Barry Bonds: 1986 - 2007

take all of the above with a grain of salt. or some b-12.

take all of the above baseball stats with a grain of salt. or some b-12.

or at least put them in context.

Like the Hall of Fame

Bob Feller to thread

If Barry's career had ended in 1999 would people now be referring to him as the best position player of his generation and the best player since Willie Mays?

Bonds’ rep on 2008 return: ‘Prospects look bleak’
By BEN WALKER, AP Baseball Writer

NEW YORK (AP)—Don’t expect to see Barry Bonds showing up in a pennant race.

Bonds has not received a single offer, agent Jeff Borris said Monday. He dismissed recent reports of interest from Arizona, the New York Mets and Boston.

“I’m an optimistic guy by nature,” Borris said, “and I’ve told Barry that the prospects look bleak.”

Bonds, who turns 44 in two weeks, led the majors last season with a .480 on-base percentage. He finished the year with 762 career home runs and became a free agent when the San Francisco Giants did not bring him back.

“Barry is in shape right now,” Borris said. “He’s not in game shape, so he’d have to have the chance to hit off of live pitching. But he’s told me that he would be ready in a very short period of time. He thinks he can be ready 10 days, two weeks.”

“And with the first trading deadline coming up, I can’t understand why my phone is not ringing off the hook,” he added.

A 14-time All-Star outfielder, Bonds was absent for All-Star media day Monday, a day before the game at Yankee Stadium.

“He was in this room last year. It’s a weird feeling. The same player,” Borris said, surrounded by National League stars in a hotel ballroom. “His 2007 performance would indicate that he had legitimate shot of being in this room again.

“No one is even asking about him. I talk to the clubs every day for a variety of reasons and his name is never brought up anymore. I’m more convinced now than ever that he won’t be in a major league uniform in 2008, and I think that’s a pathetic way for him to go out,” he said. “I think he’s deserving of better. He gave his heart and soul to this game.”

New York Mets closer Billy Wagner missed Bonds.

“I hate that he’s not here,” the six-time All-Star reliever said. “Barry usually gave me a ride to the stadium.”

“I judge a person by how they treat me, and he always treated me well,” he said. “Such a great player, it’s sad.”

Borris has previously said Bonds would be willing to play for a prorated share of the $390,000 minimum and donate his salary to buy tickets for kids.

The players’ union has told the commissioner’s office it was concerned over the lack of offers for Bonds. No grievance has been filed.

Bonds was indicted last November on charges he lied when he told a grand jury in 2003 he didn’t knowingly use performance-enhancing drugs. A trial is scheduled to start March 2 in San Francisco.

“People consider him the poster boy for the steroid era,” Borris said.

Bonds hit .276 last year with 28 home runs, 66 RBIs and a major league-high 132 walks. He was the prime focus of the All-Star game last July when it was held at the Giants’ waterfront ballpark, and he broke Hank Aaron’s home run record of 755 the next month.

The Red Sox (David Ortiz), the Mets (Moises Alou) and Arizona (Eric Byrnes) have lost key players this year in their quest to division titles. Those injuries led to speculation their teams might pursue Bonds.

“The rumors about Arizona, the Mets and Boston are completely false. He never had a secret workout with the Red Sox,” Borris said. “I’ve had numerous conversations with all three organizations, back to the time when Barry became a free agent in November of ‘07, and none of those clubs are interested in him.”

“Barry would play for any one of those clubs if they extended an offer,” he said. “Would he make a difference in the standings? I think so, no matter what team he played for.”

http://images.stltoday.com/stltoday/resources/bondspujols625july13.jpg

honestly, it's a g-damn shame. I'm sure lots of people are tickled by this but I dont count in those ranks. knowing what we now know about the juiced era; he's gotten a raw deal. yes, he's a jerk to the press but I dont think anyone can argue that in his own way, he has complete reverence for the game of baseball.

If Barry's career had ended in 1999 would people now be referring to him as the best position player of his generation and the best player since Willie Mays?

Yeah, but only statheads. From regular dudes on the street, we would have heard stuff like "he didn't even hit 500 homers" or "Tony Perez played longer and drove in more runs for winning teams".

Haha maybe (okay not about that Tony Perez thing no one would say that), but he was already three time MVP, an eight time Gold Glove and All Star and was probably the most feared hitter in the NL over the preceding decade (not to mention one of the few 40-40 guys and the only 400/400 guy, right?) He wasn't going to suffer the fate of Darrell Evans or someone like that in that he was already a sure fire HoFer (can't remember if he was on that All Century team thing.) And while he wasn't a well liked guy even then most of the most negative baggage came post-1999.

in his own way, he has complete reverence for the game of baseball

In his own way being cheating?

Griffey was elected to the All-Century team; Bonds was not. I kinda understand the whole BALCO thing just from that.

"It's not cheating if there's no enforcement" seems reasonable REAL-WORLD logic to me.

Insert Bill James' traveling-in-basketball analogy here.

Griffey vs. Bonds would have obv been the debate and while it's obv that the fans might have preferred the former, for pundits the case isn't quite so clear (writer's might not have loved Bonds, but they certainly respected him) and among active players I think only maybe Belle and Thomas were as feared (the noise of Griffey's CF reputation clouds things I guess.)

why isnt belle in the hof

Because he was a jerk.

Also he had a very short career.

Bonds' Agent: He Won't Play This Season
John Shea, Chronicle Staff Writer

Tuesday, July 15, 2008 (07-15) 04:00 PDT

New York - -- Barry Bonds' agent said "it's pretty obvious" the home run king won't play in the majors this year, his strongest comments to date about the unlikelihood of Bonds returning to uniform.

"I'm not optimistic any team will take him," agent Jeff Borris told The Chronicle on Monday. "I'm not a pessimistic person by nature, but it's pretty obvious he will not be a major-leaguer in 2008, because no team believes that he will be a good fit."

Borris said the 43-year-old outfielder, who had 28 homers and 66 RBIs with a .480 on-base percentage for the Giants last year, isn't ready to hang up his spikes despite the lack of an interested team.

"Barry's not retiring, no," Borris said.

Borris said Bonds hasn't faced live pitching and hasn't recently hit off a tee, but he said his client continues to work out and would be ready to play in 10 days. Borris doesn't expect a call.

"He deserves to go out on his own terms, not to be run out of the game in this fashion," Borris said. "He gave his heart and soul to this game. What's going on right now is not good."

Borris said he sent his file on Bonds to the players' union and hinted of collusion - "If this doesn't raise suspicion, I don't know what does" - though he didn't directly accuse the 30 teams or Major League Baseball.

"He still doesn't have an offer, even for a minimum salary," Borris said.

Asked about rumors that teams, including the Red Sox, Mets, Diamondbacks and Rays, spoke during the season of possibly signing Bonds, Borris said, "Those are all false rumors, including the one about his secret workout with the Red Sox. None of that stuff is based on any fact."

the federal indictment part is what I can't get past in regard to if he's getting the shaft.

what's the statute of limitations on perjury?

the giants should sign him to a 1 day deal so he can retire with a little class.

what are the chances of bonds going to japan and making a run at sadaharu oh's number?

"With Crawford and Longoria going down simultaneously, I thought I’d make one last vain attempt to reach out to Tampa Bay, and to no avail. That’s because Major League Baseball has been successful in their pursuit in blackballing Barry out of the game."
— Barry Bonds' agent, Jeff Borris

barry bonds rip

I don't want Bonds in the HoF or record books but this is kind of a bullshit place to draw the line: wife beating, cocaine, being jason giambi - are somehow more acceptable?

Clemens is fine though amirite?

I honestly don't see how it could hurt to sign Bonds at this point. If it's just for the remainder of the season, and it could mean the difference between making the playoffs or not? Why not go for it?

the all-powerful zeitgeist

zeitgeist? what's that? some sort of commie plot?

...but seriously, let 'em all in. asterisks are for the birds.

id imagine the combination of his reputation as the worst person in the world demanding the most special treatment and the fact that you might lose him to court dates anyway is whats keeping teams away

good post.

Let me fix your post, higgins: ...but seriously, let 'em all in. asterisks are for the redbirds.

^racist

i know a few of you were holding on hope, but alas:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/12/10/SPUI1B20LT.DTL

He's a lousy tipper too!

Bonds' agent: "I'd say it's nearly impossible. It's an unfortunate ending to a storied career."
Amazing: "storied" is an anagram of "steroid"!

He came that close to a first-ballot HOF Freudian slip.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2010-02/52175382.jpg

http://www.kingkaufman.com/2010/10/27/barry-bonds/

Whoever says the SF fans dont like Barry Bonds have never set foot in AT&T/SBC/Pac Bell park

Agreed.

LOS ANGELES (CBS / BCN)

Former San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds was cited for a traffic infraction in West Hollywood on Monday night in the hours after the Giants’ World Series win over the Texas Rangers.

Bonds was pulled over in his Lexus by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department about 10:10 p.m. on San Vicente Boulevard near Sunset Boulevard, sheriff’s Detective Thomas Brooks said.
He was cited for making an illegal left turn and driving without insurance, Brooks said. Bonds was also talking on his cell phone at the time but was not cited for that.

“He was actually in the middle of a phone interview about the Giants when he was pulled over,” Brooks said.

weho cops (la county sheriffs iirc) suck

A friend linked to an old Grant Brisbee piece about Bonds the other day, and when I clicked on a clip embedded in the piece, this turned up in the sidebar:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boNS5G0BxWs

Never knew anything about this--only a year after George Brett.

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/20279388/barry-bonds-says-wishes-played-one-more-year

The San Francisco Giants have announced that they will retire Barry Bonds’s number on August 11th prior to a matchup with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Is that ice cold or thoughtful?

depends if Jim Leyland shows up? (I don't think Jeff Kent will)

seems thoughtful i guess? the only person currently affiliated with the pirates who has any memory of him is bob walk, tho

60 today.

Happy 60th birthday to the greatest hitter of all time🫡 pic.twitter.com/QcenGnpduH

— KNBR (@KNBR) July 24, 2024

Unverified: "Barry Bonds had a .507 OBP in the 54 games in 2004 that he went hitless."

Re above clip: accounting for Williams' war service and Bonds' PED use, I do think Williams was the greatest hitter ever.

(Meaning Williams lost a lot of prime playing time--not that I'm giving him bonus points for serving.)

SF Giants YouTube just dropped this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZonUcRlDWUI

Bonds discussing some of his career highlights. Includes the Gagne AB!

the more i listen to old relaxed bonds the more i believe in the depths of my heart that he got nothing but hate from the white media and nothing that he did or didn't do 'to the media' was his doing

yaknowwhatimean

He was definitely had some immature moments and was very confrontational. Jim Leeland and Jeff Kent can attest. He had a special leather lounge chair only he could sit in in the Giants locker room. Definitely had some diva moments, and was accused of domestic abuse by an ex, but that said, I agree that some his media relations could have been driven by racism. He certainly grew up with an intense cynicism and distrust of the media due to his Godfather's (Mays) influence growing up.

Man I need to do more editing of my posts when on my phone.

Ah yes, Jeff Kent...

Noted racist (ask Dusty, Bonds, Milton Bradley, James Loney, Matt Kemp... list too long to complete)
Dugout bully (ask David Bell & Bonds)
Infamously hated by teammates for his entire career in Toronto, NY, Cleveland, SF, LA & Houston
Went on an anti-Obama screed on national TV
Donated $15k to Prop 8 (banning gay marriage in CA)
Lied to TX Rangers (police), his agent, Giants management, his Giants teammates for breaking his wrist while doing wheelies on a major street claiming he fell off a ladder washing his truck
Infamous asshole to fans
Criticized Vin Scully "he talks too much"
Hated SF/LA & California despite being from LA & going to Cal!
Mormon
MAGAt

Anyways, Jimmy The Mod OTM.

Regarding Kent and Bonds, Joan Ryan wrote almost a whole chapter in her team chemistry book about them, and while they loathed each other, they also respected the other as players.

Both Bonds and Kent speak with remarkable candor about their highly functional contempt for one another. Together, they help stomp out the notion that chemistry means being BFFs.

“Why do you care that Jeff Kent is over there looking at properties for his hunting place? Who gives a crap?” Bonds says now. “When it came to game time, what name would you want on the back of the uniform of the guy playing second base? I want Jeff Kent.”

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/1905026/2020/07/09/intangibles-examines-team-chemistry-with-help-from-barry-bonds-and-jeff-kent/

Also while griffey jr looks jolly and round old barry looks like he could still go rope a few doubles if asked

His girlfriend is highly decorated road cyclist:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mari_Holden

They are often seen riding around SF together.

Barry has said that "cycling has saved my life". He now sponsors a womens pro team:

https://i.imgur.com/u1zRiHG.jpeg

Barry is often cycling in the bay! A few years ago (might have been pre-pandemic) I recall biking up Camino Alto north towards Corte Madera, and I checked my Strava to find that Barry B had biked up an hour prior and crushed my time. Looked at the profile and it was the GOAT.

Ah yes, Jeff Kent...

And yes I'm quite aware he's a dick, but so honestly so was Barry. I enjoyed watching them both play, especially Bonds. Barry has mellowed out a lot since he's retired. He's found some peace and it's great to see. But he's no Jerry Rice or Steph Curry, in that they are GOATs who are profoundly likable and humble, especially in their prime, which is quite a rare superstar quality.

Again let's not forget Bonds was accused of domestic abuse.

Far more worthy of remembering than him being rude to the press or the roids tbqh.