Barry Bonds efficiently matched the footsteps of his father, MLB legend Bobby Bonds, if not higher. Whereas Bobby Bonds was the primary participant to have greater than two seasons of 30 homers and 30 SBs, he achieved this feat a complete of 5 occasions in his profession. Coincidentally, his son Barry Bonds was solely capable of match his feat years later. Nicely, Barry Bonds’ 762 profession residence runs are nonetheless unbroken and unlikely to be damaged anytime quickly. So what went behind Bonds to create such a embellished profession?
Barry Bonds’ father and mentor are the 2 pillars of success for him. Other than his father, the Giants’ Corridor of Famer Willie Mays mentored Bonds to his nice success. Barry Bonds and Willie Mays had been each baseball greats and shut buddies, with Mays serving as Bonds’ godfather. What’s higher than this for a younger rookie to develop? Nicely, Barry Bonds repaid Mays by recording 762 profession residence runs and a pair of,558 profession walks. Whereas Mays had a bigger influence on Bonds’ profession, how did his father, Bobby Bonds, form his baseball profession?
“My dad was the one who challenged me to a degree the place he anticipated perfection in follow,” mentioned Bonds in a podcast with ALL THE SMOKE. It was this “nothing is sufficient” angle of Bobby Bonds that hardened Barry from his preliminary days. Bonds Sr. all the time ensured that his son didn’t get carried away with self-satisfaction. Thus, from the preliminary days, Bonds Jr. bought the profitable angle from his father and ability enhancement from Mays. That was an ideal begin for Barry Bonds to be what he’s at the moment. Whereas Barry Bonds is retired now, who’s arising subsequent to get his place?
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Who might be the Barry Bonds 2.0?
Nicely, no MLB participant has matched Barry Bonds’ residence run document, and it’s unlikely that any will quickly. Bonds is the all-time residence run chief in Main League Baseball. Whereas his residence run document is unlikely to be damaged, few players from the present roster can match the aura of Bonds. Guess what? It’s no apart from Shohei Ohtani. He turned the primary participant within the MLB ever to document a 50-50 season. Ohtani concluded 2024 with 54 homers, 130 RBI, 59 stolen bases, a 9.2 WAR, and a .310/.390/.646 slash line. Thus, Ohtani generally is a guess to the touch Bonds’ document of 73 residence runs in a single season.
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Then again, Juan Soto has walked at the very least 129 occasions in 4 consecutive seasons. Barry Bonds is the one different MLB participant ever to do this. Soto already broke the best contract ever, as soon as held by Bonds at his time. Each Soto and Ohtani have hitting talents very similar to Bonds, they usually might accumulate home runs to problem the previous Large. Though Bonds thinks in any other case. “The sport is approach completely different than it was after I performed,” mentioned Bonds on why Ohtani can’t match his legacy.
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Time will inform if somebody can break Bonds’ document. For now, Bonds would be the benchmark for the hitters. Who do you assume can match Barry Bonds? Remark beneath.