I only saw Bonds in one game at the San Francisco ball park (he struck out twice.) But I saw him in probably a dozen games in his Pittsburgh years. In one of the last games, I saw him hit safely to all fields, at least 4 hits, mostly rocket line drives that could take your breath away even if they stayed in the park.
So perhaps it was fitting that the most important words spoken about Bonds at this Saturday's ceremony were from his Pirates manager Jim Leyland--that is, at least in one important context.
There are probably Giants fans who were surprised that Bonds' number hadn't been retired long ago. We all know why not. But now with the entire organization behind him, this ceremony, this display provides a powerful boost to Bonds' chances of finally getting into the baseball Hall of Fame.
Those are powerful words coming from one of the most revered managers (he won a World Series title with the Marlins) who is himself likely to be voted into the Hall.
Bonds won the National League MVP twice in his six Pittsburgh seasons. He won his first in 1990 when he hit .301 with 33 homers and stole 52 bases, and won a Gold Glove. He won his second in 1993 with similar numbers. He wound up winning 7 MVPs--no other player has won more than 3. That's just the beginning of his records, which no other player in any "era" in which he played could equal. Barry Bonds belongs in the baseball Hall of Fame, or nobody does.
