MLB home run king Barry Bonds enters Pittsburgh Pirates Hall of Fame
All-time MLB great and reigning home run king Barry Bonds has ripped up the record books when it pertains to offensive productivity over his career. For a five-year period, pitchers were so afraid to throw to him that intentional walks were pretty much the norm and drew boos from the crowd…when his team was on the road.
Bonds will unfortunately be defined by allegations of using banned performance-enhancing substances that arose while he played for the San Francisco Giants from 1993–2007. His detractors forget or consciously ignore that Bonds was one of the sport’s best players in his time with the Pirates and one of the most influential superstars in franchise history.
Gaining election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame with the 75 percent needed 10 years on the ballot due to the banned substances controversy, Bonds will be inducted into the Pirates Hall of Fame on August 24.
The Pirates drafted Bonds with the sixth pick in 1985 after his outstanding collegiate career playing for Arizona State, and the next seven years were filled with awards as he helped elevate the Pirates to a World Series contender. His time with them included:
• A hitting slash of .275/.380/.503 that adds to the OPS+ advanced stat of 147
• The only player in franchise history with two MVP awards
• Won two Silver Slugger awards and three Gold Gloves
• Ranks fifth on the Pirates franchise list in homers with 176.
• Only player in franchise history to have at least 175 home runs and 200 stolen bases
• Three straight NL East titles in his final three years
• 1992 NL championship series matchup with the Atlanta Braves
“As an organization, we are proud to add three significant members to the Pittsburgh Pirates Hall of Fame,” Pirates chairman Bob Nutting said in a statement. “Included in this year’s class is a two-time MVP award-winner in Barry, a two-time Manager of the Year-winner in Jim (Leyland), and a two-time World Series champion with the Pirates in Manny (Sanguillen).
“All three inductees are very deserving of this prestigious recognition. We look forward to celebrating their induction with our fans and sharing their stories with generations to come.”
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