About Barry Bonds
Barry Lamar Bonds, an American former left fielder in professional baseball, was born on July 24, 1964, and his estimated net worth is $110 million. The birthplace of Barry Lamar Bonds is Riverside, California. The former Giants outfielder Bobby Bonds’ son, Bonds, is a Bonds. He is also the godson of the illustrious Willie Mays and a distant cousin of fellow baseball great Reggie Jackson.
He grew up in the San Carlos region of California, where he excelled on the varsity baseball team at his high school and was recognized as a prep All-American. He was selected by the Giants in the second round of the 1982 draft as a senior, but the agreement fell through due to Bond’s contract demands.
Bonds decided to attend Arizona State University instead, where he was named a Sporting News All-American and tied the NCAA record with at least 7 straight hits in the College World Series. He earned a criminology degree from the university in 1986.
Bonds’ Time in Pittsburgh
The Pittsburgh Pirates selected Bonds with the sixth overall pick in the 1985 Major League Baseball Draft. He made his major league debut on May 30th, 1986. Bonds is credited for improving Pittsburgh’s fan base, and by the Pirates’ home opener in 1987, they had more than 52,000 fans in attendance, shattering the previous club record. Bonds hit 33 home runs, had 114 RBIs, and had 52 stolen bases in 1990, the year he earned his first of seven MVP awards. While playing for Pittsburgh, Bonds won two MVP honors and made it to three NLCS, but he was never able to go to the World Series.
Barry Bonds Moves to the West Coast
In 1993, Bonds committed to the San Francisco Giants for a six-year deal that set a previous record. During his first season on the west coast, Bonds won his third MVP award. Bonds set multiple records while in San Francisco. Over the course of his career, he received seven NL MVP honors, including four in a row from 2001 to 2004. Bonds started his quest in 2001 to break Babe Ruth’s single-season record for home runs, one of baseball’s most desired honors.
Bonds eventually broke Mark McGwire’s record of 70 home runs set just a few seasons earlier by launching 73 home runs into the stands during the 2001 season. In 2002, the Giants played the Anaheim Angels in the World Series, where they lost in a 7-game series. It was Barry Bonds’ first and only World Series appearance. Bonds’ greatest achievement may have come in 2007, near the end of his career. Bonds broke Hank Aaron’s 33-year record on August 7 when he hit his 756th career home run into right center field, making history.
Bonds hasn’t formally hung up his spikes, but he hasn’t played in the majors since 2007.
The BALCO Scandal and Bonds
Bonds was charged with four charges of perjury and one count of obstructing justice on November 15, 2007, in connection with the federal investigation into Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative.
As a result of a grand jury inquiry in 2003 and a charge of obstructing the administration of justice, was sentenced on December 15, 2011, to house detention, probation, and community service.
In the absence of an appeal, that punishment was suspended.
Vital Statistics:
- Born: July 24, 1964
- Hometown: Riverside, Calif.
- Height: 6-1
- Weight: 228
- Bats: Left
- Throws: Left
- Family: Wife, Liz; son, Nikolia; daughter, Shikari
- Primary position: Left Field
Prior to the Bigs
Barry Bonds, the son of former All-Star outfielder Bobby Bonds, was selected by the Giants in the second round of the 1982 MLB Draft, but he decided to enroll at Arizona State.
The Pittsburgh Pirates selected Bonds in the first round of the 1985 draft after he had three successful seasons as a great player for the Sun Devils and had graduated with a degree in criminology. A year later, he made his major league debut.
Professional Highlights:
is the all-time leader in home runs after surpassing Hank Aaron on August 7, 2007 with his 756th.
73 home runs in 2001 still stand as the single-season record for home runs.
Baseball’s all-time leader in both intentional walks (645 as of 2007) and total walks (2,426 as of that year).
Earned a record seven National League MVP awards, including four in a row from 2001 to 2004.
A 14-time All-Star in the National League (1990, 1992-98, 2000-04, 2007).
eight-time Gold Glove Award victor.
Scandals:
Bonds is a key player in the BALCO (Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative) controversy, a business that was accused of giving performance-enhancing substances to professional athletes.
According to a transcript of his testimony examined by The San Francisco Chronicle, Bonds testified before a grand jury that he had received and used substances from his personal strength trainer, Greg Anderson, during the 2003 campaign but was informed they were the dietary supplement flaxseed oil and a rubbing balm for arthritis.
Because using steroids at the time he allegedly did so was allowed, MLB decided not to punish him.
