Moreso than any other professional sport, 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 analyzed to the nth degree by sabermetrics nerds. Thankfully, when it comes to determining the greatest sluggers of all time, only one stat really matters: the home run. It started with Babe Ruth’s eruption in the Roaring ‘20s as he single-handedly stuck a fork in the Deadball Era. Then there was Mantle and Maris’ relentless single-season chase in 1961. And who could forget Hammerin’ Hank rounding the bags with fans in pursuit 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. Detractors will argue it was all steroid induced, but that was a complicated period of baseball and policing PEDs was not a top priority for Commissioner Selig. The game had evolved, health awareness had grown, and nutrition had drastically improved. Players worked out harder, ate smarter, and took better care of their bodies. Superstars with the highest salaries began to hire personal trainers and chefs to become bionic athletes. Even today, it’s tough to say who all is “clean” and who has the means to toe the line.

The transformation of Barry’s body from his early 20s in Pittsburgh to the bulkier and muscular frame he developed in his late 30s with the Giants has been heavily scrutinized. Through it all, however, Barry was largely the same player, a consistent .300 hitter with power, speed and immaculate plate discipline. The homers came at a very 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. (Amazingly, 2001 was his only 50+ HR season.) 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 Willie Mays (his Godfather) and joining Ruth and Aaron in the 700 Club. His pace slowed considerably in his early 40s, but Bonds finally 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. The crowd was on its feet chanting "Barry, Barry, Barry" in anticipation. On a 3-2 pitch, Bonds  launched a deep drive into the cool San Francisco night. The stadium erupted. Everyone knew it was gone. The majestic 435-foot blast landed in the right-center field bleacher beyond “Triples Alley” and a mad scramble for the ball 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. It is now displayed in Cooperstown.

The whereabouts of Bonds’ jersey and bat from this milestone are unknown, perhaps in Barry’s collection forever. What we have here, however, is the next best piece one could possibly own: THE home plate from this historic game. When Bonds rounded the bases and stepped on home for his 756th career home run to pass the Hammer, it officially made him baseball's new Home Run King. Barry was met in the batter's box by his 18-year-old son Nikolai, the Giants bat boy who was wearing a #25 jersey like his dad. The two stood on this very home plate hugging each other. The game stopped as fans, players, coaches and everyone at AT&T Park paid tribute to Barry's accomplishment.

The seven-time National League MVP and two-time batting champion finished with 762 career home runs in his 22 seasons. No hitter was more patient at the dish or more intimidating to face from the mound. Thus, he walked a record 2,558 times including 688 intentional. By the numbers, Barry Bonds is the greatest hitter in history. In fact, based on his eight Gold Gloves in left field and career 162.8 WAR (highest by a wide margin), he is arguably the best baseball player ever. In the 8/7/2007 milestone game, Bonds went 3-3 with a double, the record-breaking homer, and three runs scored.

This museum-worthy home plate shows heavy game use and is caked with dirt from the batter’s box. (Please note, it weighs 50 lbs. due to its rubber backing filled with cement after being removed from AT&T Park.) Accompanying the base is a game-used ball (exact play unknown) that Barry has autographed in bold blue ballpoint. The well-soiled and scuffed OML (Selig) baseball is neatly notated “8-7-07” and “#756” in black pen. Both items are MLB Authenticated with hologram stickers: BB623059 for ball; BB623120 for base. Barry Bonds himself has signed letters confirming the authenticity of each.