by Amaury Pi Gonzalez

SAN FRANCISCO–The only question remaining on my mind is: Who will be elected first into Cooperstown, Pete Rose or Barry Bonds? Yes, of course two totally different cases, and those two guys have the numbers for an easy induction into the Hall of Fame. Barry Bonds is the all-time home run leader (762) while Pete Rose is the all-time hits leader(4,256).

In San Francisco the United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit ,reversed the conviction of home run king Barry Bonds, from 2003 to an answer he gave to the Grand Jury investigating the BALCO scandal.

This was the last obstacle that was on the way for Bonds to make it to Cooperstown. The San Francisco Giants can now calmly plan to build him a statue at the park; I would think the same size as those of Mays and Marichal. But maybe even bigger, the home run record used to be the most heralded record in the game. The club can now move ahead and have all kinds of Bonds promotions at AT&T Park, with all types of merchandise for fans to buy.

As popular as Barry Bonds remains with San Francisco Giants fans, during a 22 year career(which began in Pittsburgh in 1993) and a total of 762 home runs, the current record, he is not that well liked around other cities in the country. His eventual induction into Cooperstown, will always be surrounded by doubt and speculation. Movies will be made in Hollywood about Bonds, more books, I am sure will be written about Barry Lamar Bonds.

This next August will mark the 25th year anniversary since Pete Rose was banned from baseball (gambling). He has paid his debt to society and he should be elected before Barry Bonds. Time will tell. New Commissioner Fred Manfred might be the guy to start the “forgiveness tour”in Major League Baseball, and although he just recently took over, he is presiding as the new man in charge, with lots of optimism and vision. However, Gambling is Baseball Mortal Sin, so it remains to be seen if Mr. Hustle can get in while he is alive. Most of the baseball writers that I have spoken with at press boxes and events, have told me they are ready to vote Rose into Cooperstown.

Now, if the new Commissioner can work his magic and let the A’s ask for exile in San Jose and move there, regardless of the so called “territorial rights” issue, then he will have scored a lot in a short time in office. Territorial rights sounds very archaic to me, the Bay Area has 6 million people and the Bay Area is one territory.

Nobody said anything about San Jose 25 years ago, at the beginning of the technology boom, but now San Jose is not only the most populous city in the Bay Area, but one that is driving the economy. This issue is all about money. What else is new?

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Spanish TV voice for the Angels and the Spanish radio voice for the A’s and does News and Commentary on http://www.sportsradioservice.com