Barry Bonds

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Barry Bonds
File:Beiserebatedor.jpg
San Francisco Giants – No. 25
Left field
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
debut
May 30, 1986, for the Pittsburgh Pirates
Career statistics
(through July 3, 2007)
AVG.299
HR751
RBI1,972
SB514
SLG.608
Teams

Barry Lamar Bonds (born July 24 1964 in Riverside, California) is a Major League Baseball player with the San Francisco Giants. He is the son of former Major League All-Star Bobby Bonds, cousin of Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson, and the godson of Hall of Famer Willie Mays.[1]

Bonds holds the single season major league records for home runs (73), on base percentage (.609), slugging percentage (.863), and walks (232).

Bonds is the all-time major league leader in career walks (2,505) and intentional walks (656). Through July 3, 2007, when he hit his 751st home run (against the Cincinnati Reds), Bonds is 2nd in career home runs with 751, trailing only Hank Aaron by 4 home runs. Bonds tops the list of career home runs in the National League, having eclipsed Aaron's previous record of 733. Bonds also ranks 2nd all-time in extra base hits (1,422), 3rd in both at bats per home run (12.9) and runs (2,177), 4th in total bases (5,897), 5th in RBI (1,972), and 6th in both on base percentage (.444) and slugging percentage (.608).

Through 2006 he led all active players in home runs, RBI (1,930), walks (2,426), intentional walks (645), on-base percentage (.443), runs (2,152), games (2,860), extra-base hits (1,398), at-bats per home run (13.0), and total bases (5,784). He is 2nd in doubles (587), slugging average (.608), stolen bases (509), at-bats (9,507), and hits (2,874), 4th in triples (77), and 8th in strikeouts (1,485).

Bonds has also won a record seven MVP awards, his closest competitors trailing with three. On July 1, 2007, Barry Bonds was selected to his 14th All-Star Game. His numerous achievements place Bonds in the company of many of the game's greatest hitters such as Pete Rose, Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, Rogers Hornsby and Ted Williams.

Since 2003, Bonds has been a key figure in the BALCO scandal. A number of journalists have long alleged that Bonds used steroids as well as other performance-enhancing substances. Bonds has not been charged with any crime in connection with the BALCO incident, nor linked to any chemical abuse, other than by allegation. The steroids he is accused of taking were not outlawed by baseball at the time he allegedly took them; however, they were and are illegal in the United States without a prescription. During his baseball career, he has never failed a steroid test. He is also under investigation for perjury by a federal grand jury regarding his testimony before the 2003 grand jury investigating the BALCO case, in which he denied using performance-enhancing drugs.

Bonds lives in San Francisco with his wife and his son, Tim, who is a batboy for the Giants.

Early life

Bonds attended Junípero Serra High School in San Mateo, California and excelled in baseball, basketball and football. As a freshman, he spent the baseball season on the JV team. The next 3 years —1980-82—he starred on the varsity. He batted .467 his senior year, and was honored as a prep All-America. The Giants drafted Bonds in the second round of the 1982 MLB draft as a high school senior, but instead of pursuing big league baseball immediately, he decided to attend college.[2]

Bonds ended up playing baseball at Arizona State University. In 1984 he batted .360 and stole 30 bases. In 1985 he hit 23 home runs with 66 RBIs and a .368 batting average. He was a Sporting News All-American selection that year. He graduated from Arizona State in 1986 with a degree in criminology.

Major league career

Bonds was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first round (sixth overall) of the 1985 MLB draft. After stints with the minor league Prince Island Pirates and Hawaii Islanders, he made his major league debut on May 30, 1986.

In 1986, Bonds finished 6th in Rookie of the Year voting, hitting 16 home runs and stealing 36 bases. He hit 25 home runs in his sophomore season, along with 32 stolen bases and 59 RBIs. Bonds improved in 1988, hitting .283 with 24 home runs. Bonds started off his 1989 campaign well, but petered off quickly, finishing with 19 homers and 58 RBIs.

Bonds won his first MVP award in 1990, hitting .301 with 33 home runs and 114 RBI. His 52 stolen bases were third in the league. He won his first Gold Glove and Silver Slugger Awards. In 1991, Bonds also put up great numbers, hitting 25 homers and driving in 116 runs, and obtained another Gold Glove and Silver Slugger. He finished second to NL batting champion Terry Pendleton in the MVP voting. The next season, Bonds won his second MVP award. He dominated the NL, hitting .311 with 34 homers and 103 RBIs. Bonds led the Pirates to the National League East division title where the Pirates fell to the Atlanta Braves. Bonds was involved in the final play in Game 7 of the NLCS, where he tried to throw out Atlanta Braves first baseman Sid Bream. But the throw to catcher Mike LaValliere was late and Bream scored the winning run. For the third consecutive season, the NL East Champion Pirates were denied a trip to the World Series.

San Francisco Giants

In 1993, Bonds left the Pirates to sign a lucrative free agent contract worth a then-record $43.75 million over 6 years with the Giants, with whom his father spent the first 7 years of his career, and with whom his godfather and idol Willie Mays played 22 of his 24 Major League seasons. Bonds hit .336 in 1993, leading the league with 46 home runs and 123 RBI en route to his second consecutive MVP award and third overall. As good as the Giants were (winning 103 games), the Atlanta Braves won 104 in what some call the last great pennant race [3] (due to the Wild Card being instituted shortly after).

In the strike-shortened season of 1994, Bonds hit .312 with 37 home runs and a league-leading 74 walks. He finished 4th in MVP voting. In 1995 Bonds hit 33 homers and drove in 104 runs, hitting .294 but finishing 12th in MVP voting.

In 1996, Bonds became the first National League player to hit 40 home runs and steal 40 bases in the same season (since matched by Alfonso Soriano then with the Washington Nationals). Bonds drove in 129 runs with a .308 average and walked a then-National League record 151 times. During the season he became the 4th player in history to steal 300 bases and hit 300 home runs for a career, joining Willie Mays, Andre Dawson, and Bobby Bonds. In 1997 Bonds hit .291, his lowest average since 1989. He hit 40 home runs for the second straight year and drove in 101 runs, leading the league in walks again with 145. He tied his father in 1997 for having the most 30/30 seasons.

In 1998, Bonds got off to a very rocky start, and some were starting to wonder if Barry was beginning to age. By season's end however, he put those notions to rest. He hit .303 with 37 home runs and drove in 122 runs, winning his eighth Gold Glove, and became the first player ever to have 400 home runs and 400 stolen bases. With 2 out in the 9th inning of a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on May 28, 1998, Bonds became the third player in history to be walked intentionally with the bases loaded (Nap Lajoie and Bill Nicholson were the first two).[4]. Bonds finished 8th in the MVP voting.

Throughout the 1990s, Bonds was an exceptionally patient hitter and a great slugger who stole bases and played Gold Glove defense. Bill James ranked Bonds as the best player of the 1990s, adding that the decade's 2nd-best player (Craig Biggio) had been closer in production to the decade's 10th-best player than to Bonds.

In 1999, with only statistics through 1997 being considered, Bonds ranked Number 31 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players, making him the highest-ranking active player. When the Sporting News list was redone in 2005, Bonds was ranked 6th behind Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, and Hank Aaron. Bonds was omitted from 1999's Major League Baseball All-Century Team, which Griffey was elected to. James wrote of Bonds, "Certainly the most unappreciated superstar of my lifetime... Griffey has always been more popular, but Bonds has been a far, far greater player."

In 1999, James rated Bonds as the 16th best player of all time. "When people begin to take in all of his accomplishments", James predicted, "Bonds may well be rated among the five greatest players in the history of the game." However, at the time of this statement, the controversy regarding Bonds' drug use had not yet arisen.

Resurgence

Bonds at the plate with the Giants.

By the end of the 1999 season, Bonds was already widely regarded as a great all-around player and likely first-ballot Hall of Famer. But at an age in which most players performance begin a slow decline, Bonds was just beginning. In the next millennium Bonds would surpass his performance to date, achieving a truly extraordinary level of offensive production. In 2000, at age 36, Bonds hit .306, with a slugging average of .688 (career best at that time), and hit 49 home runs in just 143 games (also a career high to that point), while drawing a league-leading 117 walks.

The next year, Bonds' offensive production reached even higher levels, breaking not only his own personal records but several major league records. In the Giants' first 50 games in 2001, Bonds hit 28 home runs, including 17 in May - a career high.[5] He also hit 39 home runs by the All-star break (a major league record), hit a home run every 6.52 at-bats (breaking Mark McGwire's 1998 record of one home run per 7.2 at-bats), drew a major league record 177 walks, and had a .515 on-base average, a feat not seen since Mickey Mantle and Ted Williams over forty years earlier. Bonds' slugging percentage was a major league record .863 (411 total bases in 476 at-bats), and, most impressively, he ended the season with 73 home runs, a new major league record.

In 2002, Bonds hit 46 home runs in 403 at-bats. He won the NL batting title with a career-high .370 and struck out only 47 times. Despite playing in nine fewer games than the previous season, he drew 198 walks, a major-league record, 68 of them intentional. He slugged .799, then the fourth-highest total all time. Bonds broke Ted Williams' major league record for on-base average with .583. Bonds also hit his 600th home run, less than a year and a half after hitting his 500th.

In 2003, Bonds played in just 130 games. He hit 45 home runs in just 390 at-bats, along with a .341 batting average. He slugged .749, walked 148 times, and had an on-base average well over .500 for the third straight year. He also became the only member of the 500 home run/500 stolen base club.

In 2004, Bonds had perhaps his best season. He hit .362 en route to his second National League batting title, and broke his own record by walking 232 times. He slugged .812, which was fourth-highest of all time, and broke his on-base percentage record with a .609 average. Bonds passed Mays on the career home run list, hitting his 700th near the end of the season. Bonds hit 45 home runs in 373 at-bats, and struck out just 41 times, putting himself in elite company, as few people have ever had more home runs than strikeouts in a season. Bonds would win his fourth consecutive MVP award and his seventh overall. His seven MVP awards are four more than any other player in history. (The MVP award was first given in 1931.)

In the new millennium, major league baseball was shrouded in controversy over steroids. During an investigation of BALCO Laboratories, Bonds' grand jury testimony was illegally leaked and obtained by the media. In the testimony he allegedly admitted he may have unknowingly been given "the clear" and "the cream", when he was told the substances were flaxseed oil. This ignited much media speculation on Bonds in relation to the BALCO investigation.

2005 injury problems

On March 22, 2005, Bonds announced that he could be sidelined for the rest of the 2005 season because of surgery on his knee. At the press conference, Bonds also indicated that he was frustrated by the focus on his alleged steroid use and the negative portrayal of him in the media. Later, Bonds sounded positive about his rehabilitation and told fans at the Opening Day festivities, "I will be back!" The chances of Bonds' return to the playing field were covered relentlessly throughout the summer by ESPN, in anticipation of potentially unprecedented scrutiny by the media and baseball fans (baseball had toughened its steroid-testing program since Bonds had last played and Bonds was tested regularly even though he did not play). On May 4, Bonds revealed on his website that he had undergone a third arthroscopic knee surgery because of a bacterial infection in his knee. This setback led many to assume that Bonds would not play in the 2005 season, and in the process raised much speculation as to whether Hank Aaron's career home run record of 755 would be attainable by Bonds.

On August 1, in an interview with MLB.com, Bonds stated that he would most likely not return before the end of the 2005 season, due to continued buildup of fluid in the knee. On August 5, though, he stated on his website that while he was unsure of his status, he remained optimistic. In September, Bonds started working out with the team while they were in Los Angeles to play the Dodgers. On September 10, the Giants announced that Bonds would be activated on September 12. He was indeed activated that day, and immediately returned to being a starter in left field. In his return against the San Diego Padres, he nearly hit a home run in his first at-bat, but the ball was ruled to be only a double due to fan interference. Bonds finished the night 1-for-4 with a double. Upon his return, Bonds mostly continued his pre-injury dominance at the plate, hitting home runs in four consecutive games from September 18 to September 21 and finishing with five in only 14 games.

2006 season and beyond

Bonds batting versus the Chicago Cubs in 2006

On February 19, 2006, Bonds announced in an interview with USA Today that he planned on retiring at the conclusion of the 2006 season, with or without the all-time home run record. "I've never cared about records anyway", he said, "so what difference does it make? Right now, I'm telling you, I don't even want to play next year. Baseball is a fun sport. But I'm not having fun...I love the game of baseball itself, but I don't like what it's turned out to be. I'm not mad at anybody. It's just that right now I am not proud to be a baseball player."[6]

On March 9, 2006, after his first game of the preseason with the San Francisco Giants, Bonds said that he would know around the All-Star Break and in a time period ranging from July to August 2006, whether or not he would be returning for the 2007 MLB season.

Bonds started the 2006 season with a slump. Bonds hit under .200 for his first 10 games of the season. Bonds didn't hit a home run until April 22; it was his biggest home run slump since the 1998 season. Throughout May, June, July, and early August, Bonds continued with sub-par offensive performance, although as his chronic injuries began to bother him less and less as the season went on, his defensive performance improved. In August, he made several running and leaping catches of a sort that had become rare for him during recent seasons.

Then, in late August, Bonds began an offensive surge, hitting 10 home runs in 25 starts from August 21 through September 23, and lifting his batting average 40 points in the same stretch. On August 20 Bonds' batting average fell to .235, his lowest average since early May. From then to September 23, Bonds could look back to a full month on an offensive tear: a .400 batting average (34 hits in 85 official at-bats), a .800 slugging percentage, with 10 home runs, 6 doubles and 26 runs batted in, along with 19 walks and only 8 strikeouts. Although media talk about the unlikelihood of Bonds' being re-signed by the Giants for the 2007 season had grown through the season and into August, the tenor of speculation abruptly turned around with many commentators concluding that it would be difficult to ignore the late-season contribution by Bonds that was keeping the Giants in the pennant race.

Bonds in the field.

In 2006, Bonds recorded his lowest slugging percentage (a statistic that he has historically ranked among league leaders season after season) since 1991 with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Bonds at the plate against the Rockies in 2007.

In a 2005 interview with MLB.com, Bonds stated that he planned to play in 2007 if he remained healthy and if he was close to Aaron's 755 home runs. [7] With his 733rd and 734th career home runs, hit respectively on September 22 and 23, 2006, Bonds tied and then passed Henry Aaron's National League career record in Milwaukee. As of the end of the 2006 MLB season, he had 734 total.

In early December the Giants announced they had an agreement in place with Bonds on a 1 year, $15.8 million contract. On January 29, 2007, the contract was finalized as both the Giants and Bonds finally agreed to the language and terms in the contract. [8] After the commissioner's office rejected Bonds' one-year, $15.8 million deal because it contained a personal-appearance provision, the team sent revised documents to his agent, Jeff Borris. Who stated that "At this time, Barry is not signing the new documents."[9] Bonds signed a revised 1 year, $15.8 million contract on February 15, 2007, and reported to the Giants' Spring Training camp on time.

Other records

  • In 1998, Bonds tied John Olerud for the National League record of 15 consecutive plate appearances reaching base. He tied this record again in 2003.
  • In 2001, Bonds's slugging percentage of (.863) set a single-season record. He also slugged .812 in 2004, only the second time in history that a player has bettered .800 twice (Babe Ruth was the other, with .847 in 1920 and .846 in 1921).
  • In 2002, Bonds amassed a .582 on-base percentage, breaking Ted Williams' 1941 record of .551. In 2004, Bonds finished with a .609 OBP, the only time a player has bettered .600 over a full season.
  • In 2002, Bonds won the National League batting title with a .370 average, becoming the oldest player to win the honor for the first time. In 2004, he won his second batting title with a .362 average.
  • During the 2002 post-season, Bonds set the record for most home runs hit in a single post-season (8). Bonds hit .471 with 4 home runs and 13 walks (seven intentional) in the World Series, thereby slugging 1.294 with a .700 on-base percentage. The slugging percentage was a record; the on-base percentage was bettered only by Billy Hatcher in 1990.
  • In 2004, Bonds set the single-season OPS record with a total of 1.422.
  • In 2004, Bonds became the first player in history with more times on base (376) than official times at bats (373). This was due to the record number of walks, which count as a time on base but not a time at bat. He had 135 hits, 232 walks, and 9 hit-by-pitches for the 376 number.

Salary

Bonds re-signed with the Giants for a five-year, $90 million contract in January 2002. His salary for the 2005 season was $22 million, the second-highest salary in Major League Baseball (the Yankees' Alex Rodriguez earned the highest, $25.2 million). In 2006 Bonds earned $20 million (not including bonuses), the fourth highest salary in baseball. Not including the 2006 season, he has made approximately $153 million during his 19-year career, making him one of baseball's highest paid players. In 2007 Bonds resigned with the Giants, for 15.8 million dollars.[10]

Chasing the all-time home run record

On May 7, 2006, Bonds drew within one home run of tying Babe Ruth for second place, hitting his 713th career home run into the second level of Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, off of pitcher Jon Lieber in an ESPN nationally-televised game in which the Giants lost to the Philadelphia Phillies.[11] The towering home run -- one of the longest in Citizens Bank Park's two season history, traveling an estimated Template:Ft to m -- hit off the facade of the third deck in right field and was Bonds' first "pulled" home run of the 2006 season. Curiously, and perhaps revealingly, the jeers from the Philadelphia crowd that had haunted Bonds earlier that night turned noticeably into cheers as he completed his swing, watched the flight of the ball, rounded the bases, and touched home plate, all this to flashbulbs going off throughout the stands. The mixed and often paradoxical reaction to Bonds' impending achievement exemplifies the polarizing effect of his controversial career on baseball aficionados and casual observers alike. Some have ventured to say that while many fans hate Bonds, they all come to the park to see him play.[12]

A sign counts up to Barry Bonds' 714th home run

On May 9, 2006 in a game against the Chicago Cubs, Bonds hit what appeared to be his 714th home run. However, Cubs outfielder Juan Pierre leaped up at the wall and prevented him from tying Ruth's record.

On May 20, 2006, Bonds tied Ruth, hitting his 714th career home run to deep right field to lead off the top of the 2nd inning with a 1-1 count.[13] The home run came off of left handed pitcher Brad Halsey of the Oakland A's, in an interleague game played in Oakland, California at the McAfee Coliseum. Since this was an interleague game at an American League stadium, Bonds was batting as the designated hitter in the cleanup spot of the lineup for the Giants. Bonds was quoted after the game as being "just glad it's over with" and stated that more attention could be focused on Albert Pujols, the heir apparent to Bonds. Bonds went 1 for 3 with 2 walks, a run and an RBI for the day in a 4-2 victory over the Athletics.

The concession stand where home run #715 was hit in center field

On May 28, 2006, Bonds passed Ruth, hitting his 715th career home run to center field off of Colorado Rockies pitcher Byung-Hyun Kim.[14][15] Bonds, like Aaron, needed more at bats to beat the Babe's record. It came on a 3-2 pitch, with one man on base, in the bottom of the fourth inning of the final game of a home stand at AT&T Park. The ball was hit an estimated Template:Ft to m into center field where it went through the hands of several fans but then fell onto an elevated platform in center field. Then it rolled off the platform where Andrew Morbitzer, a 38-year-old San Francisco resident, caught the ball while he was in line at a concession stand. Mysteriously, broadcaster Dave Flemming's radio play-by-play of the home run went silent just as the ball was hit, apparently from a microphone failure. But the televised version, called by Duane Kuiper, was not affected. This historic home run was not officially celebrated by MLB; however, the Giants organization unfurled two large banners from light standards alongside the scoreboard in center field to honor the event. And as Bonds took his position in left field at the top of the fifth inning, Ed Montague, the long-time National League and MLB umpire and crew chief who was officiating at second base for this game, approached Bonds to congratulate him, and the two hugged. Bonds went 2 for 3 with a walk, run scored and two RBI for the day in a 6-3 loss to the Rockies while batting cleanup and playing left field.

On September 22, 2006, Bonds tied Henry Aaron's National League career home run record of 733.[16] The home run came in the top of the 6th inning of a high-scoring game against the Milwaukee Brewers, at Miller Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The achievement was notable for its occurrence in the very city where Aaron began (with the Milwaukee Braves) and concluded (with the Brewers, then in the American League) his career. With the Giants trailing 10-8, Bonds hit a blast to deep center field on a 2-0 pitch off of the Brewers' Chris Spurling with runners on first and second and one out. Though the Giants were at the time clinging to only a slim chance of making the playoffs, Bonds' home run provided the additional drama of giving the Giants an 11-10 lead late in a critical game in the final days of a pennant race. The Brewers eventually won the game, 13-12, despite Bonds' going 3 for 5, with 2 doubles, the record-tying home run, and 6 runs batted in.

On the following day, September 23, 2006, Bonds surpassed Aaron for the NL career home run record.[17] Hit in Milwaukee like the previous one, this was a solo home run off of Chris Capuano of the Brewers, and it came on a 1-0 count with 1 out in the 3rd inning of the game. This was his last home run hit in 2006.

Bonds resumed his march to the all-time record early in the 2007 season. After an opening game in which all he had was a first-inning poke single past third base against a right-shifted infield (immediately followed by a stolen base and then a base-running misjudgment that got him thrown out at home) and a deep out to left field late in the game,[18] Bonds returned the next day, 4 April 2007, with another mission. In his first at-bat of the season's second game at the Giants' AT&T Park, Bonds reached out and flipped a Chris Young (of the San Diego Padres) pitch just over the wall just to the left of straightaway center field for career home run 735.[19][20] This home run put Bonds just past the midway point between Ruth and Aaron.

Bonds did not homer again in the season until April 13th, when he hit two (736 & 737) in a 3-3 night that included 4 RBI against the Pittsburgh Pirates.[21] Home runs number 739 and 740 came in back to back games on April 21st and 22nd against the Arizona Diamondbacks.[22][23]

According to a poll ran by ABC News and ESPN, 52% of fans were rooting against Barry Bonds reaching 755 home runs, although 57% stated that they would recognize his achievement, and 58% would agree with his induction into the Hall of Fame[24].

The hype surrounding Bonds' pursuit of the home run record escalated on May 14, 2007. On this day, Sports Auction for Heritage (a Dallas-based auction house) offered US$1 million to the fan that caught Bonds' record-breaking 756th-career home run.[25] The million dollar offer was rescinded on June 11, 2007 out of concern of fan safety.[26] On that same day, Bonds launched home run #747, ending the relative drought of the previous month.[27] This one came off Josh Towers of the Toronto Blue Jays, and landed in AT&T Park's right center field stands. His next home run, #748, came on Father's Day, 17 June 2007, in the final game of a 3-game road series against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, where Bonds had never played prior to this series.[28] Fenway Park became the 36th major league ballpark in which Bonds had homered. He hit a Tim Wakefield knuckleball just over the low fence into the Giant's bullpen in right field. It was his first home run off of his former Pittsburgh Pirate teammate, who became the 441st different pitcher to surrender a four-bagger to Bonds. The 750th career home run, hit on 29 June 2007, also came off a former teammate: Livan Hernandez.[29] Bonds hit a slow curve ball in a 3-2 count, noticeably waiting for the pitch and then dropping down to lift the ball into the seats of the right field arcade. The blast came in the 8th inning and at that point tied the game at 3-3.

Controversy

The BALCO Scandal

In 2003, Bonds became embroiled in a scandal when Greg Anderson of the Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative, Bonds' trainer since 2000, was indicted by a federal grand jury in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California and charged with supplying anabolic steroids to athletes, including a number of baseball players. This led to speculation that Bonds had used performance-enhancing drugs during a time when there was no mandatory testing in Major League Baseball. Bonds declared his innocence, attributing his changed physique and increased power to a strict regimen of bodybuilding and legitimate dietary supplements.

During grand jury testimony on December 4, 2003 — which was later found to be obtained through an illegal leak by a lawyer in the case to the San Francisco Chronicle (leaking grand jury testimony is a felony) and published almost a year later, on December 3, 2004 — Bonds allegedly said Anderson gave him a rubbing balm and a liquid substance that Anderson said was arthritis cream and flaxseed oil, respectively.[30] The prosecutors contended that what Bonds was actually given was "the cream" and "the clear", which are both forms of the designer steroid THG.

In August 2005, all four defendants in the BALCO steroid scandal trial, including Anderson, struck deals with federal prosecutors that did not require them to reveal names of athletes who may have used banned drugs.

Players' Union

Bonds withdrew from the MLB Players Association's (MLBPA) licensing agreement because he felt independent marketing deals would be more lucrative for him. If Bonds had not withdrawn, his name and likeness would be deemed usable in any merchandise licensed by the MLBPA. In order to use his name or likeness, a company must deal directly with Bonds. For this reason he does not appear in some baseball video games, forcing game-makers to create generic athletes to replace him. For example, Barry Bonds is replaced by "Jon Dowd" in MVP Baseball 2005, "Wes Mailman" in All-Star Baseball 2005, "Joe Young" in MLB 2K7, "Dean Gibeau" in All Star Baseball 2006 and "Reggie Stocker" in MLB 07: The Show.

Game of Shadows

Main article: Game of Shadows
File:Barry Bonds SI Cover.jpg
Barry Bonds on the March 13, 2006 cover of Sports Illustrated heralding the release of Game of Shadows

In March, 2006 the book Game of Shadows, written by Lance Williams and Mark Fainaru-Wada, was released amid a storm of media publicity including the cover of Sports Illustrated. Initially small excerpts of the book were released by the authors in the issue of Sports Illustrated. The book alleges Bonds used stanozolol and a host of other steroids, and is perhaps most responsible for the change in public opinion regarding Bonds' alleged steroid use.

The book contained excerpts of grand jury testimony that is supposed to be sealed and confidential by law. The authors have been steadfast in their refusal to divulge their sources, and are currently facing jail time. On February 14, 2007, Troy Ellerman, one of Victor Conte's lawyers, plead guilty to leaking grand jury testimony. Through the plea agreement, he will spend two years in jail and pay a $250,000.25 fine. The government also dropped their case against Williams and Fainaru-Wada in the process.[31]

Perjury Investigation

On April 13, 2006, CNN reported that federal investigators were looking into whether or not Bonds committed perjury during his 2003 grand jury testimony relating to the BALCO steroids scandal (see "The BALCO Scandal", above).[32] In the time since CNN broke the story, other news sources, including the San Francisco Chronicle and ESPN, have reported it, as well. According to these sources, the United States Attorney's Office in San Francisco has brought evidence before another grand jury to determine if Bonds should be indicted. Before testifying to the original grand jury (in 2003), witnesses were told that they could not be charged with any crime other than perjury based on their testimony.

On July 5, 2006, Greg Anderson was found in contempt of court by U.S. District Judge William Alsup for refusing to testify before a federal grand jury investigating perjury accusations against Bonds. Anderson was denied bail and immediately sent to the Federal Correctional Institution in Dublin, California. Anderson's attorney, Mark Geragos, said he would file an appeal based on his assertion that the subpoena to testify violated Anderson's plea bargain agreement in the BALCO case.[33]

On July 11, 2006, it was reported that MLB officials expected Bonds to be indicted on perjury and tax evasion charges as early as one week from that day.[34]

On July 20, 2006 the grand jury investigating the incident retired without issuing an indictment. Bonds' trainer, Greg Anderson, was immediately released and promptly subpoenaed to testify before a new grand jury that will take up the case.[35] Anderson's attorney, Mark Geragos, stated that his client will continue to refuse to testify, meaning that Anderson could very well be jailed again for contempt of court and held for as long as the new grand jury's term lasts, which could extend beyond a year.

On July 22, 2006, it was reported that federal prosecutors had obtained Barry Bonds’ medical files as part of their investigation into whether the slugger perjured himself when he said he never knowingly used steroids. U.S. Attorney Kevin Ryan had said he had postponed his decision on whether to seek an indictment of Bonds "in light of some recent developments", and the receipt of the medical records was apparently one of those developments. The records are believed to include information about three operations Bonds had last season to treat his right knee, as well as a serious elbow injury that required surgery in 1999. Bonds’ former girlfriend, Kimberly Bell, testified that Bonds blamed the elbow injury on steroid use. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, prosecutors had subpoenaed the documents nearly two months ago, but Bonds’ attorneys went to federal court to stop the government from obtaining the records.[36]

On August 17, 2006, Greg Anderson again refused to testify before the grand jury investigating Bonds. U.S. District Judge William Alsup ordered Anderson to return to court August 28 for a contempt hearing. In requesting the hearing, prosecutors for the first time publicly acknowledged they are targeting Bonds.[37]

On August 28, 2006, Greg Anderson was held in contempt of court and sent to federal prison for a second time for refusing to answer questions from a federal grand jury investigating Bonds. U.S. District Judge William Alsup said Anderson had provided no legal justification for refusing to tell the grand jury on Aug. 17 whether he had supplied steroids to Bonds or other athletes, or even whether he knew Bonds. Mark Geragos, Anderson's lawyer, said he would file an appeal with the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.[38]

On October 5, 2006, Greg Anderson was ordered released from prison after 37 days. U.S. District Judge William Alsup ordered his release because the federal appeals court hadn't affirmed the contempt order within the required 30 days after Anderson was jailed. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeal had sent the contempt order back to Judge Alsup, thus delaying any ruling. The main contention of Anderson's appeal is that a secret, illegally-recorded tape of him discussing Bonds' steroid use is the basis for the grand jury questions he refuses to answer. Prosecutors, however, say the tape is legal and was made in a face-to-face meeting with Anderson. Although Alsup dismissed Anderson's tape claim and others, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeal sent Anderson's appeal back to the judge, saying Alsup's ruling regarding the tape was not clear enough. In clarifying his order, Alsup said he agreed with prosecutors that there was ample evidence beyond the tape to question Anderson. Prosecutors have also said the questions they want answered are based on athletes' secret testimony in the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative case and a search of Anderson's house that turned up drug records, some with Bonds' name on it. Other than the tape dispute, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had rejected the merits of Anderson's appeal.[39] In November, after the order was clarified, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed to hear Anderson's argument that his "entire grand jury process was tainted" because the government let the grand jury hear the tape. If the appeals court agrees that the tape unfairly contributed to Anderson's guilty plea, his conviction could be thrown out, even though Anderson already completed his three-month sentence. In the disputed tape recording, first reported by the San Francisco Chronicle, Anderson reportedly told an unidentified person that Bonds was using drugs that could not be detected. Alsup, who has read a transcript of the tape, called it "as worthless a piece of evidence as I've ever seen", according to newspaper reports. [40][41]

On November 16, 2006, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Greg Anderson's appeal and ruled that he must return to prison for refusing to testify before the grand jury investigation Bonds. The court ordered him to report to the Federal Correctional Institution in Dublin by November 20. The San Francisco-based appeals court agreed with U.S. District Judge William Alsup, ruling there was ample evidence beyond the tape to justify the grand jury's interest in questioning Anderson about Bonds.[42]

Greg Anderson is currently in jail awaiting an appeal before the entire 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Mark Geragos has stated he intends to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court if the entire 9th Circuit refuses to hear his appeal or rejects his appeal.[43]

Love Me, Hate Me

In May 2006, former Sports Illustrated writer Jeff Pearlman released a scathing biography of Bonds entitled Love Me, Hate Me: Barry Bonds and the Making of an Anti-Hero. Though obscured by Game of Shadows, the book also contained many allegations against Bonds. Perhaps most noteworthy were the alleged details of his three years at Arizona State University, during which time Bonds was voted off the team by a 22-2 margin by teammates. The vote came after head coach Jim Brock had suspended Bonds for violating multiple team rules. The book states that ASU coach Jim Brock initiated the vote in the expectation that the team would vote to keep Bonds; when they did not, he overruled them.

Bonds on Bonds

Main article: Bonds on Bonds

In April 2006, ESPN premiered a 10-part reality TV series starring Bonds. The show, titled Bonds on Bonds, revolves on the life of Bonds and his chase of Babe Ruth's and Hank Aaron's home run records but was met with public indifference and ridicule. It was produced by Tollin/Robbins Productions, producers of the Nickelodeon series All That and other shows and movies. Currently, this show is on permanent hiatus.

The first segment of Bonds on Bonds aired Tuesday, April 4 nationwide on ESPN2. Much of the premiere episode dealt with how Bonds has coped with questions about whether steroids have fueled his athletic performance. At one point, Bonds even started to break down in tears. "If it makes them happy to go out of their way to try to destroy me, go right ahead. You can't hurt me any more than you've already hurt me", he said. He continued by saying, "You don't see me bringing anyone else into this. I'm going to take it myself." Bonds paused as his eyes welled and he choked back tears, "And I'm going to take it because there's so many people who depend on me."

In different segments throughout the program, Bonds acknowledged his often rocky relations with the press but cast himself as a victim of critics out to tear him down. He described himself as "mentally and emotionally drained" but insisted he was not going to let anyone "bring me down."

In June 2006, ESPN and producer Tollin/Robbins Productions cancelled the series, citing "creative control" issues with Bonds and his representatives. No other details about the decision were given. Bonds on Bonds had been absent from the network's schedule since May 30, and had suffered from poor ratings.

Accomplishments

  • Holds record for most home runs in a season, (73)
  • 2nd all time for career home runs, (751)
  • Holds record for most walks in a career (2,512)
  • Holds record for most MVP awards (7) and consecutive MVP awards (4); (1990, 1992-93, 2001-04). Note: the current version of the MVP award has been given since 1931. Prior to that year, the League Awards were only given to a player once (from 1922-1929) and sometimes not at all (from 1915-1921).
  • Holds record for most pitchers homered off of (442)
  • Holds record for most consecutive games with a walk (18)
  • Shares record for consecutive plate appearances with a walk (7)
  • Holds record for consecutive seasons with 30 or more home runs (13)
  • Only player in 400 homerun and 400 stolen base club
  • Only player in 500 homerun and 500 stolen base club
  • One of four players in 40-40 club (40 homeruns and 40 stolen bases).
  • Holds record for most consecutive seasons with .600 slugging percentage or higher (8)
  • 5-time SF Giants Player of the Year (1998, 2001-04)
  • 14-Time All-Star (1990, 1992-98, 2000-04, 2007)
  • 7-Time Baseball America NL All-Star OF (1993, 1998, 2000-04)
  • 3-Time Major League Player of the Year (1990, 2001, 2004)
  • 3-Time Baseball America MLB Player of the Year (2001, 2003-04)
  • 8-Time Gold Glove winner for NL Outfielder (1990-94, 1996-98)
  • 12-Time Silver Slugger winner for NL Outfielder (1990-94, 1996-97, 2000-04)
  • Led the Major Leagues in home runs (1993, 2001)
  • Led the NL in batting average (2002, 2004)
  • Led the NL in on base percentage (1991-93, 1995, 2001-04, 2006)
  • Led the Major Leagues in slugging percentage (1990, 1992-93, 2001-04)
  • Led the Major Leagues in extra base hits (1992-93, 2001)
  • Led the Major Leagues in on base percentage (1992, 2001-04)
  • Led the NL in runs (1992)
  • Led the NL in RBIs (1993)
  • Led the NL in walks (1992, 1994-97, 2000-04, 2006)
  • Led the NL in intentional walks (1992-98, 2002-04, 2006)
  • Led the NL in runs created (1992-93, 2001-02, 2004)
  • Led the Major Leagues in total bases (1993, with 365)
  • Led the Major Leagues in runs created (1993, 2001-02, 2004)
  • Led the NL in games (1995)
  • Led the NL in extra base hits (1992-93, 2001)
  • Led the NL in at bats per home run (1992-93, 1996, 2000-04)
  • 3-Time NL Hank Aaron Award winner (2001-02, 2004)
  • Led the Major Leagues in batting average (2002, with .370)
  • Listed at # 6 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players, the highest-ranked active player, in 2005.
  • Named a finalist to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team in 1999, but not elected to the team in the fan balloting.
  • Rating of 345 on Baseball-Reference.com's Hall of Fame monitor (100 is a good HOF candidate); 9th among all hitters, highest among hitters not in HOF yet. [1]

Watchlists

Home Runs
  1. Hank Aaron 755
  2. Barry Bonds 751
  3. Babe Ruth 714
  4. Willie Mays 660
  5. Sammy Sosa 602
Extra Base Hits
  1. Hank Aaron 1477
  2. Barry Bonds 1425
  3. Stan Musial 1377
  4. Babe Ruth 1356
  5. Willie Mays 1323
Runs
  1. Rickey Henderson 2295
  2. Ty Cobb 2246
  3. Barry Bonds 2198
  4. Hank Aaron 2174
  5. Babe Ruth 2174
Times on Base
  1. Pete Rose 5929
  2. Ty Cobb 5532
  3. Barry Bonds 5524
  4. Rickey Henderson 5343
  5. Carl Yastrzemski 5304
RBI
  1. Hank Aaron 2297
  2. Babe Ruth 2217
  3. Cap Anson 2076
  4. Lou Gehrig 1995
  5. Barry Bonds 1972
Total Bases
  1. Hank Aaron 6856
  2. Stan Musial 6134
  3. Willie Mays 6066
  4. Barry Bonds 5906
  5. Ty Cobb 5854
The Road to 3000 Hits
27. Roberto Clemente+ 3000 R
28. Sam Rice+* 2987 L
29. Sam Crawford+* 2961 L
30. Frank Robinson+ 2943 R
31. Willie Keeler+* 2932 L
32. Jake Beckley+* 2930 L
Rogers Hornsby+ 2930 R
34. Al Simmons+ 2927 R
35. Barry Bonds* (42) 2902 L
+ - Indicates Hall of Famer.
Bold indicates active player
* - bats left-handed,

- Through games of July 7, 2007[44]

Career statistics (through 2007)

Year Age Team Lg G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG TB SH SF IBB HBP GDP
1986 21 PIT NL 150 413 72 92 26 3 16 48 36 7 65 102 .223 .330 .416 172 2 2 2 2 4
1987 22 PIT NL 150 551 99 144 34 9 25 59 32 10 54 88 .261 .329 .492 271 0 3 3 3 4
1988 23 PIT NL 144 538 97 152 30 5 24 58 17 11 72 82 .283 .368 .491 264 0 2 14 2 3
1989 24 PIT NL 159 580 96 144 34 6 19 58 32 10 93 93 .248 .351 .426 247 1 4 22 1 9
1990 25 PIT NL 151 519 104 156 32 3 33 114 52 13 93 83 .301 .406 .565* 293 0 6 15 3 8
1991 26 PIT NL 153 510 95 149 28 5 25 116 43 13 107 73 .292 .410* .514 262 0 13 25 4 8
1992 27 PIT NL 140 473 109* 147 36 5 34 103 39 8 127* 69 .311 .456* .624* 295 0 7 32* 5 9
1993 28 SFG NL 159 539 129 181 38 4 46* 123* 29 12 126 79 .336 .458* .677* 365* 0 7 43* 2 11
1994 29 SFG NL 112 391 89 122 18 1 37 81 29 9 74* 43 .312 .426 .647 253 0 3 18* 6 3
1995 30 SFG NL 144* 506 109 149 30 7 33 104 31 10 120* 83 .294 .431* .577 292 0 4 22* 5 12
1996 31 SFG NL 158 517 122 159 27 3 42 129 40 7 151* 76 .308 .461 .615 318 0 6 30* 1 11
1997 32 SFG NL 159 532 123 155 26 5 40 101 37 8 145* 87 .291 .446 .585 311 0 5 34* 8 13
1998 33 SFG NL 156 552 120 167 44 7 37 122 28 12 130 92 .303 .438 .609 336 1 6 29* 8 15
1999 34 SFG NL 102 355 91 93 20 2 34 83 15 2 73 62 .262 .389 .617 219 0 3 9 3 6
2000 35 SFG NL 143 480 129 147 28 4 49 106 11 3 117* 77 .306 .440 .688 330 0 7 22 3 6
2001 36 SFG NL 153 476 129 156 32 2 73* 137 13 3 177* 93 .328 .515* .863* 411 0 2 35 9 5
2002 37 SFG NL 143 403 117 149 31 2 46 110 9 2 198* 47 .370* .582* .799* 322 0 2 68* 9 4
2003 38 SFG NL 130 390 111 133 22 1 45 90 7 0 148* 58 .341 .529* .749* 292 0 2 61* 10 7
2004 39 SFG NL 147 373 129 135 27 3 45 101 6 1 232* 41 .362* .609* .812* 303 0 3 120* 9 5
2005 40 SFG NL 14 42 8 12 1 0 5 10 0 0 9 6 .286 .404 .667 28 0 1 3 0 0
2006 41 SFG NL 130 367 74 99 23 0 26 77 3 0 115* 51 .270 .454* .545 200 0 1 38* 10 9
2007 42 SFG NL 74 197 44 60 10 0 17 42 5 0 86 32 .305 .517 .614 121 0 1 30 2 7
Career totals 2934 9704 2196 2901 597 77 751 1972 514 141 2512 1517 .299 .445 .609 5905 4 90 675 105 159

See also

References

  1. ^ Britannica Relations
  2. ^ JockBio.com's Biography of Bonds
  3. ^ ESPN Classic: What makes a great Pennant Race?
  4. ^ Baseball Digest
  5. ^ Bonds Career HR Log
  6. ^ Bonds: 'I'm not playing baseball anymore after this' February 19, 2006
  7. ^ Bonds could play in 2007 to catch Aaron June 23, 2005
  8. ^ Bonds, Giants agree to deal January 29th, 2007
  9. ^ Bonds won't sign revised contract right now January 31st, 2007
  10. ^ "Is Barry Bonds Worth His $15.8 Million Salary?". The Human Capitalist (blog). 2007-04-02. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  11. ^ "Amidst Bonds spectacle, Phillies win eighth straight". ESPN Internet Ventures. 2006-05-07. Retrieved 2007-07-02.
  12. ^ "The Conundrum that is Barry Bonds" Warren Goldstein, Chronicle of Higher Education June 8, 2007 B10-B11
  13. ^ "Bonds reels in Babe, blasts home run No. 714". ESPN Internet Ventures. 2006-05-20. Retrieved 2007-07-02.
  14. ^ "Bonds' milestone homer not enough vs. Rockies". ESPN Internet Ventures. 2006-05-28. Retrieved 2007-07-02.
  15. ^ Bonds hits No. 715, passes Ruth as Giants fall to RockiesMay 28, 2006
  16. ^ "Bonds ties Aaron's NL HR mark, but Giants fall to Brewers". ESPN Internet Ventures. 2006-09-22. Retrieved 2007-07-02.
  17. ^ "Bonds hits NL-record 734th HR, but Giants lose again". ESPN Internet Ventures. 2006-09-23. Retrieved 2007-07-02.
  18. ^ McCauley, Janie (2007-04-03). "San Diego 7, San Francisco 0 (recap)". Yahoo! Inc./The Associated Press. Retrieved 2007-04-14.
  19. ^ McCauley, Janie (2007-04-05). "San Diego 5, San Francisco 3 (recap)". Yahoo! Inc./The Associated Press. Retrieved 2007-04-14.
  20. ^ "San Diego 5, San Francisco 3 (box score)". Yahoo! Inc./The Associated Press. 2007-04-05. Retrieved 2007-04-14.
  21. ^ "San Francisco 8, Pittsburgh 5 (recap)". Yahoo! Inc./The Associated Press. 2007-04-13. Retrieved 2007-04-14.
  22. ^ "San Francisco 1, Arizona 0 (recap)". Yahoo! Inc./The Associated Press. 2007-04-21. Retrieved 2007-04-23.
  23. ^ "San Francisco 2, Arizona 1 (recap)". Yahoo! Inc./The Associated Press. 2007-04-22. Retrieved 2007-04-23.
  24. ^ Sunday Night Baseball 6th May 2007
  25. ^ "Auction house willing to buy 756 ball for $1M". ESPN Internet Ventures. 2007-05-14. Retrieved 2007-06-30.
  26. ^ "Auction house withdraws $1M bounty on No. 756". ESPN Internet Ventures. 2007-06-12. Retrieved 2007-06-30.
  27. ^ "Bonds' two-run shot helps Giants rally back vs. Jays". ESPN Internet Ventures. 2007-06-11. Retrieved 2007-06-30.
  28. ^ "Bonds hits first Fenway homer in loss to Red Sox". ESPN Internet Ventures. 2007-06-17. Retrieved 2007-06-30.
  29. ^ "Bonds is 5 homers shy of Aaron's mark after loss in 10th". ESPN Internet Ventures. 2007-06-29. Retrieved 2007-06-30.
  30. ^ What Bonds told BALCO grand juryDecember 3, 2004
  31. ^ "Court records link ex-Mets employee, federal grand jury investigating steroids". 2007-04-30. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  32. ^ Sources: Grand jury looking at whether Bonds lied about steroid useApril 14, 2006
  33. ^ Bonds' Trainer Sent to Prison July 6, 2006
  34. ^ Report: MLB expects Bonds to be indicted soonJuly 12, 2006
  35. ^ New grand jury to look at Bonds allegations July 21, 2006
  36. ^ Report: Feds obtained medical records for Barry BondsJuly 22, 2006
  37. ^ Bonds' trainer won't talk August 17, 2006
  38. ^ Anderson ordered back to prison August 28, 2006
  39. ^ Judge orders Barry Bonds' trainer freed
  40. ^ Coach indicted; Bonds' pal wins
  41. ^ Conviction may be overturned
  42. ^ Bonds' trainer ordered jailed again
  43. ^ Bonds trainer loses appeal on BALCO testimony: Contempt of court ruling upheld -- he's due back in prison
  44. ^ "Barry Bonds". baseball-reference.com. Sports Reference, Inc. 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-16.

External links

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