The Growing Legend Of Barry Bonds

SI Staff | Mar 24, 2011

The Growing Legend Of Barry Bonds /

The Growing Legend Of Barry Bonds

1983

Bonds starred at Arizona State before being selected by the Pirates in the first round of the 1985 amateur draft.

1986

Bonds made his MLB debut in May 1986, hitting 16 home runs and 46 RBIs. He finished sixth in Rookie of the Year voting.

1987

In his second full season, Bonds hit 25 home runs and 59 RBIs, to go along with 32 stolen bases.

1989

Bonds shifted to left field in 1989 and turned into one of the game's premier fielders, collecting 14 outfield assists on the season. He struggled at the plate however, hitting just 19 homers to go along with his .248 average.

1990

Bonds claimed his first MVP award as a five-tool threat, hitting 33 homers, stealing 52 bases, batting .301 and winning the first of his eight Gold Gloves in left field.

1992

Bonds led the Pirates to their third consecutive -- and last -- division title while winning his second MVP award.

1998

While Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa were turning baseball upside down with the home run race, Bonds had a typical season: .303 average, 37 home runs, 122 RBIs.

1999

Though slowed by an injury early on, Bonds returned in time to belt 34 home runs and steal 15 bases.

2001

Shattering his previous career high of 49 home runs, Bonds broke Mark McGwire's three-year-old record for most homers in a single season: 73.

2002

Bonds came to camp hungry for a World Series title, and the Giants nearly pulled it off before losing Game 7 to the Angels.

2003

Bonds was successful in his only seven steal attempts this season and became the only member of the 500 home run/500 steals club.

2004

On April 13, Bonds hit his 661st career homer to move past Willie Mays into third on the all-time list, and finished the year 11 shy of Babe Ruth's 714 and 52 behind Hank Aaron's 755.

2004

Bonds broke his single-season, major-league record for walks with 232 as opposing pitchers were determined not to let him beat them.

2006

A clearly aging Bonds came back from an injury-riddled 2005 season to make 493 plate appearances in '06. He batted .270 with 26 home runs, leaving him 21 shy of Hank Aaron's all-time record.

2007

On Aug. 7, Bonds passed Aaron by blasting career home run No. 756 off Mike Bascik of the Nationals at AT&T Park. Baseball's new home run king wrapped up the season with a .276 BA, 28 homers and 66 RBI before parting ways with the Giants after 15 years. His career now in doubt, Bonds' career home run total stands at 762.

Published Mar 24, 2011

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