Asterisk or not, Barry Bonds became baseball's home run king Tuesday, hitting No. 756 to break Hank Aaron's record.

The San Francisco slugger blasted a 3-2 pitch from Washington left-hander Mike Bacsik into the seats in right-center field in the fifth inning.

Is Bonds, tied to the BALCO scandal and alleged steroid use, now the greatest power hitter of all time?

Let the debate begin.

Arlington connection

Bacsik is a former Ranger from Duncanville High."Me and Al Downing [who gave up 715 to Aaron] can do card shows together and sign famous autographs for being the guy,"Bacsik said before the game. Bacsik's father, an Arlington resident also named Mike and also a former Ranger, faced Aaron twice when Aaron had 755 home runs.

There, not there

Bonds'godfather, Willie Mays, and Frank Robinson from the commissioner's office were at the game. Commissioner Bud Selig, Aaron and Bonds'former personal trainer, jailed Greg Anderson, weren't.

Who caught the ball?

A fan wearing a Mets jersey, Matt Murphy of New York, emerged with the souvenir and a bloodied face, and was whisked away by security.

Most powerful?

Bonds has homered once every 12.9 at-bats in his career, better than Babe Ruth (13.2) or Hank Aaron (16.4).

For the ages

When Aaron hit his last home run (off the Angels'Dick Drago on July 20, 1976) his age was 42 years, 98 days. Bonds was 43 years, 14 days Tuesday.

BONDS'HOMER HISTORY, 6D