Midnight Tuesday/Wednesday after Barry Bonds’ record-setting HR …

We witnessed history in SF tonight, but the night became perfect for me when the Nats came back and won the game, so everyone went home happy. The team bus was pretty full from the ballpark back to the hotel and the mood was lively. Tim Tolman asked me what my HR call was, and he was concerned I would give an opposing player a “See … you .. later!” call. I told him no way would I give Bonds, or any opponent, my signature call.

As Nook Logan caught the last out, I said on MASN, “The Giants got their home run, but the Nats got their win.” As an announcer, I always hope for the right words to say at the right time, and I hope tonight was OK. The atmosphere at AT&T Park was electric, and it reminded me of the night in ‘98 when Mark McGwire hit record-setting #62 against Steve Trachsel and the Cubs. I wasn’t working that night, having called numbers 60 and 61 the day before. But Busch Stadium exploded when Mark hit #62 and it was the same as Bonds launched #756 off Mike Bacsik.

I saw Mike in the clubhouse after the game and he was all smiles, pleased to be part of history. He was actually being interviewed live by Debbie Taylor when Felipe Lopez hit the double that got him off the hook and put the Nats ahead in the 8th. I told Mike that I didn’t want him to give up the big HR, but once he did, the Nats couldn’t have picked a better spokesman to represent the club. I told Mike that America would be in love with him by this time tomorrow; he smiled that smile of his. He’s a great guy and it’s been a pleasure to get to know him this season.

As far as the game and the home run, here was my call: “Three-two pitch to Bonds … there it goes! This ball is history!” and then I shut up and let our pictures tell the story. It’s the beauty of TV; you can make a quick call and then let the pictures take over. Don Sutton and I sat quietly as we watched the stadium erupt in noise, fireworks and streamers, quite a sight. The video on the scoreboard from Hank Aaron was powerful, and I followed up with the comment that, for many baseball fans, Aaron would always be the home run king.

I got to see Aaron play when I was a kid, and I thought along with Willie Mays and Roberto Clemente, they were the 3 most exciting players I ever saw. Stan Musial was great in my native St. Louis, but those 3 were electrifying.

I hope Nats fans enjoyed my home run call, but I hope they enjoyed us winning the game more. That made the night perfect for me; we got to see history but we won the game, my Oklahoma buddy Chris Schroder got his first major league win, and we tied the Marlins for 4th place. I wish all of you Nats fans could have been there with us!

Bob Carpenter
Nationals TV Announcer
August 8, 2007

Bonds hit his 756 homerun against Nationals starter Mike Bascik tonight.

Check out Like Father, Like Son — an ironic AP Story about Bascik’s father and Hank Aaron.

….more to follow…