The $1m baseball

The historic ball hit by Mr Bonds could fetch up to $1m (?500,000) at auction - if a fan manages to catch it.

In his 22-year career, Barry Bonds, has hit the baseball over the fence 755 times, equalling the previous record.

He may set the new record this week when his team is playing at home in San Francisco's AT&T ballpark.

Historic record

When he hits his next home run - number 756 - it would mean he has hit more home runs than any other player in the history of major league baseball, exceeding the total set by Hank Aaron in the 1970s.

Only one other player in the history of baseball, the legendary Babe Ruth, the Yankee slugger of the 1920s, has ever hit more than 700.

The hope of seeing the landmark home run has generated excitement among fans and journalists alike, with 450 sports reporters registering to attend the current series of games.

Valuable ball

For the fans attending the games, however, more than just fame could be involved.

The person who manages to catch the historic home run could make a huge windfall profit.

Sports experts say that the historic ball could fetch between $400,000 and $1m if sold at auction soon after the event.

But they warn that the value could go down as Mr Bonds continues to break records.

"The main thing I would say is sell it quick because in today's memorabilia world, proximity to the event is important," said Doug Allen, president of Mastro Auctions.

The ball hit by Mark McGwire, who broke the single-season home run record with 70 in 1998, was auctioned for $3m.

However, when Barry Bonds exceeded this total with 73 home runs in 2001, that ball fetched only $450,000.

Mad scramble

Some experienced fans are already preparing themselves for the historic moment, and fears of a melee have led one auction house to withdraw offers to buy the baseball for $1m.

Among the colourful characters who collect home run balls at San Francisco's baseball stadium are Jake "the snake" Frazier, who once knocked a family of four out of their seats in the rush to catch a home run, Lee 'Doc' Wilson, and Joe Dirt, who uses a fishing rod to retrieve home runs hit into San Francisco Bay, which adjoins the ballpark.

"If the ball lands near you, people are going to be killing each other to get it," another fan, Joseph Figone, told the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper.

The Giants have increased security at the game, and added police officers to keep order.

Each ball that is pitched to Mr Bonds is also marked by game officials to prevent fraudulent claims.

Cloud over record

However, one reason why the Barry Bonds home run ball may be less valuable is the cloud over the slugger's record.

He has been accused of using banned drugs - steroids - to boost his home run total. Although he has denied the accusations and he has not been convicted, the claims have cast a shadow over his achievements.

The Commissioner of Baseball, Bud Selig, will not be in the audience this week in San Francisco when the record might be broken, nor will Hank Aaron, the former home run king.

Doug Allen said that in recent auctions the value of items related to Mr Aaron attracted higher bids than those connected with Mr Bonds.

"I don't think it will necessarily rebound in the next couple of weeks," he said.

"With the cloud of steroid concerns, until that goes away I don't think it's ever going to stabilise."

Bonds' tainted image has affected more than just the value of his historic home run ball.

An estimate in Sports Illustrated magazine suggested that, if there were no suspicions about the sluggers' record, he could earn more than $30m in endorsements of products such as athletic shoes, sports drinks, and snacks - compared to the $2m he currently receives.

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