Respekanize Gary Sheffield & His Place In The 500 HR Club

Gary Sheffield is one of my favorite players, and I was thrilled to be watching live when he hit his 500th home run last Friday, just as I was when I saw Barry Bonds break Hank Aaron’s career HR record in 2007. Hearing Sheffield interviewed by and discussed on ESPN’s Baseball Tonight, it saddens me that so many fans and writers have such negative feelings towards Sheffield.  All I heard was a guy who felt the home run was special because it helped his new team win — the pinch-hit blast tied the game and the Mets went on to win.  It was probably even more special because it came as a Met, the team his uncle Dwight Gooden excelled with. ...