Barry Bonds’ antagonist nature is no secret. In the years he played for MLB, the Home Run King became renowned for his baseball abilities. But in addition, everyone was also familiar with his caustic personality. One individual that dealt with him on a daily basis and became acquainted with handling him was Dusty Baker.

The current manager of the Houston Astros, Baker, is often credited with catering to the whims of his players with finesse. His career as manager of the San Francisco Giants saw Bonds rise to great heights. And while the two didn’t always show it, there were often seeds of discord between them.

Barry Bonds Seemingly Wanted VIP Treatment As a Player

Pride in oneself is a given when one is successful, but hubris can also be the cause of downfall. In their book Game of Shadows, Lance Williams and Mark Fainaru-Wada explore Bonds’ years as a player. In the years of Dusty Baker as manager, the writers delve into the relationship with his players, especially Bonds.

On page 96 they write, “If Baker took Bonds out of the lineup to rest him, Bonds would throw a tantrum. Baker was disrespecting a three-time MVP, he would say. Of course Bonds wanted a day off from time to time, but he wanted to dictate when he played.”

It was apparently a means for Bonds to establish superiority over someone who was an MLB veteran. “Occasionally, Bonds would ask for a day off and Baker would put him in the lineup anyway to assert control. To retaliate, Bonds would counter by declaring he had tweaked a hamstring and couldn’t play. Bonds wanted everyone to know it was his team, not Baker’s.”

Even after all this, however, the manager still supported Bonds’ induction into Cooperstown.

Baker Wants Bonds in the Hall of Fame

The Writer’s Association is famous for its exclusion of popular names from the Hall of Fame because they have skeletons in their closets. Alex Rodriguez, Roger Clemens, and Barry Bonds – all great players but all associated with steroid and drug usage in one way or another.

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Bonds’ career fizzled out without any concrete evidence of his ever having injected himself with banned items. However, MLB clearly does not see it that way but Dusty Baker doesn’t support that decision. “There was none better than Barry,” Baker said in 2022. “When you talk about the best of that era, people always want you to admit this or that. Well, Mark McGwire admitted and he’s not in. He should be in, too.”

What do you think? Does Bonds deserve another chance at an election in Cooperstown?

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