Legendary Slugger Barry Bonds’ Hall of Fame Chances Get a Brutal Reality Check Amid Fred McGriff’s Outright Win

The MLB Hall of Fame is the ultimate place for any Major League Baseball player to be in. Up to date, it stands as the greatest honor a player can receive post their retirement. And if statistics were to be considered alone, legendary San Francisco Giants infielder Barry Bonds would’ve found his way through the rigid committees and reached the Hall of Fame. However, neither the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA) nor the veterans’ committee paid any heed to the legend, who concluded his career with 762 home runs.

After reaching his final attempt with the BBWAA (ten times), Bonds moved to his second shot at the HOF and entered the Contemporary Era Committee ballot (present iteration of the Veterans committee).

Will Barry Bonds ever get inducted into the Hall of Fame?

However, the Contemporary Era Committee didn’t allow Bonds in either, which reduces, if not completely eliminates, his future chances into the Hall of Fame. Notably, Bonds needed a 75% vote to enter the HOF (12 out of 16). But Bonds got fewer than four votes.

As reported by Alex Pavlovic, who covers the Giants NBC Sports Bay Area, “The committee was even harsher than the writers were. Not a good sign for his future chances.” Over the years, the HOF committees have displayed their discontent with players who found themselves involved with steroids and PEDs. And Bonds’ name surrounded steroids for the entire latter segment of his career.

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Bonds will now be forced to wait till 2026 to receive his next HOF chance. Notably, 2024 will look at non-players (managers, executives, umpires), and 2025 will be looking at players who played before 1980. But gauging the current scenario, his chances seem slim.

Notably, Barry Bonds retired from the MLB in 2007 after a 22-year-long career of accomplishment and power-hitting. To date, he holds the record for most career MLB home runs with 762.

Who entered the Hall of Fame in 2022?

Ultimately, with all 16 votes, Atlanta Braves World Champion Fred McGriff made it to the Hall of Fame. Other contenders that came close to him were Don Mattingly with eight votes and Curt Schilling with seven.

Standing alongside Barry Bonds with less than four votes were Albert Belle, Roger Clemens, and Rafael Palmeiro.

Do you think Barry Bonds should’ve made it to the Hall of Fame? Will 2026 be his year? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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