SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Hardcore baseball fans used to track every home run Barry Bonds hit during batting practice, even in spring training, before he hit his stride in the regular season. Such was the excitement surrounding Bonds’ pursuit of Babe Ruth for second place on the all-time home run list and Hank Aaron’s then-record 755, which Bonds surpassed on August 7, 2007.
Before that, in 2001, Bonds set a Major League Baseball single-season record with 73 home runs—a mark Yankees manager Aaron Boone believes could one day be challenged by players like Aaron Judge or Shohei Ohtani.
These days, Bonds is enjoying keeping up with stars like Judge and Ohtani. Judge, in turn, is thrilled that Bond is watching him, recalling how he grew up watching Bond play. “He was one of my favorite players growing up,” Judge said. “To think that he’s now watching me is pretty surreal.”
Judge doesn’t expect to break Bonds’ record of 73 home runs, admitting, “I’ve been through this for eight or nine seasons, and it’s not easy. He made it look a lot easier than it is, which is why he’s the greatest.”
Bonds, meanwhile, continues to appreciate the talent in today’s game, including players like Mookie Betts for his defensive skills and Judge and Ohtani for their home run power. Bonds regularly works with San Francisco Giants hitters at Oracle Park, where he serves as a special adviser. He enjoys the teaching aspect, saying, “I’d rather be a.300 hitter who hits 20 home runs for 15 to 20 years—that’s consistency.”
Despite the cloud of performance-enhancing drug accusations that hovered over Bonds’ pursuit of Ruth and Aaron, which he has denied, Bonds remains a legendary figure in the sport. Judge set an American League record with 62 home runs in 2022 and recently finished a season with 58, while Ohtani hit 54 and became the first player in MLB history to achieve 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a season.
Though today’s home run chases aren’t as dramatic as the McGwire-Sosa race in 1998 or Bonds’ record-breaking season, Bonds still appreciates the excitement surrounding baseball. He passed Ruth with his 715th homer in 2006, eventually surpassing Aaron the following year. The seven-time National League MVP now finds joy in guiding young players like Heliot Ramos, praising his performance in his first full MLB season.
“I’m just a fan of baseball and the players,” Bonds said, emphasizing that he doesn’t judge others but enjoys seeing the next generation learn from past players. Bonds, who is no longer concerned with his exclusion from the Hall of Fame, is excited about the growing interest in baseball, especially with new rules and new stars capturing fans’ attention.
While Bonds has no desire to face today’s pitchers or compete with stars like Judge and Ohtani, he’s passionate about working behind the scenes. “I love being in the batting cage, working on technique, and solving the puzzle of hitting,” he said. “That’s the fun part for me.”
At 60, Bonds concluded with a bit of humor: “I’m just trying to wake up tomorrow.”
Leave a Reply