Barry Bonds was one of baseball’s most feared batters, He had seven times won the National League MVP award and was on pace to shatter Hank Aaron’s all-time home run record. Even then, though, some questioned his legacy.
Bonds, according to author Jeff Pearlman in a book released that year, was “not a leader, on or off the pitch.” Bonds, he said, frequently refused to run out simple ground balls and sometimes refused to engage in mandated team stretching before games.
Bonds’ Legacy Still Debated
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Pearlman also predicted that Bonds’ legacy would be tarnished as his skills eroded. “As his skills erode, Bonds says that he will play out his contract, which runs through 2000, and fade away,” Pearlman wrote. “If so, he will be known as a player who was just a notch below the greats—talented but mercurial, an odd guy who often annoyed his teammates and always mystified them. Nice numbers, though.”
via Getty
Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants during a 2002 game in Los Angeles, Calif. (Photo by Kirby Lee/Getty Images)
Fast-forward 23 years and Pearlman’s prediction has come true. Bonds has never been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame and his legacy is still debated. Some people believe that he is the greatest baseball player of all time, while others believe that his use of performance-enhancing drugs tainted his career.
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The PED Dilemma: Bonds’ Records vs. His Reputation
Barry Bonds was one of the most dominant hitters in baseball history. He holds the all-time home run record with 762, and he also owns the record for most walks with 2,558. Bonds won seven MVP awards, 14 Gold Gloves, and a World Series title. He was a seven-time All-Star, and he finished his career with a .298 batting average, a .444 on-base percentage, and a .607 slugging percentage.
Bonds’ legacy is complicated by his use of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs). He has never admitted to using PEDs, but there is strong evidence that he did. In 2003, he tested positive for a prohibited drug, and he was suspended for 50 games. Bonds’ use of PEDs has led some people to question his accomplishments, but there is no doubt that he was a great hitter.
Whether or not Bonds gets inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, his legacy is solid. He was one of the best players in baseball history, and his accomplishments are undeniable. However, his use of PEDs will always be a part of his legacy, and it is something that will be debated for years to come.
Barry Bonds is a complex figure, and his legacy is a reflection of that. He was a great hitter, but he also used PEDs. His accomplishments are undeniable, but his legacy is tarnished. Bonds is a reminder that even the greatest athletes are not perfect.
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The use of PEDs has tarnished the legacies of many athletes, and Bonds is no exception. However, even with the PED cloud hanging over his head, Bonds’ accomplishments on the field are undeniable. He was one of the greatest baseball players of all time and his legacy will continue to be debated for years to come.
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