MLB: Chris Davis Says Maris Deserves Home Run Record

Baltimore Orioles slugger Chris Davis has been absolutely phenomenal at the plate this season, having hit 33 home runs with a week still to go before the All-Star Game. While discussing his great year with ESPN’s Mike and Mike, Davis, who is on pace to hit 60 homers this season, revealed his feelings regarding the single-season home run record:

"There’s a lot of things that have been said about the guys who have come after him [Maris] and you know and have achieved the record, but I think as far as the fans are concerned they still view Maris as being the all-time home run record [holder] and I think you have to. There’s no doubt that Barry [Bonds] and Mark [McGwire] and any of those guys had ridiculous seasons and had some great years, but I think when you get to the root of the record I still think it’s Roger Maris’."

Davis also addressed accusations that he is a PED user like Bonds and McGwire were. Davis called such suspicions understandable but went on to decry his critics:

"I think the biggest thing for me to remember is you know as long as I continue to do things the way I’ve always done [them] you know can’t really rely on what other people are going to say. We get drug tested just like everybody else, we have the strictest drug testing policy in all of professional sports and I actually think in a way it’s kind of a backhanded compliment."