Tighter Security, Big Crowds On Hand As Bonds Goes For History

Saturday, July 28th 2007, 9:10 pm

By: News On 6

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) _ With Barry Bonds one home run away from equaling the biggest record in sports, the excitement among Giants fans arriving at the waterfront ballpark Saturday overshadowed any talk of indictments or steroids.

Two hours before game time, fans swirled around Willie Mays plaza, and a dozen or so larger vessels were already anchored in McCovey Cove. News vans lined King Street, and a heavy contingent of police officers on the sidewalk gave the impression that today's event was no ordinary ballgame.

``We're at full capacity and, because of the historic nature of these games, we will have a full complement of security,'' said Giants spokeswoman Staci Slaughter.

Bill Ogle, 40, who was paddling in the cove, regularly attends games in his kayak, but has only batting practice homers and foul balls to show for it. He gave up his season tickets behind home plate to float through the games (he finds it relaxing). It also might increase his odds of grabbing the record-breaker.

Homer No. 756 is estimated to be worth $400,000-$500,000 at auction, but Ogle, plans to be in the bay waters every home game until the record's broken, said he would not sell it.

``I'm a collector, I'd keep it,'' Ogle said from his kayak. ``And I'd donate it to the Hall of Fame for a period of time.''

Eighteen-year-old Brittany Spagle of Union City, wearing a Giants cap and jersey and wearing a mitt, said all the talk of Bonds' alleged use of steroids hasn't dampened her enthusiasm for her favorite player.

``Over time people will look at it differently,'' she said. ``He's the greatest player of all time.''

Her mother, Maria Spagle, 43, is also sick of all the negative talk about Bonds.

``We just love baseball,'' she said, ``He deserves to break the record. He's given us so many thrills over the years.''

Brittany said she would give the record-breaking ball back to Bonds, and hopes the Giants would give her season tickets in return. ``Just to shake Barry's hand would mean more than the value of the ball to me.''

Because of the intense interest in catching the ball, the Giants are limiting the number of people who can access the jam-packed right field arcade to only those with tickets. Usually fans can walk through the area, which overlooks the cove. But now guards are posted at each side, Slaughter said.