Numbers matter when telling the story of Major League Baseball. From Henry Chadwick and Bill James to the MIT and Ivy Leaguers who now fill MLB front offices, America’s pastime has evolved from a simple game to one now analyzed to the nth degree by sabermetricians. When it comes to determining the greatest sluggers of all time, however, only one stat matters: the home run. It started with Babe Ruth in the Roaring ‘20s as he single-handedly extinguished the Deadball Era. Then, there was the Mantle vs. Maris single-season chase in 1961. And who could forget Hammerin’ Hank rounding the bags after passing Babe on the career list in ’74.

In 1998, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa had their own single-season pursuit, a throwback to ’61 that ended with both passing Maris and Big Mac setting the new bar at 70. Left-handed sluggers Ken Griffey Jr. and Barry Bonds took notice, but it was the latter who would eventually take the reins as MLB’s single-season and all-time leader. The transformation of Barry’s body from his early 20s in Pittsburgh to the muscular frame he developed in his late 30s with the Giants has been heavily scrutinized. Through it all, Barry was largely the same player, a consistent .300 hitter with power, speed and immaculate plate discipline.

The homers came at a steady pace. From 1990 through 2000, Bonds averaged 37 per season. He also batted .302 during that 11-year span and won three MVP awards. In 2001, at age 36, it all came together for one magical campaign in which Bonds hit a record 73 dingers. Barry also joined the 500 Club that year and began to set his sights on the all-time list. He blasted 46, 45 and 45 long balls in his next three seasons, passing his Godfather Willie Mays and reaching the 700 Club. He caught Hank on August 4, 2007, when he belted number 755 in San Diego. Three days later came the big one.

On August 7, 2007, the Giants were back home to face the Washington Nationals at AT&T Park. In the bottom of the 5th, Barry stepped up against Nats starter Mike Bacsik with the bases empty and one out. On a 3-2 pitch, Bonds launched a deep drive into the cool San Francisco night. The majestic 435-foot blast landed in the right-center field bleachers and a mad scramble ensued. The lucky spectator who came away with Bonds’ 756th HR baseball ended up selling it a few months later [in our auction] for $752k. That ball is now displayed in Cooperstown.

Offered here is another ball used in that historic 8/7/2007 game in San Francisco when Bonds officially became the Home Run King. The well-soiled and scuffed OML (Selig) baseball had been certified by MLB Authentication as a game-used ball from that special day, although the exact play is not documented (as was often the case back in the early days of MLB’s authentication system). The ball comes housed in a removable display case by BallDome with the game’s milestone details printed on a nameplate tag. MLB hologram sticker BB623172 is affixed.