The Evolution of Barry Bonds

Longest home rundistances courtesy of Bill Jenkinson, baseball historian and author of The YearBabe Ruth Hit 104 Home Runs.

1986

AGE (at start ofseason): 21

LISTED HT./WT.:6' 1'', 185

GAMES: 113

BATTING AVERAGE:.223

ON-BASE PCT.:.330

SLUGGING PCT.:.416

HOME RUNS: 16

HR/AB: 1/25.8

SB: 36 WALKS:65

INTENTIONALWALKS: 2

LONGEST HOMER:425 ft.

THEY SAID IT

FROM BONDS

"In springtraining I was in awe [of being around major league ballplayers]; then when Igot [to Pittsburgh], I was more ready to play."

ABOUT BONDS

"If I had to,I would say he'll be a Hall of Famer."

BILL VIRDON,Pirates hitting coach

HOME RUN TALLY16

1987

AGE: 22

HT./WT.: 6' 1'',185

GAMES: 150

BATTING AVERAGE:.261

ON-BASE PCT.:.329

SLUGGING PCT.:.492

HOME RUNS: 25

HR/AB: 1/22.0

SB: 32 WALKS:54

INTENTIONALWALKS: 3

LONGEST HOMER:430 ft.

THEY SAID IT

FROM BONDS

"Not a lot ofgames are won with long balls. They're won with base hits."

ABOUT BONDS

"When youhave his kind of ability, you can wind up trying to do things that nobody'scapable of doing. He's anxious."

JIM LEYLAND,Pirates manager

HOME RUN TALLY41

1988

AGE: 23

HT./WT.: 6' 1'',185

GAMES: 144

BATTING AVERAGE:.283

ON-BASE PCT.:.368

SLUGGING PCT.:.491

HOME RUNS: 24

HR/AB: 1/22.4

SB: 17 WALKS:72

INTENTIONALWALKS: 14

LONGEST HOMER:475 ft.

THEY SAID IT

FROM BONDS

"I have tobat leadoff because we basically don't have a leadoff hitter. I'm not a personwho is going to beat the ball into the ground all day."

ABOUT BONDS

"Because he'sBobby Bonds's son, everyone expects 30-30 every year."

BOBBY BONILLA,Pirates third baseman

HOME RUN TALLY65

1989

AGE: 24

HT./WT.: 6' 1'',185

GAMES: 159

BATTING AVERAGE:.248

ON-BASE PCT.:.351

SLUGGING PCT.:.426

HOME RUNS: 19

HR/AB: 1/30.5

SB: 32 WALKS:93

INTENTIONALWALKS: 22

LONGEST HOMER:430 ft.

THEY SAID IT

FROM BONDS

"I've done alot in three years. I became a leadoff man, and I put better numbers on theboard than any other leadoff hitter."

ABOUT BONDS

"A lot ofclubs approached us because they thought we were shopping Barry. . . . We arenot shopping Barry."

LARRY DOUGHTY,Pirates G.M.

HOME RUN TALLY84

1990

AGE: 25

HT./WT.: 6' 1'',185

GAMES: 151

BATTING AVERAGE:.301

ON-BASE PCT.:.406

SLUGGING PCT.:.565

HOME RUNS: 33

HR/AB: 1/15.7

SB: 52 WALKS:93

INTENTIONALWALKS: 15

LONGEST HOMER:420 ft.

THEY SAID IT

FROM BONDS

"This is theyear I wanted to hit .300. I was going to stay away from home runs, just beatthe ball on the ground and use my speed. And then everything came together. . .. That was a shocking surprise."

ABOUT BONDS

"He's comingof age."

JIM LEYLAND,Pirates manager

HOME RUN TALLY117

 

1991

AGE: 26

HT./WT.: 6' 1'',190

GAMES: 153

BATTING AVERAGE:.292

ON-BASE PCT.:.410

SLUGGING PCT.:.514

HOME RUNS: 25

HR/AB: 1/20.4

SB: 43 WALKS:107

INTENTIONALWALKS: 25

LONGEST HOMER:420 ft.

THEY SAID IT

FROM BONDS

"There'snothing Barry Bonds can do to satisfy Pittsburgh. I'm so sad all thetime."

ABOUT BONDS

"Here's a guywho might be [at] the pinnacle of his career. He has a tremendous future aheadof him. Yet he's not smelling the flowers."

JIM BROCK,Bonds's coach at Arizona State

HOME RUN TALLY142

1992

AGE: 27

HT./WT.: 6' 1'',185

GAMES: 140

BATTING AVERAGE:.311

ON-BASE PCT.:.456

SLUGGING PCT.:.624

HOME RUNS: 34

HR/AB: 1/13.9

SB: 39 WALKS:127

INTENTIONALWALKS: 32

LONGEST HOMER:440 ft.

THEY SAID IT

FROM BONDS

"A lot ofthings I've done this season, I've had to say, Whoa. I've had to almost say,That's not right, that's impossible."

ABOUT BONDS

"I don't knowhow he's got the numbers he does. [He] gets to swing the bat about once agame."

DON SLAUGHT,Pirates catcher

HOME RUN TALLY176

1993

AGE: 28

HT./WT.: 6' 1'',190

GAMES: 159

BATTING AVERAGE:.336

ON-BASE PCT.:.458

SLUGGING PCT.:.677

HOME RUNS: 46

HR/AB: 1/11.7

SB: 29 WALKS:126

INTENTIONALWALKS: 43

LONGEST HOMER:442 ft.

THEY SAID IT

FROM BONDS

"I'm at mypeak right now, and maybe I can play another four years at this pace. To hit,run, steal--you can't do that forever."

ABOUT BONDS

"When he got$7 million a year, even as a player, you're saying, 'Nobody's worth thatmuch.' But he is."

JODY REED, RedSox second baseman

HOME RUN TALLY222

1994

AGE: 29

HT./WT.: 6' 1'',190

GAMES: 112

BATTING AVERAGE:.312

ON-BASE PCT.:.426

SLUGGING PCT.:.647

HOME RUNS: 37

HR/AB: 1/10.6

SB: 29 WALKS:74

INTENTIONALWALKS: 18

LONGEST HOMER:440 ft.

THEY SAID IT

FROM BONDS

"Somethinghas to slack off. It's Mother Nature. . . . One thing, it's good I have a25-year-old centerfielder [Darren Lewis] who can cover my butt."

ABOUT BONDS

"Supermanwould probably be surprised at the stuff he does."

JOHN PATTERSON,Giants second baseman

HOME RUN TALLY259

1995

AGE: 30

HT./WT.: 6' 1'',190

GAMES: 144

BATTING AVERAGE:.294

ON-BASE PCT.:.431

SLUGGING PCT.:.577

HOME RUNS: 33

HR/AB: 1/15.3

SB: 31 WALKS:120

INTENTIONALWALKS: 22

LONGEST HOMER:465 ft.

THEY SAID IT

FROM BONDS

"I'm at apoint seeing the reality of [all the scrutiny], all this crud I'd been able toblock out for many years."

ABOUT BONDS

"I'd sayBarry is the most exciting [slugger in baseball] to watch. Barry has that aura.You have an aura or you don't. I don't."

JEFF BAGWELL,Astros first baseman

HOME RUN TALLY292

1996

AGE: 31

HT./WT.: 6' 1'',190

GAMES: 158

BATTING AVERAGE:.308

ON-BASE PCT.:.461

SLUGGING PCT.:.615

HOME RUNS: 42

HR/AB: 1/12.3

SB: 40 WALKS:151

INTENTIONALWALKS: 30

LONGEST HOMER:436 ft.

THEY SAID IT

FROM BONDS

"I'm notgoing to hit 600 home runs like my godfather [Willie Mays] did."

ABOUT BONDS

"He's down onthat list compared to the other [great sluggers]. Not as big a home run hitter.Plays the whole field more than [Matt] Williams and [Albert] Belle."

REGGIE JACKSON,Hall of Fame slugger

HOME RUN TALLY334

 

1997

AGE: 32

HT./WT.: 6' 2'',206

GAMES: 159

BATTING AVERAGE:.291

ON-BASE PCT.:.446

SLUGGING PCT.:.585

HOME RUNS: 40

HR/AB: 1/13.3

SB: 37 WALKS:145

INTENTIONALWALKS: 34

LONGEST HOMER:460 ft.

THEY SAID IT

FROM BONDS

"I don'texpect to do that [hit 40 homers and steal 40 bases] again."

ABOUT BONDS

"He is ashow-off, and I'm not saying that in a negative way. He'll find out that BillCosby is in the ballpark for a game, and he'll do somethingexceptional."

DUANE KUIPER,Giants TV announcer

HOME RUN TALLY374

1998

AGE: 33

HT./WT.: 6' 2'',206

GAMES: 156

BATTING AVERAGE:.303

ON-BASE PCT.:.438

SLUGGING PCT.:.609

HOME RUNS: 37

HR/AB: 1/14.9

SB: 28 WALKS:130

INTENTIONALWALKS: 29

LONGEST HOMER:440 ft.

THEY SAID IT

FROM BONDS

"I ain'twatchin' no 400-400. I'm watching the home run derby [between Mark McGwire andSammy Sosa]. The hell with Barry Bonds."

ABOUT BONDS

"Nobody inthe league gets more boos. And nobody gets more All-Star votes.

NED COLLETTI,Giants assistant G.M.

HOME RUN TALLY411

1999

AGE: 34

HT./WT.: 6' 2'',210

GAMES: 102

BATTING AVERAGE:.262

ON-BASE PCT.:.389

SLUGGING PCT.:.617

HOME RUNS: 34

HR/AB: 1/10.4

SB: 15 WALKS:73

INTENTIONALWALKS: 9

LONGEST HOMER:445 ft.

THEY SAID IT

FROM BONDS

"This is oneof my best seasons I've ever had because it's the first time I've ever had togo through surgery."

ABOUT BONDS

"I've neverseen anything like what he's doing. He's playing Wiffle ball in his backyardnow."

F.P. SANTANGELO,Giants utilityman on an August home run binge

HOME RUN TALLY445

2000

AGE: 35

HT./WT.: 6' 2'',210

GAMES: 143

BATTING AVERAGE:.306

ON-BASE PCT.:.440

SLUGGING PCT.:.688

HOME RUNS: 49

HR/AB: 1/9.8

SB: 11 WALKS:117

INTENTIONALWALKS: 22

LONGEST HOMER:480 ft.

THEY SAID IT

FROM BONDS

"If I canplay six more years and average 30-something homers a year, I can surpass mygodfather's mark of 660 home runs."

ABOUT BONDS

"He's notgoing to hit 70 homers, but he believes he can. That's frightening."

SHAWON DUNSTON,Cardinals utilityman

HOME RUN TALLY494

2001

AGE: 36

HT./WT.: 6' 2'',228

GAMES: 153

BATTING AVERAGE:.328

ON-BASE PCT.:.515

SLUGGING PCT.:.863

HOME RUNS: 73

HR/AB: 1/6.5

SB: 13 WALKS:177

INTENTIONALWALKS: 35

LONGEST HOMER:485 ft.

THEY SAID IT

FROM BONDS

"Some thingsI can't understand right now. The balls I used to line off the wall [I'm]lining out [of the park]. I can't tell you why. Call God. Ask Him."

ABOUT BONDS

"He's a lotstronger than he was in the past. Barry's put on a lot more weight

GARY SHEFFIELD,Dodgers outfielder

HOME RUN TALLY567

2002

AGE: 37

HT./WT.: 6' 2'',228

GAMES: 143

BATTING AVERAGE:.370

ON-BASE PCT.:.582

SLUGGING PCT.:.799

HOME RUNS: 46

HR/AB: 1/8.8

SB: 9 WALKS:198

INTENTIONALWALKS: 68

LONGEST HOMER:491 ft.

THEY SAID IT

FROM BONDS

"I don't evenknow how I got [to 600], really."

ABOUT BONDS

"It would notaffect me one bit to see someone like Barry break the record. I believe Barrycould walk away when his career's over as the greatest offensive player whoever played."

HENRY AARON, homerun king

HOME RUN TALLY613

2003

AGE: 38

HT./WT.: 6' 2'',228

GAMES: 130

BATTING AVERAGE:.341

ON-BASE PCT.:.529

SLUGGING PCT.:.749

HOME RUNS: 45

HR/AB: 1/8.7

SB: 7 WALKS:148

INTENTIONALWALKS: 61

LONGEST HOMER:480 ft.

THEY SAID IT

FROM BONDS

"The onlynumber I care about is Babe Ruth's [714]. Because as a lefthanded hitter, Iwiped him out."

ABOUT BONDS

"Barry has noreason to believe he's taken anything but the up-and-up stuff and all the otherproducts that BALCO makes."

MICHAEL RAINS,Bonds's lawyer

HOME RUN TALLY658

2004

AGE: 39

HT./WT.: 6' 2'',228

GAMES: 147

BATTING AVERAGE:.362

ON-BASE PCT.:.609

SLUGGING PCT.:.812

HOME RUNS: 45

HR/AB: 1/8.3

SB: 6 WALKS:232

INTENTIONALWALKS: 120

LONGEST HOMER:470 ft.

THEY SAID IT

FROM BONDS

"[The walksare] wearing me down. Dude, I don't ever sit down. It's a hard-assjob."

ABOUT BONDS

"I know thefans come to see Bonds, but I want to be able to say we won because we didn'tjust give in to what the fans want."

JACK MCKEON,Marlins manager

HOME RUN TALLY703

2005

AGE: 40

HT./WT.: 6' 2'',228

GAMES: 14

BATTING AVERAGE:.286

ON-BASE PCT.:.404

SLUGGING PCT.:.667

HOME RUNS: 5

HR/AB: 1/8.4

SB: 0 WALKS:9

INTENTIONALWALKS: 3

LONGEST HOMER:455 ft.

THEY SAID IT

FROM BONDS

"I might notbe back at all. . . . Certainly, I'll be gone after 2006."

ABOUT BONDS

"It's still acircus atmosphere because you see it on TV all the time. You can't go a daywithout hearing about it: Is he coming back? Is he not coming back?"

BRETT TOMKO,Giants pitcher

HOME RUN TALLY708

2006

AGE: 41

HT./WT.: 6' 2'',228

GAMES: 130

BATTING AVERAGE:.270

ON-BASE PCT.:.454

SLUGGING PCT.:.545

HOME RUNS: 26

HR/AB: 1/14.1

SB: 3 WALKS:115

INTENTIONALWALKS: 38

LONGEST HOMER:470 ft.

THEY SAID IT

FROM BONDS

"Hank Aaron,to me, is the home run king. I won't disrespect that."

ABOUT BONDS

"He's hit thehome runs, so you have to give him credit, but he's not Babe Ruth. He neverwill be Babe Ruth, or Hank Aaron, for that matter."

BOB FELLER, Hallof Fame pitcher

HOME RUN TALLY734

2007

AGE: 42

HT./WT.: 6' 2'',238

GAMES: 96

BATTING AVERAGE:.272

ON-BASE PCT.:.493

SLUGGING PCT.:.556

HOME RUNS: 21

HR/AB: 1/12.4

SB: 5 WALKS:113

INTENTIONALWALKS: 34

LONGEST HOMER:452 ft.

THEY SAID IT

FROM BONDS

"This is thehardest thing I've had to do in my entire career."

ABOUT BONDS

"No matterwhat anybody thinks of the controversy surrounding this event, Mr. Bonds'sachievement is noteworthy and remarkable."

BUD SELIG, MLBcommissioner

HOME RUN TALLY755

TWENTY-FIVE PHOTOS

STEPHEN DUNN /ALLSPORT; STEPHEN DUNN/GETTY IMAGES; RICHARD MACKSON; RONALD C. MODRA (2); WILLIAM R. SMITH; CRAIG FUJI/AP; ALLEN KEE/WIREIMAGE.COM; DAVID KOHL/AP; V.J. LOVERO (3); CHUCK SOLOMON; ROBERT BECK (2); SEAN CONNELLEY/WIREIMAGE.COM; ANDY LYONS/ALLSPORT; BRAD MANGIN (4); BOB ROSATO; SCOTT ROVAK