“Many Players Honestly Didn’t…”: Why Barry Bonds’ Massive 2001 Milestone Went Ignored by Giants Teammates?

How do you define someone who is a team player but quite the opposite? Well, that’s Barry Bonds right there. During his time, Barry Bonds was the personified version of substantial success. Infamous for having a not-so-good-relation with his teammates, the 7x MVP did not let that affect his performance for the Giants. This one time in 2001, he was 1 HR away from creating history, but his team’s underwhelming demeanor set Bonds off.

This inaction from the Giants spoke volumes about Bonds’ alienation from his team. However, Josh Suchon, a journalist covering the game for the Oakland Tribune showed a different side to the story on page 89 of the book Barry Bonds – A Biography.

The Story Of 500 Home Runs That Went Uncelebrated By Bonds’ Teammates

In the game against the Dodgers at home, mid April, Bonds, already at 499, swung at a 2 – 0 pitch hitting it right into McCovey Cove. He was at 500! Calling that a celebratory moment would be an understatement. The Giants knew they had a good man with them, but were they really attached to him? No one came to celebrate.

The page read, “The truth, as it always is with Barry, isn’t black or white. It’s gray and imprecise. Many players honestly didn’t know whether they were allowed or supposed to come to home plate or whether they should stay in the dugout. They knew that a brief ceremony was planned for behind home plate and it would involve both Willie’s and the Bonds family.”

In 2001, Barry Bonds, who was an active member of the Giants at the time, was dealing with a contractual dilemma. This unresolved problem dragged on striking a conflict between Bonds and the front office. Amidst this tension, Bonds achieved the feat of 500 HRs becoming one of the elite few to have reached this mark. But there was something that frustrated Bonds.

Bonds’ Contract Issue With SF Giants

The discontent of Barry goes back to before the 2001 season started. After an extension for two years with an option in 2001, there was complete inaction on the team’s part. The team did not sign their superstar left fielder.

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The team’s inaction was a good enough reason to believe that the Giants would trade Bonds for another during mid-season. Does this not sound like something that would have added to Barry Bonds’ anger? Share your views in the comments.

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