Baseball Player: Barry Bonds
(Photo of Bonds batting for the Pittsburgh Pirates, courtesy of Pinterest)
Background
Barry Lamar Bonds was born on July 24, 1964 In Riverside, California. His father, Bobby Bonds, was a major league baseball player also. As well as his distant cousin, Hall of Famer, Reggie Jackson. Bonds played outfield in college at Arizona State University. Shortly after that he was picked 6th overall by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1986 draft. He played in Pittsburgh until he was traded to the San Francisco Giants in 1993. During his time in San Francisco he started to set many impressive records, like most career home runs and most times walked. However, because of all these records he was put in the spotlight and faced allegations of using illegal performance enhancing drugs. And in result cost him his opportunity to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
On August 7, 2007 Barry Bonds became the MLB's career all time home run leader as he surpassed the great Hank Aaron's record of 755, finishing with 762. This is Bond's most notable achievement. He also is the all time leader for intentional walks by a huge margin. Bond's towers over Hank Aaron's 293 walks (second in all time career walks) with a monstrous 688 walks. This means that during 688 of Barry Bonds at bats, pitchers found it smarter to intentionally throw him balls rather than throw him a strike that he could hit. Who's to say how many more home runs he would have had, if pitchers hadn't intentionally walked him so often.
(Photo of Bonds outfielding for Arizona State University, courtesy of Pinterest)
Racism in Baseball
Bonds wasn't exposed to racism in Baseball until his success in the MLB, once he had already been successful and was closing in on the total career home runs record. By then he had already received his reputation of using steroids. However, some believed that because he was a black player caught using steroids, he had more media spotlight than the white players who were caught using steroids. Which in result prevented him from being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Although, before he broke Hank Aaron's career home runs record, Bonds started to face negative fans. Racists fans didn't want to see a black player set another major record. Many fans would write letters to pitchers of the opposing teams asking to intentionally hit Bonds with a pitch. These letters would usually be written by racist and envious fans of opposing teams.
(Photo of Bonds hitting homerun for Giants courtesy of barrybonds.com)
Accomplishments
- 7 time National League MVP
- 14 time National League All-Star
- 12 time National League Silver Slugger (best offensive player)
- 8 time National League Golden Glove (best player at position)
- 1996 Home Run Derby Winner
- 5 time Home Run Derby Participant
- Holds record for most career home runs - 762
- Holds record for most home runs in a single season - 73
- Hold record for most career walks - 688
(Video of Bonds beating legend Mark McGuire in the 1996 Homerun Derby)
Quotes By and About
"I like to be against the odds. I'm not afraid to be lonely at the top. With me, it's just the satisfaction of the game. Just performance."
"I never stop looking for things to try and make myself better."
"It's called talent. I just have it. I can't explain it. You either have it or you don't."
“Barry is the reincarnation of Ted Williams—with more power.” - San Francisco Giants Manager Felipe Alou
“Sometimes he says things before he thinks. That's why I'm here—to remind him other people have feelings, too.” - Hall of Famer Willie Mayes
