Judge, 30, had just broken the years-old record for most home runs in a single season, and he has been receiving plaudits from around the U.S., including a personal note of congratulations from President Joe Biden on Twitter.

While there has been much adulation for Judge’s phenomenal efforts, there are many who have said on social media that Barry Bonds is still the rightful owner of the record.

Bonds, 58, had a controversial career with Pittsburgh Pirates (1986 to 1992) and San Francisco Giants (1993 to 2007), in which he was seen as a central figure in a doping scandal that dogged Major League Baseball (MLB).

While Bonds is considered by many to be the greatest baseball player ever, the shroud of steroid abuse hung over him and he didn’t secure enough votes to get a place in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Many believe that Bonds’ total of 73 home runs in a single season, which he hit in 2001, is still the undisputed record, but after steroid allegations hit the game, his efforts have been effectively since been expunged.

With Judge now being lauded, the debate surrounding Bonds has reignited on social media, with many taking to Twitter to dismiss Judge’s recordbreaking season.

One fan, arguing in favour of Bonds, tweeted: “Barry Bonds hit 73 and he did not cheat because the Banning of steroids did not take effect until 2001 he hit 73 in 2001 but testing did not take effect until 2003 which makes what he did legal that’s why it’s a record case dismissed.”

Another Twitter user wrote: “No need to explain how someone could hit 73. At the end of the day bud you still have to hit the round ball with a round ball and hit that ball already 300ft in some places. Barry Bonds is THE homerun king until someone gets 74. And I think judge can one day. But until then ….”

A third fan tweeted: “Barry Bonds holds the HR record. Yup, that’s the tweet.”

The debate raged on the social-media platform, with many pointing out that Bonds was cited for using performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs).

Pointing this out, one fan tweeted: “I know Barry Bonds has to wonder how many he would’ve hit without PEDs. He was a great hitter, but by definition PEDs enhanced his performance.”

There were many who believe that Bonds should not be hailed as the recordholder, with one fan tweeting: “Barry Bonds is a damned cheater whose ‘achievements’ should be struck forever from the record books.”

Bonds himself has been supportive of Judge rewriting the record books and says the player could top the all-time list for home runs, which he holds with 762.

Speaking to Sportico last month, when Judge was about to take the record, Bonds told him: “Go for it. The way he swings he might as well hit one a day and get past me. I don’t care. Why not?

“That guy [Judge] has a chance to break a lot of those records. For sure.”

When speaking about why he is yet to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Bonds said: “It doesn’t matter what people say.

“In MLB, it says Barry Bonds. That’s all that matters, right? Anyone can have their own opinion, and I respect their opinion, but MLB says 762 is the record, 73 is the record. Unless MLB changed something, they’re still there.”