Special Editor
DongA.com, Song Chi-Hoon

With a decade of experience as a sports journalist and 30 years as a devoted baseball fan, Song Chi-Hoon brings deeper insights into the fascinating hidden stories of Major League Baseball.

※ This content is part of a special collaboration with MLB Park and features unique items from the Eland Museum.

On October 5, 2001, at Pacific Bell Park (now Oracle Park), a historic moment unfolded in the game between the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

 

Originally scheduled for September 14, 2001, this game was postponed due to the unprecedented 9/11 attacks and was rescheduled to this day.

The Dodgers, with an 84-75 record, were already out of postseason contention. The Giants, with an 89-70 record, trailed the division-leading Arizona Diamondbacks by 2.5 games and faced elimination if they lost. However, the game's primary focus was whether Barry Bonds could break Mark McGwire's single-season home run record of 70 set in 1998.

 

In the previous game against the Houston Astros, Bonds had tied McGwire’s record with his 70th home run off rookie pitcher Wilfredo Rodriguez. With three games remaining, Bonds needed just one more home run to set a new record.

"‘70’ is a crazy number and we all thought it was crazy at the end of 1998. But now we’re looking at it like it’s not crazy.”

 

Giants fans at the stadium displayed banners with the number ‘71,’ eager for Bonds to make history. However, the game started differently than the home fans expected. Giants starter Shawn Estes lasted only 2/3 of an inning, leaving the mound with the team down 0-3 and runners on second and third. Reliever Mark Gardner intentionally walked Chad Kreuter to load the bases and opted to face Dodgers starter and ninth batter Chan Ho Park.

 

Holding the bat short, Park hit Gardner’s fifth pitch for a two-run single down the right field line, giving the Dodgers a 5-0 lead. Park then took the mound in the bottom of the first, striking out leadoff hitter Marvin Benard after feeling some discomfort in his back. After some stretching and a few practice pitches, Park retired Rich Aurilia on a groundout, bringing up Bonds with two outs and no runners on.

With the crowd’s roaring support, Bonds took a ball on the first pitch and then sent Park’s second pitch, a fastball, over the right field fence. It was a new MLB single-season home run record.

※ Barry Bonds’ 71st home run (Source: MLB)

The Giants dugout emptied as everyone celebrated at home plate, and Bonds embraced his son while acknowledging the fans' cheers. The scoreboard displayed ‘71,’ and fireworks lit up the night sky. Despite being part of this historic moment, Park maintained his composure and got Jeff Kent to fly out to center field to end the inning.

The game turned into a slugfest. In the bottom of the third, with the Dodgers leading 8-4, Park and Bonds faced each other again. Bonds fouled off the first pitch, watched the second go for a ball, and then hit Park’s high fastball for his 72nd home run, clearing the center field fence. It was his 566th career home run.

 

Park finished the day with 8 runs allowed (7 earned) over 4 innings. However, he did not factor into the decision as he left with the Dodgers leading 9-8. The Dodgers eventually won the game 11-10.

Despite being on the wrong side of a historic moment, Park’s courage to face Bonds head-on earned respect from many.

 

As Bonds neared McGwire’s record, many pitchers avoided facing him to escape the ignominy of giving up a record-setting home run. Bonds, a formidable hitter who rarely missed a strike, drew 177 walks that season, including 35 intentional walks. In the previous series against Houston, Bonds had walked eight times in 14 plate appearances.

Park, however, did not shy away from challenging Bonds. Bonds hit two home runs off Park that day and finished the season with 73 home runs, a record that still stands.

※ Highlights of Barry Bonds’ 2001 season home runs (Source: HI STUDIO)

The game left contrasting fortunes for Bonds and Park, and over 20 years later, their legacies have evolved.

Bonds finished his 22-season career with staggering stats: 2986 games, 12,606 plate appearances, 9,847 at-bats, 2,935 hits, 762 home runs, 1,996 RBIs, 2,227 runs, 514 stolen bases, 2,558 walks (688 intentional), a .298 batting average, a .444 on-base percentage, a .607 slugging percentage, and a 1.051 OPS. Despite being MLB’s all-time home run leader, Bonds has not been inducted into the Hall of Fame due to his steroid use.

 

반면 당시 대기록의 희생양이었던 박찬호는 역대 동양인 메이저리거 최다승인 124승을 기록하고 명예롭게 현역 생활을 마쳤다. 현재는 샌디에이고 파드리스 구단의 고문으로도 활동하며 국내외를 막론하고 야구계에 긍정적인 영향을 미치고 있다.  

Meanwhile, Park, the sacrificial lamb of Bonds’ record, retired with the most wins by an Asian pitcher in MLB history, totaling 124 victories. He continues to positively influence baseball as an advisor for the San Diego Padres and through various roles in and out of Korea.

 

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