Baseball
Asterisk and All, Bonds Ball Lands in Hall
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Now branded with an asterisk, the ball Barry Bonds launched for his record 756th home run nearly a year ago landed last night in the Hall of Fame.
The souvenir arrived in Cooperstown, N.Y., after a strange day of back-and-forth statements between its owner, fashion designer Marc Ecko, and the shrine.
"We are very happy to receive the baseball as a donation, and not as a loan," Hall spokesman Brad Horn said. "We look forward to adding this ball to our permanent collections."
A driver walked up the front steps of the Hall and handed over the ball and a letter from Ecko saying it was an unconditional donation. Horn said the ball will be displayed after the museum documents it -- a process that usually takes weeks.
Bonds broke Hank Aaron's career homer record on Aug. 7, 2007. Ecko paid $752,467 for the prize in an online auction in September. Soon after, he asked fans to vote in an Internet poll on what he should do with the ball.
The winner: Brand it with an asterisk, to reflect the steroid allegations surrounding Bonds, and give it to the Hall.
The ball indeed was marked, with the asterisk dye-cut into the cowhide, from stitch to stitch where "Major League Baseball" is printed.
Bonds called Ecko an "idiot" when the designer announced plans to hold the vote. The slugger later said he would boycott the Hall if it displayed the ball with an asterisk.
After months of discussions, the Hall said earlier yesterday that talks with Ecko had "unfortunately reached an impasse."
"The owner's previous commitment to unconditionally donate the baseball has changed to a loan. As a result, the Hall of Fame will not be able to accept the baseball," the Hall said.
Ecko later responded.
"Based on the Hall of Fame's previous statements that they would both accept and display the ball, the only open issue we were talking about was the Hall's recent indication of discomfort in displaying it and addressing the controversy surrounding the record," he said.
Bonds finished the season with 762 home runs. The San Francisco Giants did not offer him a contract for this year, and he hasn't gotten an offer to play for another team.
-- From News Services
