COLUMNIST DOESN’T WANT BRANDED BONDS BALL IN HALL: Barry Bonds’ record-breaking ball is on its merry way to the Baseball Hall of Fame. But a writer thinks Cooperstown should further mark the horsehide, “return to sender“:

Rob Parker of the DETROIT NEWS thinks it’s wrong for the Hall to accept the tainted treasure, saying it would set “a bad precedent” for other collectors donating their goods.

Parker argues that Bonds hasn’t officially been found guilty of any steroid or durg use, so it would be a smack to the face of the surly slugger - and to baseball history.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland, who oversaw Bonds back in his Pirate days, doesn’t like the branding, either, but as he would tell the Hall, “If you don’t want it, don’t take it.”

On the other side of the stitching, Hall of Famer Al Kaline says the ball should be welcome, countering that “the history of baseball has to be shown, whether pro or con.”

Parker’s biggest concern is what affect the doctored ball will have on future Hall items given by opinionated owners: “What if someone wants to donate a Ty Cobb jersey with the word ‘racist’ written on it? Or a Pete Rose bat with the word ‘gambler’?”

If Charlie Hustle gets a cut of the admission sales, we’re sure he’d be cool with it.