Barry Bonds holds a special place in the hearts of most baseball fans. Bonds launched rockets past field boundaries for many years in the majors, and he was bound to win accolades for his play. But the same can’t be said about his reputation with the fans. While everyone is a fan of what Bonds did on the diamond, his relationship with the media off of it is not as fondly remembered.

And while a few may still justify Bonds’ approach to the media, the argument doesn’t hold up when talking about his teammates. Bonds’ natural skill may have gotten his teammates over the line in several games. But his behavior was certainly not. Author John Bloom recounts a story which highlights the same in his book, “Barry Bonds – A Biography“.

When Barry Bonds’ Teammates Polled It

Barry Bonds was at his peak in the early 2000s. Playing with the San Francisco Giants on a bumper deal, Bonds was smashing home-runs and driving in RBIs for fun. But while the star may have been the most dangerous member of his batting lineup, his teammates had a different opinion.

On page 81 of the Book, Bloom mentions that when the Giants were polled for whom they considered being the most important player for their team, the results were staggering. Most players marked out second baseman Jeff Kent as the more valuable player to their team than Barry Bonds.

Writes Bloom, “Asked the question, “Who’s more valuable to your team, Kent or Bonds?” almost every player and coach said Kent.” 

Jeff Kent was on a tear in the National League that year, but Barry Bonds had nearly identical statistics. And yet, Kent finished with 22 first place votes. Bonds lead the 2nd baseman in home runs and even drove in the same number of runs that year. But the MVP went to Kent.

Writes Bloom, “The result wasn’t questioned, only the margin of victory. The support for Kent within his own clubhouse was the clear difference in explaining that margin“.

Barry Bonds – Responds like a Champion

One thing that no one can take away from Barry Bonds is that he was not one to back down from a fight. When kept away from the MVP title by a stellar season from Kent, Bonds responded the only way he knew how. He came back better.

Read More: “I Hope Barry Dies. I Hate Him That Much” – Unpleasant Barry Bonds Once Made an Enemy Out of a Photographer

Many in the baseball lore remember the 2001 season as being a historical one. With Barry Bonds smashing the single season home run record snagging 73 that year. While the celebrations after his historic achievement were not nearly as extravagant as for others in the league, his name is marked out in the history of baseball.

Barry Bonds is a tough player to anchor to anything. While he is undoubtably one of the greatest hitters in the game’s history, he certainly didn’t make it any easier to like him. But how do you remember Barry Bonds? As a legend of the game? Or as a player you never did really like?

Watch This Story: From Unforeseen Beginnings to Unstoppable Greatness – The Story of Barry Bonds