There was a time when baseball’s home run record really meant something. It was mythical. Babe Ruth hit 60 home runs in 1927, hitting more home runs than 12 teams that year!

Ruth’s home run record stood for 34 years, until Roger Maris hit 61 home runs in 1961, though Major League Baseball shamefully put an asterisk next to Maris’s record. The Babe had set the record during a 154-game season, while Maris broke the record during a 162-game season. Maris also broke the record in a season following expansion, further angering baseball purists who felt he didn’t deserve to be labeled the Home Run King.

The steroid era made discussions of the record even more controversial. Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa shattered the record in the memorable 1998 season when McGwire hit 70 home runs and Sosa hit 66. Barry Bonds followed that with an amazing 73 in the 2001 season. But the steroid scandal exposed McGuire, Sosa and Bonds, making a mockery of the home run record. This context helps explain why so many wanted to crown Aaron Judge as the “true” holder of the record with his 62 home runs in the 2022 season.

“61*” is a historical drama that tells the story of Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle as they chased the Babe’s record in the 1961 season. Mantle was already a legend in the minds of most baseball fans, while Maris was the new kid on the block on New York even though he won the MVP in 1960 in his first season as a Yankee.

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Lenny Randle gets his revenge . . .

On this date in 1974, Lenny Randle was thrown behind, so he dropped a bunt down just to LEVEL the pitcher

pic.twitter.com/jvCHik8nh3

— Baseball Quotes (@BaseballQuotes1) May 29, 2021

This is hilarious! Jose Canseco suffered the ultimate humiliation when a fly ball bounce off his head for a home run against the Indians.

Today In 1993: Texas #Rangers outfielder Jose Canseco has a fly ball bounce off his head and over the wall at Cleveland Stadium for a home run in one of the all-time greatest baseball bloopers! #MLB #History pic.twitter.com/qo6dBKbq7b

— Baseball by BSmile (@BSmile) May 26, 2021

Opinions about Trevor Bauer are all over the place, but most will agree that he’s a very talented pitcher along with being a knucklehead. The Indians faced an interesting dilemma having Bauer under control through next season while staring at a playoff run this season. They couldn’t give him away, so they would have to hold out for serious value in a trade or hold on to him for the stretch run and playoffs this season.

They got the haul they were looking for, led by Franmil Reyes and Yasiel Puig, two sluggers that can transform the Indians lineup for this season.

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The Major League Baseball offseason is in full-swing. Spring training games will begin on February 21st just weeks after teams report for camp. The 2019 MLB free agent list may not have a long list of notable names as in years past, but it does feature two of the most intimidating hitters in the game. MLB viewers can wager on their favourite teams with online sports betting all year long and never miss a pitch. With weeks to go until the start of spring training 2019, these 5 MLB free agents are the top players still on the market.

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