Selig will try to watch Bonds pass Aaron

Last Updated: Tuesday, July 24, 2007 | 6:58 PM ET

CBC Sports

Baseball commissioner Bud Selig ended months of speculation by announcing Tuesday he will attend upcoming games in San Francisco to witness Barry Bonds's chase of Hank Aaron's all-time home run record.

Bonds, who celebrated his 43rd birthday on Tuesday, is only three home runs shy of breaking Aaron's magical 755 mark that he set in 1974 against Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Al Downing.

Bud Selig will remain in San Francisco through Thursday to watch Barry Bonds's all-time home run record pursuit.
(Adam Rountree/Associated Press)

"Throughout this season, I have watched Barry Bonds' pursuit of the home run record," Selig said. "Now that he is on the verge of tying the record, the time has come to announce that I will make every attempt to attend the record-setting moment."

Selig will remain in San Francisco for the rest of the Giants' series with the Atlanta Braves, which ends on Thursday, but must travel to Cooperstown, N.Y., for baseball's Hall of Fame induction weekend.

This year's class features Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken Jr., who will be inducted on Sunday.

Bonds has been plagued by steroid allegations and speculation grew that Selig might opt to forgo watching the slugger's pursuit of Aaron in person.

"Out of respect for the tradition of this game, the magnitude of the record, and the fact that all citizens in this country are innocent until proven guilty, I will attend Barry Bonds' next games to observe his potential tying and breaking of the home run record, subject to my commitments to the Hall of Fame this weekend."

Selig was undecided on his plans to travel to San Francisco as recently as last weekend and missed Monday's series opener against the Braves.

Bonds said during the all-star festivities two weeks ago in San Francisco that he didn't care whether Selig sees him break the record.

"Does it matter to me?" Bonds asked reporters. "I think it's just terrible the way it's gone down, that's all. That's up to Bud, it's not up to me. I'm going to do my thing anyway. I have to go out and play for my teammates.

"Bud is his own man and I respect him. Whether Bud shows up or doesn't show up, I'm going to still play."