One man and seven years ago one selfish player brought forth on this national past time a new plague, conceived in greed and dedicated to the intention that all men would not be equal.
Now we are engaged in a great debate, testing whether one man, or any man, so conceived and so dedicated to cheating can ruin a century of history. We are met on the baseball diamond with a battle that divides a nation. We have come to suspect this man, and condemn him to a life of shame, for those who here gave their all so that baseball might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that he should be scorned and ridiculed.
Because of this one man, we can not dedicate – we can not consecrate – we can not hallow -- this record. The men that came before him, living and dead, who struggled to play a g@me at such a high level, will judge his records and his sins. The world should little note, nor long remember what he has done, but we can never forget what he did. It is for us, the fans, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work, which he has trod underfoot, which they who played before him have thus far so nobly achieved. It is rather for us to celebrate the achievements of those men – that from these honored men we take increased devotion to the g@me that they gave the last full measure of devotion – that we highly revere that these past players shall not have played in vain – that this past time, in all its glory, shall have a new birth of freedom – and that game, of the people, by the people, and for the people, shall remain free of this scourge for all eternity.