Corrina_Sullivan's Blog

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. (AP) -- Asterisk or not, the ball Barry Bonds launched for his record-breaking 756th home run won't land in the Hall of Fame.

The Hall said Tuesday recent talks with fashion designer Marc Ecko, who bought the souvenir for more than $750,000 last September, had "unfortunately reached an impasse." "The owner's previous commitment to unconditionally donate the baseball has changed to a loan. As a result, the Hall of Fame will not be able to accept the baseball," the Hall said in a statement. "Should the owner choose to unconditionally donate the ball to the museum at a future date, we would be delighted and of course, accept his offer," it said.

Nearly all of the Hall's 35,000-plus artifacts were presented on a permanent basis. The shrine does make exceptions, especially when it has nothing else to illustrate a story -- Willie Mays loaned the glove he used to make his famous, over-the-shoulder catch in the 1954 World Series. Bonds donated the batting helmets he wore when he hit his 755th and 756th home runs last August, breaking Hank Aaron's career record.

Ecko bought the 756 ball a month later in an online auction for $752,467, exceeding most expectations. With some claiming the record was tainted because of steroid allegations against Bonds, Ecko set up a Web site to let people vote on three options for the prize: give it straight to the Hall, mark it with an asterisk before sending it to Cooperstown or shoot it into space on a rocket ship.

In late September, Ecko said 10 million votes were recorded and that 47 percent favored adding an asterisk, 34 percent wanted it sent to the Hall and 19 percent picked outer space.

Now's your chance to vote. Did voters make the right selection? Should the ball be given to the Hall, marked with an asterisk or should NASA shoot it into space on a rocket ship?

Thanks for blogging,

Corrina