Barry's World: How Much Will HR Ball No. 756 Cost?

Barry's World is the FanHouse's look into the season that is Barry Bonds.

Collecting sports memorabilia is a big deal to many fans. They'll spend thousands, if not millions, on commemorative gear. You'll see vintage baseball card collections go for seven digits. Heck, even Luis Gonzalez's chewing gum went for 10 grand. But perhaps topping the list of all sports collectibles are notable home run balls in baseball history. Mark McGwire's 70th home run ball fetched a reported $3 million. Barry Bonds' HR ball that broke Babe Ruth's 714 career mark went for over $200,000. So now the question becomes, how much will Barry's record breaking home run no. 756 ball go for? Well, now we know -- it will sell for at least a million bucks.

A Dallas auction house is already talking turkey, offering $1 million for the ball Bonds hits to break Hank Aaron's career record of 755.
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"The all-time home run record is the most hallowed record in all of American sports,'' said Chris Ivy, director of sports auctions for Heritage Auction Galleries, which made the offer. "Barry Bonds hasn't been the most popular player in baseball, but his talents are undeniable. The record will represent not only his skill but his longevity in the sport."

Well, as people say, the ball is only worth what someone will pay for it -- and at this point, that price tag is already a cool million. It's interesting to note the anticipated discrepancy between the price of McGwire's 70th home run ball, and Barry's 756 home run ball. I guess once Maris' record was shattered, it almost destroyed the market for all record setting home run balls to follow. Either that, or collectors aren't as anxious to own a piece of history created by Barry Bonds.