Barry Bonds hit numerous milestone home runs during his 22 seasons in Major League Baseball with the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants. Bonds ranks among the greatest baseball players of all time and was for much of his career considered a five-tool player.[1][2] Bonds' ascension towards the top of experts' lists of greatest players was propelled by highly productive years in which he set many records. By 1998, he was considered among the 50 greatest players of all time by The Sporting News,[3] and after winning the National League's Most Valuable Player Award four consecutive times from 2001 to 2004, he jumped into the top 10 in the 2005 list.[4] He now holds numerous Major League Baseball records for home runs, bases on balls, intentional bases on balls, slugging percentage and on-base percentage, as well as a record seven MVP awards.[5]
In baseball, the home run is one of the most popular aspects of the game. Thus, the career record for home runs is among the most important and respected records in baseball. The road to this record has been closely followed and each additional home run Bonds hits extends the current record further. On August 7, 2007, Barry Bonds became the major leagues' career home run champion by hitting his 756th career home run, which surpassed Hank Aaron's total.[6]
Quite often milestone home runs such as round hundred and career records are considered breaking news,[7][8] and sports news services give coverage to countdowns on impending milestone home runs. Several of Bonds' milestone home runs were given dedicated coverage on ESPN BottomLine, with Chasing Ruth and Chasing Aaron coverage being quite extensive for the few seasons preceding the breaking of the record. Sports collectible dealers and buyers pay exorbitant sums for paraphernalia associated with such milestones. The Baseball Hall of Fame covets such paraphernalia for display.[9] In fact, players are even sensitive to the way in which their paraphernalia is displayed.[10] A baseball that was hit for a milestone causes such a mêlée and such hysteria that special balls have to be used to stop counterfeiting,[11] and police escorts are necessary for those who catch such balls.[12]
Because of Bonds' versatility even some of his early milestones were quite significant. Barry Bonds' milestone home runs have received extensive coverage since his 300th made him the fourth member of the 300–300 club which also included his godfather Willie Mays and father Bobby Bonds.[13] His 400th home run also received national coverage,[14] and his 400–400 feat was a motivating goal and is widely cited as a testament to his greatness.[15][16][17] His 500th home run was part of a memorable 2001 Major League Baseball season of milestones in which he hit a record 73 home runs in a single season and surpassed many baseball legends.[18][19] His 554th home run and 60th of the season sold for US$5000.[20] His 567th and 73rd of the season sold for $500,000, which was far less than the $3 million for which Mark McGwire's 70th had been sold three years earlier.[21] Bonds' 660th home run was more celebrated than his 661st because it put him in the same company as his own godfather on the all-time list.[22] Bonds' 600th and 700th home runs both were widely followed and reported in the media because they placed him such elite company.[23][24] Bonds' 756th home run sold for $752,467 (including a 20% commission).[21] Below is a list of Barry Bonds' milestone home runs.[25]
Milestone home runs
editHR | Date | Age | Team | Pitcher | Opponent | Park | Score | Situation | Runners | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1[26] | June 4, 1986 | 21 y, 315 d | Pittsburgh | Craig McMurtry | Atlanta | Fulton County Stadium | 10–2 | T5 2out | --- | |
100[27] | July 12, 1990 | 25 y, 353 d | Pittsburgh | Andy Benes | San Diego | Three Rivers Stadium | 0–0 | B1 2out 2–0 | 12- | |
200[28] | July 8, 1993 | 28 y, 349 d | San Francisco | José DeLeón | Philadelphia | Veterans Stadium | 11–1 | T7 0out 0–0 | --- | |
300[29] | April 27, 1996 | 31 y, 278 d | San Francisco | John Burkett | Florida | Candlestick Park | 2–0 | B3 0out 0–0 | −2- | Becomes the fourth member of the 300–300 club.[13] |
400[30] | August 23, 1998 | 34 y, 30 d | San Francisco | Kirt Ojala | Florida | Pro Player Stadium | 3–0 | T3 1out 1–1 | --- | Becomes the first member of the 400–400 club.[14] |
500[31] | April 17, 2001 | 36 y, 267 d | San Francisco | Terry Adams | L.A. Dodgers | Pacific Bell Park | 1–2 | B8 0out 2–0 | --3 | Becomes the seventeenth member of the 500 home run club.[19] |
554[32] | September 6, 2001 | 37 y, 44 d | San Francisco | Albie Lopez | Arizona | Pacific Bell Park | 4–2 | B2 2out 2–2 | --- | Ties Babe Ruth as the fifth member of the 60 home run club.[33][34] |
564[35] | October 4, 2001 | 37 y, 72 d | San Francisco | Wilfredo Rodriguez | Houston | Minute Maid Park | 9–2 | T9 0out 1–1 | --- | Ties Mark McGwire for first place in single season home runs and as 2nd member of the 70 home run club.[36] |
565[37] | October 5, 2001 | 37 y, 73 d | San Francisco | Chan Ho Park | L.A. Dodgers | Pacific Bell Park | 0–5 | B1 2out 1–0 | --- | Surpasses McGwire for first place in single season home runs with 71.[38] |
567[39] | October 7, 2001 | 37 y, 75 d | San Francisco | Dennis Springer | L.A. Dodgers | Pacific Bell Park | 0–0 | B1 2out 3–2 | --- | Sets new single season record with 73 home runs. Ownership of ball was disputed in Popov v. Hayashi.[40][41] |
600[42] | August 9, 2002 | 38 y, 16 d | San Francisco | Kip Wells | Pittsburgh | Pacific Bell Park | 2–4 | B6 2out 2–1 | --- | Becomes the fourth member of the 600 home run club.[43] |
660[44] | April 12, 2004 | 39 y, 263 d | San Francisco | Matt Kinney | Milwaukee | SBC Park | 2–4 | B5 2out 3–1 | 12- | Ties Willie Mays for third place in career home runs.[45] |
661[46] | April 13, 2004 | 39 y, 264 d | San Francisco | Ben Ford | Milwaukee | SBC Park | 3–1 | B7 2out 1–2 | --- | Surpasses Mays for third place in career home runs.[22] |
700[47] | September 17, 2004 | 40 y, 55 d | San Francisco | Jake Peavy | San Diego | SBC Park | 3–0 | B3 0out 0–1 | --- | Becomes the third member of the 700 home run club.[48] |
714[49] | May 20, 2006 | 41 y, 300 d | San Francisco | Brad Halsey | Oakland | McAfee Coliseum | 0–1 | T2 0out 1–1 | --- | Ties Ruth for second place in career home runs.[50] |
715[51] | May 28, 2006 | 41 y, 308 d | San Francisco | Byung-hyun Kim | Colorado | AT&T Park | 0–6 | B4 0out 3–2 | 1-- | Surpasses Ruth for second place in career home runs. Also becomes all-time home run leader among left-handed batters.[52] |
733[53] | September 22, 2006 | 42 y, 60 d | San Francisco | Chris Spurling | Milwaukee | Miller Park | 8–10 | T6 1out 2–0 | 12- | Ties Hank Aaron for first place in NL career home runs.[54] |
734[55] | September 23, 2006 | 42 y, 61 d | San Francisco | Chris Capuano | Milwaukee | Miller Park | 1–6 | T3 1out 1–0 | --- | Surpasses Aaron for first place in NL career home runs.[56] |
755[57] | August 4, 2007 | 43 y, 11 d | San Francisco | Clay Hensley | San Diego | Petco Park | 0–1 | T2 0out 2–1 | --- | Ties Aaron for first place in career home runs.[58] |
756[59] | August 7, 2007 | 43 y, 14 d | San Francisco | Mike Bacsik | Washington | AT&T Park | 4–4 | B5 1out 3–2 | --- | Surpasses Aaron for first place in career home runs.[60] |
762[61] | September 5, 2007 | 43 y, 43 d | San Francisco | Ubaldo Jiménez | Colorado | Coors Field | 0–0 | T1 2out 1–2 | -2- | Final career home run.[62] |
Career home run leaders
editThrough the 2023 Major League Baseball season, the following are the career home run leaders:[63]
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See also
editNotes
edit- ^ Bonavita, Mark (March 31, 1999). "Baseball's five tools". Sporting News. Archived from the original on August 25, 2007. Retrieved November 3, 2007.
- ^ Acee, Kevin (June 2001). "Majors' Five-Tool Players Who Are They? – skills of baseball players". Baseball Digest. FindArticles. Archived from the original on November 15, 2007.
- ^ "Baseball's 100 Greatest Players by The Sporting News (1998)". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved November 3, 2007.
- ^ Smith, Rod, Baseball's 100 Greatest Players: Second Edition, Sporting News, ISBN 0-89204-800-X, 2005.
- ^ "Player File: Barry Bonds 25 – LF". MLB.com. 2007. Archived from the original on August 9, 2007. Retrieved November 2, 2007.
- ^ "Bonds turns page to new era with home run No. 756". ESPN. August 7, 2007. Archived from the original on November 4, 2016. Retrieved November 1, 2007.
- ^ McLarty, Butch (August 8, 2007). "Giants' Slugger Barry Bonds smacks Home Run Number 756 to break Hank Aaron's record". altlondon.org. Archived from the original on October 14, 2007. Retrieved November 3, 2007.
- ^ Curry, Jack (August 8, 2007). "Bonds Hits No. 756 to Break Aaron's Record". The New York Times. Retrieved October 6, 2016.
- ^ "Helmet, other gear from homers 755, 756 on display at Hall". ESPN. August 10, 2007. Retrieved November 2, 2007.
- ^ Fitzpatrick, Mike (November 1, 2007). "Bonds: Asterisk would force boycott of Hall of Fame". USA Today. Retrieved November 2, 2007.
- ^ Schulman, Henry (July 20, 2007). "HAMMER TIME: Bonds homers twice – just two behind Aaron". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved November 2, 2007.
- ^ "Queens man in San Francisco for one day catches famous ball". ESPN. August 9, 2007. Retrieved September 29, 2007.
- ^ a b "BASEBALL;Bonds Joins 300–300 Club Before Ejection". The New York Times. April 28, 1996. Retrieved November 2, 2007.
- ^ a b "Bonds Becomes 1st 400–400 Man". The Washington Post. August 24, 1998. Archived from the original on September 18, 2009. Retrieved November 2, 2007.
- ^ Pearlman, Jeff (March 16, 2006). "For Bonds, great wasn't good enough". ESPN. Retrieved November 2, 2007.
- ^ "Giants Timeline – 1996: Bonds bashes, runs into history". giants.mlb.com. Archived from the original on May 15, 2008. Retrieved November 2, 2007.
- ^ Smith, Claire (May 17, 1996). "BASEBALL;Bonds Loses Rage, but Not the Swing". The New York Times. Retrieved November 2, 2007.
- ^ "Barry Bonds' Incredible Season". San Francisco Chronicle. October 8, 2001. Retrieved November 2, 2007.
- ^ a b "Bonds hits 71st, 72nd homers as Giants get eliminated". Sports Illustrated. October 5, 2001. Archived from the original on October 6, 2001. Retrieved November 2, 2007.
- ^ Bulwa, Demian and Peter Fimrite (July 29, 2007). "Ballhawks circle for historic Bonds home run balls". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved November 3, 2007.
- ^ a b Passan, Jeff (September 15, 2007). "Home run high". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved November 3, 2007.
- ^ a b "Bonds hits solo shot in seventh off Ford". ESPN. April 13, 2004. Archived from the original on November 16, 2018. Retrieved November 2, 2007.
- ^ "Bonds joins Aaron, Mays, Ruth in 600-homer club". Sports Illustrated. August 10, 2002. Archived from the original on October 13, 2002. Retrieved November 3, 2007.
- ^ "Bonds Joins 700 Home Run Club". CBS News. September 18, 2004. Retrieved November 3, 2007.
- ^ "Barry Bonds Home Run Log (Batting)". baseball-reference.com. October 28, 2007. Archived from the original on December 16, 2008. Retrieved November 1, 2007.
- ^ "Jun 4, 1986, Pirates at Braves Box Score and Play by Play". Baseball-Reference.com. June 4, 1986. Retrieved November 2, 2007.
- ^ "Jul 12, 1990, Padres at Pirates Box Score and Play by Play". Baseball-Reference.com. July 12, 1990. Retrieved November 2, 2007.
- ^ "Jul 8, 1993, Giants at Phillies Play by Play and Box Score". Baseball-Reference.com. July 8, 1994. Retrieved November 2, 2007.
- ^ "Apr 27, 1996, Marlins at Giants Box Score and Play by Play". Baseball-Reference.com. April 27, 1996. Retrieved November 2, 2007.
- ^ "Aug 23, 1998, Giants at Marlins Box Score and Play by Play". Baseball-Reference.com. August 23, 1998. Retrieved November 2, 2007.
- ^ "Apr 17, 2001, Dodgers at Giants Play by Play and Box Score". Baseball-Reference.com. April 17, 2001. Retrieved November 2, 2007.
- ^ "Sep 6, 2001, Diamondbacks at Giants Play by Play and Box Score". Baseball-Reference.com. September 6, 2001. Retrieved November 3, 2007.
- ^ Reaves, Jessica (September 7, 2001). "Barry-ing the Hatchet With Mr. Bonds". Time. Archived from the original on September 18, 2005. Retrieved November 3, 2007.
- ^ Peterson, Anne M. (September 6, 2001). "Barry Bonds Joins The Babe At 60". thesundevils.cstv.com. Arizona State Baseball. Archived from the original on February 1, 2009. Retrieved November 3, 2007.
- ^ "Oct 4, 2001, Giants at Astros Play by Play and Box Score". Baseball-Reference.com. October 4, 2001. Retrieved November 3, 2007.
- ^ Chass, Murray (October 5, 2001). "Baseball; Bonds is Unleashed, Smashing His Way Alongside McGwire". The New York Times. Retrieved November 3, 2007.
- ^ "Oct 5, 2001, Dodgers at Giants Play by Play and Box Score". Baseball-Reference.com. October 5, 2001. Retrieved November 3, 2007.
- ^ Roberts, Selena (October 6, 2001). "Baseball; Bonds Breaks Homer Record, And Then Some". The New York Times. Retrieved November 3, 2007.
- ^ "Oct 7, 2001, Dodgers at Giants Play by Play and Box Score". Baseball-Reference.com. October 7, 2001. Retrieved November 3, 2007.
- ^ "A Welcome Distraction". The New York Times. October 8, 2001. Retrieved November 3, 2007.
- ^ Bean, Matt (June 26, 2003). "'Million-dollar' Bonds ball sells for $450,000". CNN.com.
- ^ "Pittsburgh Pirates at San Francisco Giants (box score)". ESPN. August 9, 2002. Retrieved November 2, 2007.
- ^ "Bonds' 600th blast not enough to beat Bucs". ESPN. August 9, 2002. Archived from the original on June 20, 2019. Retrieved November 2, 2007.
- ^ "Milwaukee Brewers at San Francisco Giants (box score)". ESPN. April 12, 2004. Retrieved November 2, 2007.
- ^ "Bonds hits into McCovey Cove for 28th time". ESPN. April 12, 2004. Archived from the original on January 26, 2020. Retrieved November 2, 2007.
- ^ "Milwaukee Brewers at San Francisco Giants (box score)". ESPN. April 13, 2004. Retrieved November 2, 2007.
- ^ "San Diego Padres at San Francisco Giants (box score)". ESPN. September 17, 2004. Retrieved November 2, 2007.
- ^ "Giants hold half-game lead on Cubs". ESPN. September 17, 2004. Archived from the original on November 16, 2018. Retrieved November 2, 2007.
- ^ "San Francisco Giants at Oakland Athletics (box score)". ESPN. May 20, 2006. Retrieved November 2, 2007.
- ^ "Bonds reels in Babe, blasts home run No. 714". ESPN. May 20, 2006. Archived from the original on March 23, 2017. Retrieved November 2, 2007.
- ^ "Colorado Rockies at San Francisco Giants (box score)". ESPN. May 28, 2006. Retrieved November 2, 2007.
- ^ "Bonds' milestone homer not enough vs. Rockies". ESPN. May 28, 2006. Archived from the original on August 6, 2017. Retrieved November 2, 2007.
- ^ "San Francisco Giants at Milwaukee Brewers (box score)". ESPN. September 22, 2006. Retrieved November 2, 2007.
- ^ "Bonds ties Aaron's NL HR mark, but Giants fall to Brewers". ESPN. September 22, 2006. Archived from the original on March 22, 2017. Retrieved November 2, 2007.
- ^ "San Francisco Giants at Milwaukee Brewers (box score)". ESPN. September 23, 2006. Retrieved November 2, 2007.
- ^ "Bonds hits NL-record 734th HR, but Giants lose again". ESPN. September 23, 2006. Archived from the original on March 22, 2017. Retrieved November 2, 2007.
- ^ "San Francisco Giants at San Diego Padres (box score)". ESPN. August 4, 2007. Retrieved November 2, 2007.
- ^ "Bonds ties Aaron with No. 755, but Pads win in 12". ESPN. August 4, 2007. Retrieved November 2, 2007.
- ^ "Washington Nationals at San Francisco Giants (box score)". ESPN. August 7, 2007. Retrieved November 2, 2007.
- ^ "Bonds turns page to new era with home run No. 756". ESPN. August 7, 2007. Archived from the original on November 4, 2016. Retrieved November 2, 2007.
- ^ "San Francisco Giants at Colorado Rockies (box score)". ESPN. September 5, 2007. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
- ^ "Bonds hits No. 762 as Giants, Correia halt Rockies". ESPN. September 5, 2007. Retrieved May 8, 2012.[dead link ]
- ^ "Career Leaders & Records for Home Runs". Baseball-Reference.com. October 28, 2007. Archived from the original on December 4, 2000. Retrieved November 3, 2007.