The Home Run Derby will be missing two of the biggest gate attractions in the game.
Sluggers Barry Bonds and Sammy Sosa -- Bonds was selected to the NL All-Star team, Sosa was not -- will both skip the festivities the day before the July 15 game at U.S. Cellular Field, home of the Chicago White Sox.
Bonds, the single-season home run king, said Monday that he will not take part in the contest. Bonds set an all-time record by hitting 73 homers in 2001.
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> When asked why he would not participate, Bonds told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: "Because I'm a grown man and I don't have to do it."
"Did Michael Jordan play in the slamfest every year?" Bonds asked. "Nobody asked him why. I'm 30-something years old. They didn't even ask me. Go ahead and get mad at me. Say what you want, but no."
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Sosa told reporters Sunday that he also would not participate in the Home Run Derby, even though it will be held in Chicago. In recent years, baseball's four leading home-run hitters were invited to the Derby and selected others were given courtesy invitations.
Sosa, who's missed 17 games this season because of a toe ailment and another seven due to a suspension for cork being discovered in one of his bats, was invited to participate but decided to take the full three days off after learning he didn't get selected to the team. Sosa had been on the last five NL All-Star teams.
Bonds and Sosa have combined for 1,151 homers in their careers. They are currently 1-2 in career home runs among active players.
NL manager Dusty Baker, the manager of Sosa's Cubs, made the ultimate decision to bypass his top star for the game.
"Since Sammy wasn't voted by the players or by the fans ... I think it might be a good idea that Sammy use this break and go underground," Baker said.
Sluggers Barry Bonds and Sammy Sosa -- Bonds was selected to the NL All-Star team, Sosa was not -- will both skip the festivities the day before the July 15 game at U.S. Cellular Field, home of the Chicago White Sox.
Bonds, the single-season home run king, said Monday that he will not take part in the contest. Bonds set an all-time record by hitting 73 homers in 2001.
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> When asked why he would not participate, Bonds told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: "Because I'm a grown man and I don't have to do it."
"Did Michael Jordan play in the slamfest every year?" Bonds asked. "Nobody asked him why. I'm 30-something years old. They didn't even ask me. Go ahead and get mad at me. Say what you want, but no."
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Sosa told reporters Sunday that he also would not participate in the Home Run Derby, even though it will be held in Chicago. In recent years, baseball's four leading home-run hitters were invited to the Derby and selected others were given courtesy invitations.
Sosa, who's missed 17 games this season because of a toe ailment and another seven due to a suspension for cork being discovered in one of his bats, was invited to participate but decided to take the full three days off after learning he didn't get selected to the team. Sosa had been on the last five NL All-Star teams.
Bonds and Sosa have combined for 1,151 homers in their careers. They are currently 1-2 in career home runs among active players.
NL manager Dusty Baker, the manager of Sosa's Cubs, made the ultimate decision to bypass his top star for the game.
"Since Sammy wasn't voted by the players or by the fans ... I think it might be a good idea that Sammy use this break and go underground," Baker said.
