Giant of history

America last night crowned a new home run king, a scandal-tainted star who emerged from baseball's steroid era to succeed two of the national pastime's most revered icons, Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron, and claim the most hallowed record in sports.

The San Francisco Giants' Barry Bonds completed his long, anguished quest for the title at 8:51 p.m. PST, when he hit a 3-and-2 fastball from Washington's Mike Bacsik over the right-center-field wall at AT&T Park for the 756th home run of his stormy career.

The home run came with one out in the fifth inning and gave the Giants a 5-4 lead over the Nationals in a game they eventually lost, 8-6. It was Bonds's 22d home run of the season and his third hit of the night. He doubled in the second inning and singled in the third, scoring all three times he reached base.

Amid a tumult of cheers, the enigmatic Giants star ended Aaron's 33-year reign as the nation's all-time home run leader. Bonds, 43, was mobbed by teammates and his family at home plate.

Addressing his home fans during a ceremony shortly after he crossed the plate -- with his godfather, Hall of Famer Willie Mays, at his side -- Bonds said, "Thank you very much. I got to thank all of you, all the fans here in San Francisco. It's been fantastic. I got to thank my teammates. Through all of this, you've been strong and given me all the support I needed and I'll never forget it as long as I live."

After thanking his wife, children, and the Nationals, Bonds paid tribute to his father, late major league star Bobby Bonds.

"To my dad," he said as he shed tears and his voice broke while he pointed skyward, "Thank you for everything."

Aaron had said for some time that he would not be in attendance for the record-breaking homer, but as part of the ceremonies, a congratulatory message from Aaron was played on the stadium's video scoreboard.

"It is a great accomplishment which required skill, longevity, and determination," Aaron's statement said in part. "I move over now and offer my best wishes to Barry and his family on this historic achievement."

Absent were many political leaders and dignitaries who typically gravitate to memorable moments in baseball history. Many were wary of associating with Bonds, as a federal grand jury investigates whether he committed perjury when he testified that he never knowingly used anabolic steroids.

Baseball commissioner Bud Selig, a close friend of Aaron, was not in attendance last night. He chose to stay in New York for a meeting later this week with baseball's chief steroids investigator, George Mitchell. Selig was represented in San Francisco by Major League Baseball executive vice president Jimmie Lee Solomon and Hall of Famer Frank Robinson, who is now a special assistant to Selig. The commissioner was in attendance last Saturday when Bonds tied Aaron's mark with a homer in San Diego.

"I congratulate Barry Bonds for establishing a new career home run record," Selig said in a statement. "Barry's achievement is noteworthy and remarkable . . . While the issues which have swirled around this record will continue to work themselves toward resolution, today is a day for congratulations on a truly remarkable achievement."

Bonds took the field for the top of the sixth but was replaced by Rajai Davis so he could come off to another standing ovation.

Dogged since 2003 by the federal inquiry and a public backlash over his alleged steroid abuse, Bonds gained a measure of relief from his record-setting home run. As he inched within striking range of making history, the pressure intensified as the media scrutinized his every move and fans everywhere but in San Francisco mocked and ridiculed him.

Ruth's record had endured from his retirement in 1935 until Aaron hit his 715th career home run in 1974. And after Aaron hit his 755th and final home run July 20, 1976 his record for many years was considered unsurpassable.

Then Bonds seemed to begin defying nature. At age 35, when many elite athletes have entered the twilight of their careers, Bonds hit a career-high 49 home runs in 2000. At 36, he hit 73 home runs in 2001 to set the season record. He followed with 46 home runs in 2002, 45 in 2003, and 45 in 2004.

But he did it with a secret helper, according to Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams, investigative reporters for the San Francisco Chronicle who wrote the book "Game of Shadows: Barry Bonds, BALCO, and the Steroids Scandal that Rocked Professional Sports." They allege that Bonds responded to the proliferation of steroids in the game by beginning to use performance-enhancing drugs after the 1998 season.

Bonds, who has denied the allegations, hit 411 home runs over his first 13 seasons through 1998, an average of 31.6 a year. In the nine seasons since he allegedly began to cheat, he has hit 345 home runs.

But his march toward Aaron's record turned into a joyless odyssey. Wherever he played beyond San Francisco, Bonds endured chants of "Steroids," "BALCO," and "Cheater." Fans dressed as hypodermic needles, waved placards bearing asterisks, or hoisted signs decorated with syringes in the shape of asterisks, expressing their belief that his record should be accompanied by a disclaimer.

Bonds said he also received death threats, though he experienced nothing as harrowing as the barrage of racially motivated death threats Aaron endured while he chased Ruth's record.

The player considered the most favorably positioned to catch Bonds is Alex Rodriguez, who has 500 home runs at age 32. But even Rodriguez would need to average nearly 40 home runs a season over seven years to approach the record, a formidable challenge.

The crown, meanwhile, belongs to Bonds, whether baseball fans like it or not.

Bob Hohler can be reached at hohler@globe.com; material from wire services was used in this report.