MLB: Barry Bonds was a Hall of Famer Until Jealousy Destroyed His Greatest Goal

Barry Bonds was the National League 1990 MVP. It was the first of the MVP Awards Bonds won that cannot ever be questioned. He received 23 of the 24 first place votes.

It was discovered that in 1990, Bonds became the first player to hit .300, drive in 100 runs, score 100 runs, hit 30 home runs and steal 50 bases in a season.

Bonds batted .301, had 114 RBIs, scored 114 runs, hit 33 home runs and stole 52 bases.

When informed about his great accomplishment, Bonds’ response sounds insincere now that we know the real Barry Bonds.

“I’m very proud of that, doing something that no one else has done in the history of baseball.”

It was even better when Bonds spoke to the media with respect to winning the MVP Award.

“It’s a relief, after all my hard work in the off season. It’s just a great feeling, but I was only as good as the guys around me. The ones getting on base deserve the award too.”

Teammate Bobby Bonilla wasn’t forgotten.

“I wish I could split it and give half to Bobby. To me, he’s just as much the MVP as I am.”

Nineteen ninety was a significant season for Barry Bonds for another reason. He was no longer “Bobby Bonds’ son.” Bobby was now known as “Barry’s father.”

Following his rookie 1986 season through and including 1998, Bonds batted .294/.416/.565. He averaged 36 home runs, 107 RBIs and 38 stolen bases over a 162-game season.

Willie Mays finished his career batting .302/.384/.557. Mickey Mantle finished with .298/.421/.557. Both are Hall of Famers.

There is little doubt that if Bonds merely continued to play at his 1987-98 level, he would have been a sure Hall of Famer.

At the age of 33, he was coming off a 1998 season in which hit hit 37 home runs, drove in 122 and hit .303.

Those numbers lose their significance when compared to McGwire’s 70 home runs and 147 RBIs and Sosa’s 66 home runs and 158 RBIs. Interestingly, McGwire failed to hit .300 that season (.299).

It has been alleged that following the 1998 season, in which Mark McGwiire and Sammy Sosa each hit more home runs than Roger Maris had hit in 1961, Bonds felt that he needed help to gain the recognition he deserved.

Game of Shadows: Barry Bonds, BALCO, and the Steroids Scandal that Rocked Professional Sports, written by Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams, claims that Bonds decided to use performance-enhancing substances after McGwire received such national and international fame for breaking Maris’ home run record.

There is an old saying that certainly applies to Barry Bonds. “No one can hurt you as much as you can hurt yourself.”

References:

Bonds is voted M.V.P. in a landslide. (1990, Nov 20). New York Times (1923-Current File), pp. B13. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/108419460?accountid=46260

Anderson, D. (1990, Oct 05). The. 300-100-100-30-50 man. New York Times (1923-Current File), pp. A29. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/108476040?accountid=46260


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