A big year for Babe http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/14253270p-15069181c.html NPR: Babe Ruth Gave Home Runs Their Due [Real Player] http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5394493 Special Report: Comparing Bonds, Ruth, Aaron http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12073518/ Why Selig Should Be There For Bonds http://blogs.mercurynews.com/bay_area_sports/2006/05/why_selig_shoul.html Baseball-Reference.com http://www.baseball-reference.com/ While the debate over whether or not Barry Bonds used steroids (or other performance-enhancing substances) will continue to embroil major league baseball and its legions of fans for months, if not years, one thing is certain: Shortly, he will surpass Babe “the Bambino” Ruth in the category of career home-runs. Many die-hard fans remain skeptical of Bond’s more recent efforts, in no small part due to the incessant media coverage of his race to become the career home-run leader, coupled with the contention that he has used performance-enhancing substances. Of course, some baseball historians and raconteurs have long contended that Ruth himself used liquor in epic proportions, though most are split on whether or not the use of such a substance would enhance one’s performance on the diamond. Interestingly, Ruth’s grandson, Tom Stevens, has declined to be on hand for the game in which Bonds will pass the Babe’s record. Stevens noted “I have been advised to just avoid the controversy without making a statement. I wish him luck.” Another planned “no-show” is the commissioner of major league baseball, Bud Selig, who has publicly stated that since Bonds won’t be passing up the all-time career home run leader (who happens to be Hank Aaron, in case you had forgotten), it’s not particularly important or not whether he’s in the stands. The first link will take users to a story from this week’s Sports Illustrated about the Ruth family’s decision not to be in the stands when Bonds passes the Bambino’s home run mark. The second link leads to a good piece in the Sacramento Bee, which profiles various members of the Ruth’s family and their thoughts on their illustrious relative. The third link whisks users to a nice audio feature from National Public Radio that includes an interview with Leigh Montville who recently wrote a biography of Babe Ruth. The fourth link leads to a feature from MSNBC that compares the home run stylings of Ruth, Bonds, and Hank Aaron. The fifth link leads to a piece by San Jose Mercury News sports columnist Mark Purdy that offers a very impassioned argument for why Bud Selig should come out for Bonds’ history feat. The final link leads to the very intriguing and quite compelling Baseball-Reference.com website. For those with a few minutes (or a few hours) to spare, the site contains all types of compelling minutiae, such as naming the state where the most baseball players have been born and such.