Like any era, juiced stats require context

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Kevin Brewer
June 25, 2007

Sammy Sosa hit his 600th and 601st home runs last week.

Barry Bonds is seven home runs away from breaking Hank Aaron's all-time record.

But Sosa and Bonds also are involved in a home run race against each other — most home runs in the Steroids Era (1994-present).

Sosa has hit 531 home runs in this era, four more than Bonds. Alex Rodriguez, who has hit 491, is likely to catch both — maybe next season.

"The Steroids Era" isn't meant as an indictment of Bonds, Sosa, Rodriguez or any other player. It is meant as an indictment of Bud Selig.

The Steroids Era is unlike any other era in baseball history, just like the Dead Ball Era (1901-19), the Post-War Era (1946-68) or any other era.

Sosa has passed Frank Robinson on the home run list. Bonds will pass Aaron. And Rodriguez probably will pass Lou Gehrig, Fred McGriff, Eddie Murray, Mel Ott, Eddie Mathews and Ernie Banks by the end of the season.

All of those accomplishments mean little — or at least a lot less than the baseball purists believe.

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