Early on Wednesday afternoon, I watched a baseball sail over the center field wall at Yankee stadium, and history was made. Yet it didn’t feel like an epic, sweeping moment of accomplishment. It didn’t even feel like a perfect game, something we’ve gotten to feel twice* this year. Alex Rodriguez joined some pretty exclusive company in the 600 home run club and became the youngest player to do it, but does anyone really care? Have the numbers somehow lost their lustre?
In the past decade or so, we’ve seen some incredible records in baseball fall. We all watched in amazement as both Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire chased down Roger Maris’ 61 home runs in a season. In the end, both men surpassed that total, with McGwire becoming the new national hero with his 70 home runs. A few years later, we watched Barry Bonds tack 3 more onto that total, and then we watched him top Hank Aaron’s all time home run record. We all went along for the ride and loved the resurgence of the long ball and what it meant for baseball and baseball fans.
But then something happened.
The curtain came crumbling down as word broke that many players were using performance enhancing substances, tarnishing the game’s reputation and putting a stain on all the fantastic heights these players reached. Rafael Palmeiro, Jose Canseco, Sosa, McGwire, Bonds, Roger Clemens, Jason Giambi and many more, including Rodriguez, eventually admitted to using growth hormone and other performance enhancing substances. Had it been one or two players, it probably wouldn’t have been a big deal, but with so many big name stars speculation runs rampant over everyone who is seemingly having a good year.
The federal courts were brought into the matter, there was an inquiry into the league, and baseball’s biggest asset, its statistics, were seen in a whole new light. Whose numbers are legit? Whose aren’t? Do you deduct a certain number from the totals for each season? The whole thing became a gray area, and now when you ask the question of who is the all time home run king, either single season or career, and you’re likely to get seven different answers. Do we strike their names from the record books? Do we mark their stats with a special asterisk? Do we maintain a separate book for the substance users?
No one really knows what the answer is, but, judging by the reaction A-Rod received upon hitting his 600th, it seems that baseball is in dire need of a new name to hang their hat on. That man could very well be Albert Pujols. Pujols has just turned 30, and he is approaching the 400 home run mark. 5 more seasons at 40 home runs a season is not an impossible task to ask of the Cardinal all-star. He could, theoretically, become the youngest player to 600 home runs. At that point, Pujols could probably play into his 40′s and eventually become the new home run king, a king that everyone could be proud of. Pujols is a character guy and respected throughout the league. His ability has never been doubted, and his name has never appeared in any links to performance enhancing substances.
Considering how much better the pitching in baseball is getting, this may be our one and only chance to have a legit athlete at the top of the home run mountain. Home run totals are down, and most of the big name hitters in today’s game are heading into the twilight of their careers. Pujols is baseball’s best chance to redeem itself, and baseball sorely needs it.
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Born and raised in Northern Ontario but currently living in Toronto, Tyler wouldn't have it any other way. Home to his two favourite sports teams, Tyler revels in the day to day sports experience that is Toronto. 
Ugh are we on this again?
Look maybe it doesn’t get the press up there in the sport world’s middle of nowhere, but here in the civilized world it was news. No-one cares anymore about steroids, since everyone for the last ten years has been on them, so it doesn’t matter. All anyone cares about is if he can deliver the goods, and that night, he did.