It would not surprise me that if in the next few days the door of Gym 209 will have on it a picture of Barry Bonds’ 700th homerun with the words “Great Oppo-Extension” stenciled across its historic print.

That is exactly what Bonds used on Sept. 17, 2004 when he hit a 0-1 Jake Peavy curveball for his 700th career homerun, a solo shot which sailed into the left-center field bleachers and sent SBC Park into a state of ape shit. For Bonds his rush was finally over and his fraternity chosen. His brothers, Henry Aaron and Babe Ruth. His official seal, 7-0-0.

Not since the Nixon administration had Major League Baseball seen a 700th homerun. Baseball’s most exclusive club was but a single man until July 21, 1973 when Henry Aaron took Ken Brett deep at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium to become its second member. Barry Bonds was just 8-years-old.

For a while it was believed that this forlorn duet of baseball tall tales would never welcome a new member. Their perpetual NOT ALLOWED sign was seen on their clubhouse door instead in the words Power and Longevity. It was a checklist of the criteria that any baseball player needed to fulfill if they wanted in. And as every player in 7-0-0 knows, wanting in comes with a price.

When Babe Ruth entered 7-0-0 his career was on the downside. It was 1934 and Ruth, 39, had just accepted a $17,000 pay cut. He was no longer the player that he once had been and was hanging onto baseball for one last reason; his dreams of managing. He became known as a sideshow at the age of 40 and finally took full residence at 25 Main Street – Cooperstown, NY, following the 1935 season.

Henry Aaron’s road to 7-0-0 was much bumpier than Ruth’s. Ruth’s road came by way of raw unprecedented power, whereas Aaron’s came by way of longevity. He never hit more than 50 homeruns in a season, opting rather to spread his homerun distribution by hitting at least 20 for a record 20 seasons in a row. But while Ruth had to deal with age and deterioration, Aaron dealt with something that Ruth was oblivious to; racism. What should have been celebrated as one of the greatest achievements in Aaron’s life was instead replaced by the reminder that Aaron himself had yet to be accepted by those he entertained for a living.

The newest member of 7-0-0 is unique. He is a new generation of ballplayer that exudes a confidence that is unmatched in the game. He is every manager’s best dream and worst nightmare in one. A true game breaker with a splash of clubhouse nuisance.

Wherever he has played Barry Bonds has brought controversy, bad press, spoiled relationships with teammates, fallouts with management; everything that is the quintessential arrogant jock has become known as Barry Bonds. But what Barry Bonds has become is something that Ruth and Aaron never had to deal with.

It is the claim that he is a cheater.

In the past three years Barry Bonds has looked like Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron rolled into one. So powerful yet so agile and graceful. No man at his age has been able to accomplish what Barry Bonds is currently doing. He has been let into the 7-0-0 door but his entrance is being questioned. I will never downplay Barry’s accomplishments, or anybody’s quest towards 700 homeruns, but there is one man in 7-0-0 that fans will always have their doubts about. He is its newest member and he represents a new brand of baseball; he is Barry Bonds.

The 700 Club marks the pantheon of baseball royalty. Each player individually represents a paragon of baseball talent. 7-0-0 has three members – Babe Ruth, Henry Aaron, Barry Bonds – covers 780,840 feet of infield dirt.

The door is wide open. Just remember to obey the sign.