Home-run inflation robbed him of some of the attention he deserved, so let's refocus: his 73 dingers for the San Francisco Giants is one of the greatest performances in baseball's long history. He also set the record for walks and slugging percentage, held by one George Herman Ruth. With Mark McGwire retired, and the great Sammy Sosa stuck in the mid-60s, this home-run record won't be broken by anyone else anytime soon.
Animated actors dominated the box office, Barry Bonds hit 73 and 'It' turned out to be a scooter. TIME picks the bests and the worsts of this year...