a few bloated years I won't acknowledge their record.
Yes the same weight not like Barry Bonds who gained 60 pounds because of steriods
Barry is built like a long distance runner now lol
In my book. Hank Aaron is the home run king of all time. And he always will be. He is a class act and wonderful ambassador to the game of baseball.
@ Well he needed to do something to cope with all the racism he never deserved.
Eh Ruth cheated, Aaron prolly cheated, bonds cheated, Mays probably cheated too. who cares at this point
Angree Grizlee HI ALIEN OBSERVER!!! Ruth was on alcohol all the time, he was an alcoholic. that’s cheating.
Sadaharu Oh is the all time homerun king with 868 homeruns.
Must've flunked most of your math classes. I could have sworn that 762 > 755.
There is no "in my book." One has more than the other.
Really though, the professional baseball Home Run King is Sadaharu Oh. I'm sure we're talking about Major League Baseball, though.
RIP to the TRUE Home Run King!!!
One of the GOAT
betting no hall of fame? steroids hall of fame?
I appreciate Craig Melvin's rationale. particularly when it comes to the logic that cheating one way verses another grants more leniency
Pete Rose admitted years ago to betting on baseball; he's been out of the game for 30 years. I guess MLB thinks being banished for 30 years isn't deterrent enough.
Pete Rose and Barry Bonds should be in the Hall of Fame
I agree with that statement I think Barry Bonds should be in Hall of fame
He is never getting in.
As Sandy said..."I hated to face Bad Henry ".... And, as the late,great, Eddie Mathews said..."Henry did everything Willie did...But his hat stayed on.."....🏆 🌟🌟 🌟 🌟MR. HANK AARON...HE HAD A HAMMER !!!...ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVORITES !!..🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟🏆
lol this dude tried so hard to make hank bash on bonds
and in private, Hank might say something different, but he's from that generation where you don't speak ill of someone publicly.
@@ronfowlermusic why would he say barry should be a hall of famer then? one thing to not speak poorly, another to praise and advocate for.
@@ronfowlermusic he also went on to make a full case why, explaining the double standard on cheaters and it doesn't really make sense to me that he would just be doing that to be classy. and no offense to hank lol he's the best ever but him and willie mays are both self admitted speed users during their careers which would be a 60 game suspension today haha.
@@iamjp1 his reason why was admitted by hank Aaron when he said “ Barry was a great ball player “
Aaron knew how insanely specially and dominant Barry bonds was, undoubtedly better than him though for some reason that would be a hot take
nice interview !
I agree Hank, you are the best.
A true legend. Respect for this gentleman is underrated!
Hank Aaron was 100% correct. Barry should be in because Hank knows guys were taking all kinds of stuff and nobody ever cared. It's a double standard. Plus Hank probably took greenies himself. He is also right about Pete Rose because Rose knowingly broke the rules and the MLB punished him. Bonds was never caught or penalized by MLB. That means something.
RIP Hammerin Hank 🙏
The real home run king. RIP
The true champ - with no asterisks
He cheated as while dont be stupid he is a pure cheater
@@aldinewestfield5821 proof?
Aldine Westfield are you calling hank Arron a cheater or Barry bonds?
Hank aaron believe that Barry Bonds deserves the records I would feel the same way
Anyone who CHEATS the game of baseball in any way or form, Shouldn't be in the H.O.F. PERIOD!
Bonds should not be credited with ANY stats while he was on steroids. His records are completely meaningless.
Wrong, Bonds Showed Up at the Ball Park and Showed Out at the Plate.
The REAL home run KING!!!
755 > 762. That mathematical equation must haunt Barry Bonds every day.
Why, That's the Home Run Record, Regardless.
Class Act ! RIP HENRY 😪
Henry Aaron was a class act.
Hank was the greatest. Period. Now can we talk about the yellow glasses?
RIP Henry. You're still an inspiration.
They moved the fences in from 1969 to 1975 in Atlanta which allowed Hank Aaron to pass Babe Ruth. After he retired, the fences were moved back out. Without the distance being shortened, Hank probably would have hit around 650 HR’s.
To Robert Arnold - I looked into this and the moving of the fences in Atlanta - first it was from 1969 to 1973 only and then by 10 ft for left- center from 385 to 375. and left field was unchanged at 330. But you must remember that the Babe played with that short right-field porch both at the Polo Grounds and at Yankee Stadium. Polo Grounds was 258 at the right field line and then expanded way out to 400+ to right-center (it had a weird shape) and Yankee stadium was 295 down the line and about 360 in right-center in the 1920s. So to me this comes out as a wash as both players benefited from shorter fences. If anything I would say the Babe benefited for longer than Hank from shorter fences when it comes to playing on their home field.
@@jmslaforzadeldestino4943 Interesting, I did not know that about the fences in Atlanta.
True professional and class. Strongest hands and wrists naturally.
Aaron is still better than Barry Bonds and he never cheated on the game period!!!!!
3:56 THOSE GLASSES??? LOL LOL LOL
Hank is still the home run king to me
Hank Aaron is still the Home Run King
Still don’t understand why rose can’t be in the hall
Heaven is for Heroes. May He R.I.P.
Dislikes because they said that he is widely considered one of the best ever, he is one of the best ever
It's crazy to think that he considers Barry the home run king. I consider hank the greatest of all time. He was leaps and bounds above everyone else without drugs. Its not even a question that hes the greatest
Hmmm, yes it is a (question).
Hank was a very nice and classy guy.
What a classy gentleman he was. One of the all-time greats, for sure. Him and Frank Robinson were the two best RF ever (It's sort of hard to judge Babe Ruth since he played so long ago). I actually agree with Hank, ever so reluctantly about Bonds, etc. However, as Howard Bryant said in Ken Burns' Baseball, we should design a wing of the HOF and have a sign indicating that all the inductees here (Including pitchers, like Clemens) took PEDs.
I know he really didn't have much choice in saying that Bonds is the home run king now and that he should be in the hall of fame. Aaron is the true home run king.
Put BARRY BONDS in the Hall of Fame(Shame)where he Belongs!!!
Integrity of the game... please dont support cheaters, no Roids players in the Hall.
He is okay with it because he knew Barry Bonds dad and the probably the entire family. Pete Rose, without hesitation was a big NO! When Bonds was ready to break Ruths record , the living relatives of Ruth declined to participate do to steroid allegations . The son's of Roger Maris still thinks he should have the single season record because it was tainted by a few steroid junkies.
Dark Knight yes but not to the extent or extreme of Barry Bonds.
@@jgod1341 Bonds is a mooncricket
His thing was. He rather have Bonds than McGwire and Sosa takes his homer run crown.
I understand what Hank Aaron is saying. There were players that used steroids and it didn't improve their game at all. Steroids only help you recover from injury and workouts quicker. The talent and the gift has to be there . Steroids don't improve your hand and eye coordination. That gift has to be there. Barry Bonds studied the game. Barry Bonds put in the training and hard work. Barry Bonds deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. Mike Piazza admitted to PED usage which was sold during his era at GNC vitamin stores. PED was banned but because testing for it wasn't done by MLB during Piazza's time, Piazza was allowed into the Hall of Fame. You can't pick and choose people's hard work and training efforts just because you don't like Bonds, Sosa or Acquire. Babe Ruth played on the smallest baseball field in major league baseball. So he had an unfair disadvantage than players today. Jeff Bagwell and Ivan Rodriguez are suspected of using performance enhancing drugs and they are in the Hall of Fame. Maybe the real problem isn't the players, but the committee itself.
I wore #44 because of this guy!
He was a class act. Old school player. I do disagree with him about cheaters.
Hank was one of the great.
True 🐐
Rip
Man... Bonds should be in the hall but Rose shouldn’t? Not a fan of that take
Babe Ruth is the best ever. Hank aaron is still one of the greatest to ever play no doubt.
TRU!!! Hank has 3000+ more plate appearances than Babe. Not to mention Babe has two 20 wins seasons as a pitcher for the Red Sox. No contest!
@@DRoc24 and Babe played in an era against plumbers & milk man. If Babe pitched to Barry Bonds Bonds would be taking him deep every pitch.
InSearchOf
@@DRoc24 it's,many different Eras and different races you can't say he is the best he has never played against jeter,Pete rose,etc come on like babe is amazing and is one of the best but nobody can prove that he did what everybody said he did I think he is amazing but you just can't say is the best with nothing to back to it up
angelo shamus
Class act.
Rip to the true home run king.... Hank Aaron.🙏🙏🙏
I agree with Hank that Barry Bonds should be in the Hall of Fame. However, I disagree when he said Pete Rose should not. He did what he did as a manager. Was it wrong? Yes, same as Barry, but that doesn’t change the ball player he was. Shoeless Joe as well.
None of those guys are ever getting in.
Hank was great, but in their heyday, everyone knew Willie Mays was the best. Period.
Mays would’ve passed Ruth first, but he lost 1 or 2 full seasons due to military service in his prime.
Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth and Barry Bonds are the best ever
The yellow glasses are interesting but so is the bonds in rose out opinion
ONE true King and his name is Hammerin’ Hank!
Love Hank Aaron. Bonds was the best hitter I ever saw- period. I wish he didn’t do what we suspect he did... any of them.
What he suspected?!! He did steroids which is cheating!!
I read that Henry still batted cross-handed until he was about 19!
I’ve looked for pictures but can’t find them. Bob Uker said he saw Henry do it. 350’!
R.I.P KING
RIP Hank Aaron
You’ll never convince me at least ten of bonds’ home runs wouldn’t have been warning track without juice
Hank is the all-time HR king ! Bond's HR's were all juiced at the end of his career. Bond's should not be recognized as the HR leader.
As much as he gave to the game when he played Mr. Aaron gave even more afterwards
And don't forget that 'brace' that Bonds wore in later years that was designed specifically to force his swing to create the perfect launch angle.
Barry had a Hall of Fame career on his Pirates tenure alone
@@cashmerethoughts8096 not really 7yrs 2 MVP'S 2 Gold Gloves 176 HR's you have guys who did more and still got pasted up for Hall of fame. MLB hall of fame with the NFL Hall of fame are the two most bias ever 😡
@@melvynsngltn27 Barry bonds before steroids 1986-1998
400 home runs, 400 Doubles, 450 stolen bases, 2000 hits, 1400 walks, 411 career on base, 970 career ops
U think Barry bonds didn’t have a HOf Career before steroids Barry bonds in his first 13 years before steroids had a higher career on base percentage Than hank Aaron had in any season of his career hank Aaron’s best single season on base 410
What a joke most overrated player of all time, Hammerin Hank Accumulator
@@bondsgoat25 when did I say he wasn't a hall of famer
@@melvynsngltn27 u responded not really when the guy said he was already a hall of famer