Barry Bonds: Difference between revisions

|image=Barry Bonds 2006-05-08 (cropped).jpg

|caption=Bonds in 2006

'''Barry Lamar Bonds''' (born July 24, 1964)<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 24, 2020 |title=Famous birthdays for July 24: Barry Bonds, Rose Byrne |url=https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/2020/07/24/Famous-birthdays-for-July-24-Barry-Bonds-Rose-Byrne/1171595260814/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808212232/https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/2020/07/24/Famous-birthdays-for-July-24-Barry-Bonds-Rose-Byrne/1171595260814/ |archive-date=August 8, 2020 |access-date=March 11, 2023 |website=[[United Press International]]}}</ref> is an American former professional [[baseball]] [[left fielder]] who played 22 seasons in [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB). Bonds was a member of the [[Pittsburgh Pirates]] from 1986 to 1992 and the [[San Francisco Giants]] from 1993 to 2007.<ref name="freeagent">{{cite web |date=December 10, 2009 |title=Barry Bonds's agent says slugger's career is over |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=4730658 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091218023717/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4730658 |archive-date=December 18, 2009 |access-date=December 15, 2009 |work=[[ESPN]]}}</ref> He is considered to be one of the greatest baseball players of all time.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Johnston |first=Joey |date=September 2004 |title=Barry Bonds: the best ever? Giants slugger will forever be compared to the greatest major league players and his numbers will rank him as the top performer of his era |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCI/is_9_63/ai_n6154588 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120718034835/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCI/is_9_63/ai_n6154588 |archive-date=July 18, 2012 |access-date=June 20, 2008 |work=[[Baseball Digest]] |via=[[FindArticles]]}}</ref><ref name="TNBJHBA-FBfaDI" /><ref>{{cite web |date=August 31, 2004 |title=Aaron: Bonds Is Greatest Of All Time |url=http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/5870441/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411100335/http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/5870441/ |archive-date=April 11, 2013 |access-date=February 2, 2013 |website=[[NBC Sports]] |publisher=[[MSNBC]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=ESPN's Hall of 100 – Ranking the all-time greatest MLB players |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/feature/video/_/id/8652210/num/124 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160906133507/https://www.espn.com/mlb/feature/video/_/id/8652210/num/124 |archive-date=September 6, 2016 |access-date=August 4, 2013 |work=[[ESPN]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=100 Greatest Baseball Players by The Sporting News: A Legendary List by Baseball Almanac |url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/legendary/lisn100.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190829132658/https://www.baseball-almanac.com/legendary/lisn100.shtml |archive-date=August 29, 2019 |access-date=August 4, 2013 |website=[[Baseball Almanac]]}}</ref>

Recognized as an all-around player, Bonds received a record seven [[National League (baseball)|National League]] (NL) [[Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award|Most Valuable Player Awards]] and 12 [[Silver Slugger Award]]s, along with 14 [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] selections. He holds many MLB hitting records, including [[List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders|most career home runs]] (762), [[List of Major League Baseball progressive single-season home run leaders|most home runs in a single season]] (73, set in 2001), and the records for the [[List of Major League Baseball career bases on balls leaders|most walks]] and [[List of Major League Baseball career intentional bases on balls leaders|intentional walks]] in a career, season, and in consecutive games.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Barry Bonds Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bondsba01.shtml#all_leaderboard |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629110919/http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bondsba01.shtml#all_leaderboard |archive-date=June 29, 2011 |access-date=June 14, 2024 |website=[[Baseball Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> Bonds led MLB in [[on-base plus slugging]] six times and placed within the top five hitters in 12 of his 17 [[Batting average (baseball)#Qualifications for the batting title|qualifying]] seasons.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Year-by-Year Top-Tens Leaders & Records for On-Base Plus Slugging |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/onbase_plus_slugging_top_ten.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116035719/https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/onbase_plus_slugging_top_ten.shtml |archive-date=November 16, 2018 |access-date=April 22, 2017 |website=[[Baseball Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Barry Bonds » Statistics » Batting |url=http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=1109&position=OF |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141105165508/http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=1109&position=OF |archive-date=November 5, 2014 |access-date=April 22, 2017 |website=[[FanGraphs]]}}</ref> For his defensive play in the outfield, he won eight [[Gold Glove Award]]s.<ref name="br-stats">{{cite web |date=October 28, 2007 |title=Barry Bonds Statistics |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/b/bondsba01.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071030141637/http://www.baseball-reference.com/b/bondsba01.shtml |archive-date=October 30, 2007 |access-date=November 3, 2007 |work=[[Baseball Reference]]}}</ref> He also had 514 [[stolen base]]s, becoming the first and only MLB player to date with at least 500 home runs and 500 stolen bases.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 25, 2003 |title=Bonds charters 500-500 club |url=https://www.deseretnews.com/article/992458/Bonds-charters-500-500-club.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190324190138/https://www.deseretnews.com/article/992458/Bonds-charters-500-500-club.html |archive-date=March 24, 2019 |access-date=March 24, 2019 |website=[[Deseret News]] |language=en |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=January 22, 2019 |title=My favorite Barry Bonds stat is still that he's the only member of the 400 homer/400 steal club and the only member of the 500 homer/500 steal club |url=https://twitter.com/CespedesBBQ/status/1087789138949165056 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190409161127/https://twitter.com/CespedesBBQ/status/1087789138949165056 |archive-date=April 9, 2019 |access-date=March 24, 2019 |website=[[Twitter]] |language=en |via=@CespedesBBQ}}</ref> Bonds is ranked first in career [[Wins Above Replacement]] among all major league [[position player]]s by [[Baseball Reference]] and second by [[FanGraphs]], behind only [[Babe Ruth]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Career Leaders & Records for WAR Position Players |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/WAR_bat_career.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150209014017/http://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/WAR_bat_career.shtml |archive-date=February 9, 2015 |access-date=July 20, 2023 |website=[[Baseball Reference]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Batting Leaders; Career |url=http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=bat&lg=all&qual=y&type=8&season=2014&month=0&season1=1871&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&players=0 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150116124407/http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=bat&lg=all&qual=y&type=8&season=2014&month=0&season1=1871&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&players=0 |archive-date=January 16, 2015 |access-date=November 22, 2014 |website=[[FanGraphs]]}}</ref>

Despite his accolades, Bonds led a controversial career, notably as a central figure in baseball's [[Doping in baseball|steroids scandal]]. He was indicted in 2007 on charges of [[perjury]] and [[obstruction of justice]] for allegedly lying to a grand jury during the federal government's investigation of [[Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative|BALCO]], a manufacturer of an undetectable steroid. After the perjury charges were dropped, Bonds was convicted of obstruction of justice in 2011,<ref name="latimesblogs.latimes.com">{{cite news |date=April 13, 2011 |title=Barry Bonds convicted of obstruction of justice in performance-enhancing-drugs case |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/04/barry-bonds-verdict-.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110428145119/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/04/barry-bonds-verdict-.html |archive-date=April 28, 2011 |access-date=April 16, 2011 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref> but was exonerated on appeal in 2015.<ref name="Egelko 20150422">{{cite news |last=Egelko |first=Bob |date=April 22, 2014 |title=Appeals court overturns Barry Bonds's obstruction conviction |url=http://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/Appeals-court-overturns-Barry-Bonds-6217365.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190809115415/https://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/Appeals-court-overturns-Barry-Bonds-6217365.php |archive-date=August 9, 2019 |access-date=April 23, 2015 |work=[[SFGate]]}}</ref> During his 10 years of eligibility, he did not receive the 75% of the vote needed to be elected to the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame]].<ref name="Blinn">{{cite news |url=https://nypost.com/2021/01/26/baseball-hall-of-fame-2021-vote-yields-no-entrants/ |title=Baseball Hall of Fame vote: Schilling, Bonds, Clemens come up short |first=Michael |last=Blinn |website=[[New York Post]] |date=January 26, 2021 |access-date=January 26, 2021 |archive-date=January 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126232423/https://nypost.com/2021/01/26/baseball-hall-of-fame-2021-vote-yields-no-entrants/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="mlb.com">{{Cite web |last=Berry |first=Adam |date=January 24, 2018 |title=Bonds climbs, still short of Hall of Fame |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/barry-bonds-climbs-still-shy-of-hall-of-fame/c-265259462 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180125021044/https://www.mlb.com/news/barry-bonds-climbs-still-shy-of-hall-of-fame/c-265259462 |archive-date=January 25, 2018 |access-date=January 25, 2018 |website=[[MLB.com]] |publisher=[[MLB Advanced Media]]}}</ref><ref name="NoHoF">{{cite news |date=January 25, 2022 |title=Complete 2022 Hall of Fame voting results |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/baseball-hall-of-fame-2022-voting |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220125034501/https://www.mlb.com/news/baseball-hall-of-fame-2022-voting |archive-date=January 25, 2022 |access-date=January 25, 2022 |work=[[MLB.com]] |publisher=[[MLB Advanced Media]]}}</ref> Some voters of the [[Baseball Writers' Association of America]] (BBWAA) stated they did not vote for Bonds because they believe he used [[performance-enhancing drugs]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Passan |first=Jeff |author-link=Jeff Passan |date=January 23, 2019 |title=Why Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens aren't getting into the Hall of Fame |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/25826093/mlb-why-barry-bonds-roger-clemens-getting-hall-fame |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616174740/https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/25826093/mlb-why-barry-bonds-roger-clemens-getting-hall-fame |archive-date=June 16, 2020 |access-date=April 8, 2020 |website=[[ESPN]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=March 22, 2011 |title=Lawyer Bonds didn't know he used steroids |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/lawyer-bonds-didnt-know-he-used-steroids/2011/03/22/AB5TcUIB_story.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207213344/https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/lawyer-bonds-didnt-know-he-used-steroids/2011/03/22/AB5TcUIB_story.html |archive-date=December 7, 2022 |access-date=October 9, 2022 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref>

Bonds was born in [[Riverside, California]], to Patricia (née Howard) and then-future major leaguer [[Bobby Bonds]],<ref name="BBEB">{{cite encyclopedia |year=2007 |title=Barry Bonds |encyclopedia=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]] |url=https://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9384072/Barry-Bonds#759273.hook |access-date=September 25, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080807151701/https://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9384072/Barry-Bonds#759273.hook |archive-date=August 7, 2008}}</ref> and grew up in [[San Carlos, California|San Carlos]] and attended [[Junípero Serra High School (San Mateo, California)|Junípero Serra High School]] in [[San Mateo, California|San Mateo]], where he excelled in baseball, basketball, and [[American football|football]]. He played on the [[junior varsity team]] during his freshman year and on the [[varsity team]] for the remainder of his high school career. He garnered a .467&nbsp;[[batting average (baseball)|batting average]] his senior year, and was named prep [[All-America]]n.<ref name="MLB">{{cite web |year=2007 |title=Player Profile: Barry Bonds 25 |url=http://barrybonds.mlb.com/team/player_career.jsp?player_id=111188 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070809004722/http://barrybonds.mlb.com/team/player_career.jsp?player_id=111188 |archive-date=August 9, 2007 |access-date=September 8, 2007 |work=[[MLB.com]] |publisher=[[MLB Advanced Media]]}}</ref> The Giants drafted Bonds in the second round (39th overall) of the [[1982 Major League Baseball draft|1982 MLB draft]] as a high school senior,<ref>{{Cite web |title=2nd Round of the 1982 MLB June Amateur Draft |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/index.fcgi?year_ID=1982&draft_round=2&draft_type=junreg&query_type=year_round |access-date=January 2, 2025 |website=[[Baseball Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> but the Giants and Bonds were unable to agree on contract terms when [[Tom Haller]]'s maximum offer was $70,000 (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|70000|1982|r=-4}}}} today) and Bonds's minimum to go pro was $75,000, so Bonds instead decided to attend college.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Christensen |first=Arne |date=November 5, 2009 |title=The San Francisco Giants Drafting Barry Bonds In 1982 |url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/284885-the-san-francisco-giants-drafting-barry-bonds-in-1982 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091109155116/http://bleacherreport.com/articles/284885-the-san-francisco-giants-drafting-barry-bonds-in-1982 |archive-date=November 9, 2009 |access-date=September 11, 2010 |website=[[Bleacher Report]]}}</ref>

Bonds attended [[Arizona State University]], hitting .347 with 45&nbsp;home runs and 175&nbsp;[[runs batted in]] (RBI).<ref name=MLB/> In 1984, he batted .360 and had 30&nbsp;[[stolen base]]s. In 1985, he hit 23&nbsp;home runs with 66&nbsp;RBI and a .368&nbsp;batting average. He was a [[Sporting News]] All-American selection that year. He tied the [[NCAA]] record with seven consecutive hits in the [[College World Series]] as a sophomore and was named to All-Time College World Series Team in 1996.<ref name=MLB/>

Bonds was not well-liked by his Sun Devil teammates, in part because in the words of longtime coach [[Jim Brock]], he was "rude, inconsiderate and self-centered". When he was suspended for breaking curfew, the other players initially voted against his return even though he was easily the best player on the team.<ref name="Stewart">{{cite book |last=Stewart |first=James |author-link=James B. Stewart |url=https://archive.org/details/tangledwebshowfa00stew |title=Tangled Webs: How False Statements are Undermining America: From Martha Stewart to Bernie Madoff |publisher=[[Penguin Group]] |year=2011 |isbn=978-1-59420-269-8 |location=New York City}}</ref>

 

He graduated from Arizona State in 1986 with a degree in [[criminology]]. He was named ASU On Deck Circle Most Valuable Player; other winners include [[Dustin Pedroia]], [[Willie Bloomquist]], [[Paul Lo Duca]], and [[Ike Davis]].<ref>{{cite web |date=May 27, 2008 |title=#1 in College Sports |url=http://www.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/stories/052808aaa.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622005042/http://www.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/stories/052808aaa.html |archive-date=June 22, 2011 |access-date=May 14, 2010 |website=[[CBS Sports Network|CSTV]]}}</ref> During college, he played part of one summer in the amateur [[Alaska Baseball League]] with the [[Alaska Goldpanners]].<ref name=TAGoF/>

Before Bonds made it to the major leagues in Pittsburgh, Pirate fan attendance was low, with 1984 and 1985 attendance below 10,000 per game for the 81-game home schedule,<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/07/24/sports/baseball-young-pirates-bring-out-that-old-fan-spirit.html |title=Baseball; Young Pirates Bring Out That Old Fan Spirit |last=Moran |first=Malcolm |date=July 24, 1988 |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=September 14, 2010 |archive-date=January 24, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140124064548/http://www.nytimes.com/1988/07/24/sports/baseball-young-pirates-bring-out-that-old-fan-spirit.html |url-status=live }}</ref> with attendance woes being a combination of the [[Steel crisis|economic problems]] of [[Western Pennsylvania]] in the early 1980s as well as the [[Pittsburgh drug trials]] that directly affected the Pirates going from [[1979 World Series|World Series champions]] to nearly relocating to [[Denver]] in only six years. Bonds made his major league debut on May 30, 1986, finishing 0-for-5 with a walk in a 6–4 loss to the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 30, 1986 |title=Los Angeles Dodgers vs Pittsburgh Pirates Box Score: May 30, 1986 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PIT/PIT198605300.shtml |access-date=January 2, 2025 |website=[[Baseball Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> On June 4, he hit his first major league home run and drove in four runs, helping the Pirates to a 12–3 win over the [[Atlanta Braves]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 4, 1986 |title=Pittsburgh Pirates vs Atlanta Braves Box Score: June 4, 1986 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ATL/ATL198606040.shtml |access-date=January 2, 2025 |website=[[Baseball Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> In 1986, Bonds led [[National League (baseball)|National League]] (NL) rookies with 16&nbsp;home runs, 48&nbsp;RBI, 36&nbsp;stolen bases, and 65&nbsp;walks, but he finished sixth in [[Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year Award|Rookie of the Year]] voting.<ref name=br-stats/><ref>{{cite web |title=1986 National League Rookie of the Year Award |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1986.shtml#NLroy |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080415192415/http://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1986.shtml |archive-date=April 15, 2008 |access-date=April 16, 2008 |work=[[Baseball Reference]]}}</ref> He played [[Center fielder|center field]] in 1986, but switched to [[left field]] with the arrival of centerfielder [[Andy Van Slyke]] in 1987.<ref name=BWSBTD/>

In his early years, Bonds batted as the [[leadoff hitter]].<ref name="BBHaPBBPP">{{Cite web |url=http://trib.com/sports/article_ddbf3f8f-d5d1-5045-8b68-7ed2ea56123e.html |title=Barry Bonds: How a prospect became baseball's premier player |last=Meyer |first=Paul |date=August 13, 2004 |website=[[Casper Star-Tribune]] |access-date=September 14, 2010 |archive-date=June 18, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110618143744/http://trib.com/sports/article_ddbf3f8f-d5d1-5045-8b68-7ed2ea56123e.html |url-status=live }}</ref> With Van Slyke also in the outfield, the Pirates had a venerable defensive tandem that worked together to cover a lot of ground on the field although they were not close off the field.<ref name="BBHaPBBPP" /> The Pirates experienced a surge in fan enthusiasm with Bonds on the team and set the club attendance record of 52,119 in the 1987 home opener.<ref name=BPTPSCR>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/04/12/sports/baseball-pirates-top-phillies-set-crowd-record.html|access-date=September 14, 2010|date=April 12, 1988|work=[[The New York Times]]|title=Baseball; Pirates Top Phillies; Set Crowd Record|agency=[[Associated Press]]|archive-date=January 24, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140124070125/http://www.nytimes.com/1988/04/12/sports/baseball-pirates-top-phillies-set-crowd-record.html|url-status=live}}</ref> That year, he hit .261 with 25&nbsp;home runs, along with 32&nbsp;stolen bases and 59&nbsp;RBI in 150 games.<ref name=br-stats/>

Bonds improved in 1988, hitting .283 with 24&nbsp;home runs and 58 RBI in 144 games.<ref name=br-stats/> The Pirates broke the record set the previous year with 54,089 attending the home opener.<ref name=BPTPSCR/> Bonds now fit into a highly respected lineup featuring [[Bobby Bonilla]], Van Slyke, and [[Jay Bell]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C06E0DE113BF934A35752C0A9669D8B63 |title=An Appreciation; Worth Watching, From Start to Finish |last=Kepner |first=Tyler |date=January 7, 2007 |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=September 14, 2010 |archive-date=November 10, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110153944/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C06E0DE113BF934A35752C0A9669D8B63 |url-status=live }}</ref> He finished with 19&nbsp;homers, 58&nbsp;RBI, and 14&nbsp;outfield [[assist (baseball)|assists]] in 1989, which was second in the NL.<ref name=br-stats/><ref name="mlb89">{{Cite web |title=1989 National League Fielding Leaders |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1989-fielding-leaders.shtml |access-date=January 2, 2025 |website=[[Baseball Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> Following the season, rumors that he would be traded to the Dodgers for [[Jeff Hamilton (baseball)|Jeff Hamilton]] and [[John Wetteland]], but the team denied the rumors and no such trade occurred.<ref name="BWSBTD">{{cite web |date=December 22, 1989 |title=Bucs Won't Send Bonds To Dodgers |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rdsxAAAAIBAJ&pg=6124,2625272&dq=barry-bonds+dodgers&hl=en |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210803031811/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rdsxAAAAIBAJ&pg=6124,2625272&dq=barry-bonds+dodgers&hl=en |archive-date=August 3, 2021 |access-date=September 14, 2010 |work=[[Lawrence Journal-World]] |via=[[Google News Archive]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=1989-12-22 |title=Pirates Deny Bonds Trade for Wetteland, Hamilton |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-12-22-sp-989-story.html |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

Bonds won his first [[Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award|MVP Award]] in 1990,<ref>{{cite web |title=1990 National League Most Valuable Player Award |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1990.shtml#NLmvp |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080415185017/http://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1990.shtml |archive-date=April 15, 2008 |access-date=April 16, 2008 |work=[[Baseball Reference]]}}</ref> hitting .301 with 33&nbsp;home runs and 114&nbsp;RBI in 151 games.<ref name="br-stats" /> He also stole 52 bases, which was third in the league, and joined the [[30–30 club|30–30]] and [[20–50 club]]s for the first time.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wittenmyer |first=Gordon |date=August 7, 2024 |title=Fast company: Look who's in the elite club Cincinnati Reds SS Elly De La Cruz just joined |url=https://www.aol.com/fast-company-look-whos-elite-165613130.html |access-date=December 29, 2024 |newspaper=[[The Cincinnati Enquirer]] |via=[[AOL]]}}</ref> He won his first [[Gold Glove Award]] and [[Silver Slugger Award]].<ref name=MLB/> That year, the Pirates won the [[National League East]] title for their first postseason berth since winning the [[1979 World Series]]. However, [[list of Cincinnati Reds seasons|the Cincinnati Reds]], whose last postseason berth had also been in 1979 when they lost to the Pirates in [[1979 National League Championship Series|that year's NLCS]], defeated the Pirates in the [[1990 National League Championship Series|NLCS]] en route to winning the [[1990 World Series]].<ref name=MLB/>

In 1991, Bonds again put up great numbers, batting .292 with 25 homers and driving in 116 runs in 153 games, earning him another Gold Glove and Silver Slugger.<ref name="br-stats" /> He finished second to [[1991 Atlanta Braves season|the Atlanta Braves]]' [[Terry Pendleton]] (the NL batting champion) in the MVP voting.<ref name=MLB/><ref>{{cite web |title=1991 National League Most Valuable Player Award |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1991.shtml#NLmvp |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080410103618/http://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1991.shtml |archive-date=April 10, 2008 |access-date=April 16, 2008 |work=[[Baseball Reference]]}}</ref>

In March 1992, Pirates general manager [[Ted Simmons]] agreed to a deal with Atlanta Braves counterpart [[John Schuerholz]] to trade Bonds, in exchange for [[Alejandro Peña]], [[Keith Mitchell (baseball)|Keith Mitchell]], and a [[player to be named later]]. Pirates manager [[Jim Leyland]] opposed the trade vehemently, and the proposal was rescinded.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Chass|first1=Murray|title=Before Balco, Bonds Was Almost a Brave|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/11/sports/baseball/11chass.html|access-date=October 13, 2015|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=March 11, 2006|archive-date=December 31, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151231205752/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/11/sports/baseball/11chass.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Bonds stayed with Pittsburgh and won his second MVP award that season.<ref name=MLB/><ref>{{cite web |title=1992 National League Most Valuable Player Award |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1992.shtml#NLmvp |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080406011331/http://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1992.shtml |archive-date=April 6, 2008 |access-date=April 16, 2008 |website=[[Baseball Reference]]}}</ref> While hitting .311 with 34 homers and 103 RBI, he propelled the Pirates to their third straight [[National League East]] division title. However, Pittsburgh was defeated by the Braves in a seven-game [[1992 National League Championship Series|National League Championship Series]]. Bonds participated in the final play of [[1992 National League Championship Series Game 7|Game 7]] of the NLCS, whereby he fielded a base hit by [[Francisco Cabrera (baseball)|Francisco Cabrera]] and attempted to throw out [[Sid Bream]] at home plate. The throw to Pirates catcher [[Mike LaValliere]] was late and Bream scored the winning run.<ref>{{cite web |date=October 14, 1992 |title=Sid Bream's modern-day "mad dash" wins the pennant for Atlanta |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/baseballs_best/mlb_bb_gamepage.jsp?story_page=bb_92nlcs_gm7_pitatl |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013075653/http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/baseballs_best/mlb_bb_gamepage.jsp?story_page=bb_92nlcs_gm7_pitatl |archive-date=October 13, 2007 |access-date=September 8, 2007 |work=[[MLB.com]] |publisher=[[MLB Advanced Media]]}}</ref> For the third consecutive season, the NL East Champion Pirates were denied a trip to the World Series. Following the loss, Bonds and star teammate [[Doug Drabek]] were expected to command salaries too high for Pittsburgh to again sign them.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/10/16/sports/sports-of-the-times-the-pirates-lost-a-series-not-respect.html|title=Sports of The Times; The Pirates Lost a Series, Not Respect|access-date=September 14, 2010|date=October 16, 1992|work=[[The New York Times]]|author=Vecsey, George|archive-date=October 12, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111012113019/http://www.nytimes.com/1992/10/16/sports/sports-of-the-times-the-pirates-lost-a-series-not-respect.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Newhan |first1=Ross |date=March 21, 1993 |title=No Complaints: Jim Leyland Has Lost the Heart of His Team, but the Pirates' Manager Is Taking It in Stride |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-03-21-sp-13655-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015204915/http://articles.latimes.com/1993-03-21/sports/sp-13655_1_jim-leyland/2 |archive-date=October 15, 2015 |access-date=October 13, 2015 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref>

Bonds was never well-liked by reporters or fans while in Pittsburgh, despite winning two MVP awards. One paper even gave him an "award" as the "MDP" (Most Despised Pirate).<ref name=Stewart/>

[[File:BarryBonds1993.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Bonds in 1993]]

In 1993, Bonds left the Pirates to sign a lucrative [[free agent]] contract worth a then-record $43.75 million (equivalent to ${{Inflation|US|43.75|1993|r=1}}&nbsp;million in {{Inflation/year|US}}) over six years with the Giants, with whom his father had spent the first seven years of his career, and with whom his godfather [[Willie Mays]] played 22 of his 24 Major League seasons. The deal was at that time the largest in baseball history, in terms of both total value and average annual salary.<ref name=43million>{{cite news |author=Chass, Murray |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/12/06/sports/baseball-giants-make-investment-43-million-in-bonds.html |title=Giants Make Investment: $43 Million in Bonds |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=December 6, 1992 |access-date=January 31, 2008 |archive-date=November 5, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105211836/http://www.nytimes.com/1992/12/06/sports/baseball-giants-make-investment-43-million-in-bonds.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Once he signed with the Giants, Bonds had intended to wear the number 24, his number during most of his stay with the Pirates and, after receiving Mays's blessing, the Giants were willing to unretire it until the public commotion from fans and media became too much.<ref>{{cite news |author=Shea |first=John |date=September 23, 2007 |title=Did Giants' special treatment of Bonds contribute to messy end?: Pampered slugger delivered, but there was a big downside |url=https://www.sfgate.com/giants/article/Did-Giants-special-treatment-of-Bonds-contribute-2521262.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120709094441/http://articles.sfgate.com/2007-09-23/news/17263404_1_giants-uniform-willie-mays-number-performance-enhancing-drugs |archive-date=July 9, 2012 |access-date=September 14, 2010 |work=[[SFGate]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=Pearlman |first=Jeff |url=https://archive.org/details/lovemehatemebarr00pear |title=Love Me, Hate Me: Barry Bonds and the Making of an Antihero |date=April 18, 2006 |publisher=[[HarperCollins]] |isbn=978-0-06-079752-2 |page=[https://archive.org/details/lovemehatemebarr00pear/page/143 143] |quote=bobby bonds number 25 barry. |access-date=April 17, 2008 |url-access=registration}}</ref> To honor his father, Bonds switched his jersey number to 25, as it had been Bobby's number in San Francisco.<ref>{{cite web |title=Barry Bonds |url=http://www.thebaseballpage.com/players/bondsba01.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080510144452/http://www.thebaseballpage.com/players/bondsba01.php |archive-date=May 10, 2008 |access-date=September 14, 2010 |website=The Baseball Page}}</ref>

In an emotional press conference announcing the signing, Bonds described joining the Giants as going "home" and following in the footsteps of his father and godfather as "unbelievable" and "a boyhood dream come true".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Stone |first1=Larry |date=December 9, 1992 |title=Bonds now a part of the family |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112822280/bonds-now-a-part-of-the-family/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221110035108/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112822280/bonds-now-a-part-of-the-family/ |archive-date=November 10, 2022 |access-date=November 10, 2022 |work=[[San Francisco Examiner]] |page=B-4 |via=[[Ancestry.com|Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> His father joined the team as a coach in the same year.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Weinrib |first1=Ben |date=February 22, 2018 |title=Bobby Bonds first ever with five 30-30 seasons |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/bobby-bonds-redefined-the-leadoff-position-c266982600 |access-date=23 June 2024 |work=[[MLB.com]] |publisher=[[MLB Advanced Media]] |language=en}}</ref> During a game against the [[Colorado Rockies]] on May 12, 1993, both Bonds and his father, along with [[Jerald Clark]] and [[Ron Hassey]] of the Rockies, were ejected for their role in an on-field fight.<ref>{{cite news |date=May 13, 1993 |title=Bonds, and Dad, Are Ejected |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/05/13/sports/baseball-bonds-and-dad-are-ejected.html |access-date=June 23, 2024 |work=[[The New York Times]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref>

Bonds hit .336 in 1993, leading the NL with 46 home runs and 123 RBI in 159 games en route to his second consecutive MVP award,<ref>{{cite web |title=1993 National League Most Valuable Player Award |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1993.shtml#NLmvp |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080414172552/http://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1993.shtml |archive-date=April 14, 2008 |access-date=April 16, 2008 |work=[[Baseball Reference]]}}</ref> and third overall. As good as the Giants were (winning 103 games), the [[Atlanta Braves]] won 104 in what some call the last great pennant race (because the [[Wild card (sports)#Major League Baseball|wild card]] was instituted the year after).<ref>{{cite web |author=Neyer |first=Rob |date=October 1, 2001 |title=What makes a great Pennant Race? |url=https://www.espn.com/classic/s/2001/0927/1255891.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050819134255/http://espn.go.com/classic/s/2001/0927/1255891.html |archive-date=August 19, 2005 |access-date=September 25, 2007 |work=[[ESPN Classic]]}}</ref>

In the [[1994–95 Major League Baseball strike|strike]]-shortened season of 1994, Bonds hit .312 with 37 home runs, 81 RBI and a league-leading 74 walks in 112 games.<ref name=br-stats/> He finished fourth in MVP voting.<ref>{{cite web |title=1994 National League Most Valuable Player Award |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1994.shtml#NLmvp |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509144628/http://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1994.shtml |archive-date=May 9, 2008 |access-date=April 16, 2008 |work=[[Baseball Reference]]}}</ref>

In 1995, Bonds played in 144 games, hitting .294 with 33 homers and 104 RBI, but finished only 12th in MVP voting.<ref name=br-stats/><ref>{{cite web |title=1995 National League Most Valuable Player Award |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1995.shtml#NLmvp |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080418061553/http://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1995.shtml |archive-date=April 18, 2008 |access-date=April 16, 2008 |website=[[Baseball Reference]]}}</ref> In 1994, he appeared in a small role as himself in the television film ''[[Jane's House]]'', starring [[James Woods]] and [[Anne Archer]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Everett |first1=Todd |date=December 28, 1993 |title=Review: 'Cbs Sunday Movie Jane's House' |url=https://variety.com/1993/tv/reviews/cbs-sunday-movie-jane-s-house-1200434607/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151231205753/http://variety.com/1993/tv/reviews/cbs-sunday-movie-jane-s-house-1200434607/ |archive-date=December 31, 2015 |access-date=October 22, 2015 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Leonard |first=John |date=January 3, 1994 |title=The Sporting Goods Life |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8uMCAAAAMBAJ&q=jane%27s+house+barry+bonds&pg=PA54 |journal=[[New York (magazine)|New York]] |volume=27 |issue=1 |page=54 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref>

In 1996, Bonds became the first National League player and second major league player (of the current list of six) to hit 40 home runs and steal 40 bases in the same season.<ref>{{cite web |title=The 40–40 Club: (Recorded 40 HRs and 40 SBs in a single season) |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/history/rare_feats/index.jsp?feature=40_40 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100825094135/http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/history/rare_feats/index.jsp?feature=40_40 |archive-date=August 25, 2010 |access-date=September 11, 2010 |work=[[MLB.com]] |publisher=[[MLB Advanced Media]]}}</ref> The other members of the [[40–40 club]] are [[José Canseco]] (1988), [[Alex Rodriguez]] (1998), [[Alfonso Soriano]] (2006), [[Ronald Acuña Jr.]] (2023), and [[Shohei Ohtani]] (2024).<ref name=":2" /> His father Bobby Bonds was one home run short in 1973 when he hit 39 home runs and stole 43 bases.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/16/AR2006091600674.html |title=Soriano Reaches 40–40 Mark |access-date=April 17, 2008 |date=September 17, 2006 |author=Goff, Steven |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |archive-date=November 8, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108221403/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/16/AR2006091600674.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

 

Bonds hit his 300th and 301st home runs off the [[Florida Marlins]]' [[John Burkett]] on April 27.<ref name=1Bbrih/> He became the fourth player in history to join the 300–300 club with 300 stolen bases and 300 home runs for a career, joining [[Willie Mays]], [[Andre Dawson]], and his father. Bonds's totals for the season included 129 runs driven in, a .308 average and a then-National League record 151 walks.<ref name=rage>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/05/17/sports/baseball-bonds-loses-rage-but-not-the-swing.html?pagewanted=all |title=Baseball: Bonds loses rage, but not the swing |access-date=April 17, 2008 |date=May 17, 1996 |work=[[The New York Times]] |author=Smith, Claire |archive-date=July 27, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180727145727/https://www.nytimes.com/1996/05/17/sports/baseball-bonds-loses-rage-but-not-the-swing.html?pagewanted=all |url-status=live }}</ref> He finished fifth in the MVP balloting.<ref>{{cite web |title=1996 National League Most Valuable Player Award |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1996.shtml#NLmvp |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080422062343/http://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1996.shtml |archive-date=April 22, 2008 |access-date=April 16, 2008 |work=[[Baseball Reference]]}}</ref>

In 1997, Bonds hit .291, his lowest average since 1989. He hit 40 home runs for the second straight year and drove in 101 runs, leading the league in walks again with 145.<ref name=br-stats/> He also stole 37 bases, tying his father for having the most 30–30 seasons (five), and he again placed fifth in the MVP balloting.<ref>{{cite web |title=1997 National League Most Valuable Player Award |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1997.shtml#NLmvp |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080409140334/http://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1997.shtml |archive-date=April 9, 2008 |access-date=April 16, 2008 |work=[[Baseball Reference]]}}</ref>

With two outs in the ninth inning of a game against the [[Arizona Diamondbacks]] on May 28, 1998, Bonds became only the fifth player in baseball history to be given an [[intentional walk]] with the bases loaded.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Didion |first=Alex |date=February 22, 2021 |title=Why Bonds was 'shocked' by bases loaded intentional walk |url=https://www.nbcsportsbayarea.com/mlb/san-francisco-giants/why-bonds-was-shocked-by-bases-loaded-intentional-walk/1134761/ |access-date=June 14, 2024 |website=[[NBC Sports Bay Area]] |language=en-US}}</ref> [[Nap Lajoie]] (1901), [[Del Bissonette]] (1928) and [[Bill Nicholson (baseball)|Bill Nicholson]] (1944) were three others in the 20th century who received that rare honor. The first to receive one was [[Abner Dalrymple]] in 1881.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/recbooks/rb_wk3.shtml |title=Intentional bases on balls records |access-date=April 22, 2008 |work=[[Baseball Almanac]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080413105030/http://www.baseball-almanac.com/recbooks/rb_wk3.shtml |archive-date=April 13, 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref>

On August 23, Bonds hit his 400th career home run. By doing so, he became the first player ever to enter the 400–400 club by having career totals of 400 home runs and 400 stolen bases;<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 23, 1998 |title=Bonds Begins 400-400 Club |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bonds-begins-400-400-club/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210727214027/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bonds-begins-400-400-club/ |archive-date=July 27, 2021 |access-date=July 27, 2021 |website=[[CBS News]] |language=en-US}}</ref> he is still the only player to have achieved this feat. The milestone home run came off [[Kirt Ojala]], who, like Burkett, was pitching for the Marlins.<ref name="1Bbrih">{{cite web |title=1996: Bonds bashes, runs into history |url=http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/sf/history/sf_history_timeline_article.jsp?article=35 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080515213301/http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/sf/history/sf_history_timeline_article.jsp?article=35 |archive-date=May 15, 2008 |access-date=April 17, 2008 |work=[[San Francisco Giants]] |publisher=[[MLB.com]]}}</ref> For the season, he hit .303 with 37 home runs and drove in 122 runs, winning his eighth Gold Glove,<ref name=br-stats/> He finished eighth in the MVP voting.<ref>{{cite web |title=1998 National League Most Valuable Player Award |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1998.shtml#NLmvp |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080414172557/http://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1998.shtml |archive-date=April 14, 2008 |access-date=April 16, 2008 |work=[[Baseball Reference]]}}</ref>

Upon returning to action on June 9, Bonds struggled somewhat at the plate for the remainder of the 1999 season. A series of nagging injuries including elbow pain, knee inflammation and groin issues hampered his play. Only hitting .248 after his return from the disabled list, he still managed to slug 34 home runs, drive in 83 runs as well as hit for a .617 slugging percentage, despite missing nearly two full months with injuries and only playing in 102 games.<ref name="br-stats" />

 

[[Bill James]] ranked Bonds as the best player of the 1990s. He added that the decade's second-best player, [[Craig Biggio]],<ref>{{cite web |date=February 27, 2008 |title=James on Biggio, Me on James |url=http://statisticianmagician.mlblogs.com/archives/2008/02/james_on_biggio.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080415165349/http://statisticianmagician.mlblogs.com/archives/2008/02/james_on_biggio.html |archive-date=April 15, 2008 |access-date=April 17, 2008 |website=MLBlogs}}</ref> had been closer in production to the decade's 10th-best player than to Bonds. In 1999, with statistics through 1997 being considered, Bonds ranked Number 34 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players, making him the highest-ranking active player.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/legendary/lisn100.shtml |title=Baseball's 100 Greatest Players |access-date=April 17, 2008 |work=[[Baseball Almanac]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080512031751/http://baseball-almanac.com/legendary/lisn100.shtml |archive-date=May 12, 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref>

When the Sporting News list was redone in 2005, Bonds was ranked 6th behind Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, [[Ty Cobb]], [[Walter Johnson]], and [[Hank Aaron]]. Bonds was omitted from 1999's Major League Baseball All-Century Team, to which [[Ken Griffey Jr.]] was elected.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/legendary/limc100.shtml |title=All Century Team |access-date=April 17, 2008 |work=[[Baseball Almanac]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513145608/http://baseball-almanac.com/legendary/limc100.shtml |archive-date=May 13, 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> James wrote of Bonds, "Certainly the most unappreciated superstar of my lifetime. ... Griffey has always been more popular, but Bonds has been a far, far greater player." In 1999, he rated Bonds as the 16th-best player of all time. "When people begin to take in all of his accomplishments," he predicted, "Bonds may well be rated among the five greatest players in the history of the game."<ref name="TNBJHBA-FBfaDI">{{cite book |author=James |first=Bill |title=The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract |publisher=[[Free Press (publisher)|Free Press]] |year=2003 |isbn=0-7432-2722-0 |location=New York}} as cited at {{cite web |author=Christensen |first=Chris |year=2006 |title=Five Books for a Deserted Island |url=http://www.efqreview.com/NewFiles/v21n1/books-fivebooks.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071028131420/http://www.efqreview.com/NewFiles/v21n1/books-fivebooks.html |archive-date=October 28, 2007 |access-date=April 17, 2008 |work=[[Elysian Fields Quarterly]]}}</ref>

In 2000, Bonds hit .306 with career bests through that time in both slugging percentage (.688) and home runs (49) in just 143 games. He also drew a league-leading 117 walks.<ref name=br-stats/>

====2001 season====

The next year, Bonds's offensive production reached even higher levels, breaking not only his own personal records but several major league records. In the Giants' first 50 games in 2001, he hit 28 home runs, including 17 in May—a career high.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/bondstracker/bondslog |title=Bonds career HR log |access-date=September 25, 2007 |work=[[CBS Sports]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070923104248/http://sportsline.com/mlb/bondstracker/bondslog |archive-date=September 23, 2007 }}</ref> This early stretch included his 500th home run hit on April 17 against [[Terry Adams (baseball)|Terry Adams]] of the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 17, 2001 |title=Los Angeles Dodgers vs San Francisco Giants Box Score: April 17, 2001 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SFN/SFN200104170.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111216202846/http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SFN/SFN200104170.shtml |archive-date=December 16, 2011 |access-date=June 14, 2024 |website=[[Baseball Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Bh77haGge">{{cite magazine |date=October 5, 2001 |title=Bonds hits 71st, 72nd homers as Giants get eliminated |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/news/2001/10/05/bonds_71_ap/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100110000839/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/news/2001/10/05/bonds_71_ap/ |archive-date=January 10, 2010 |access-date=August 6, 2010 |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]] |publisher=[[CNN]]}}</ref> He also hit 39 home runs by the All-star break (a major league record), drew a major league record 177 walks, and had a .515 on-base average, a feat not seen since [[Mickey Mantle]] and [[Ted Williams]] over forty years earlier. Bonds' slugging percentage (.863) was the fifth-highest in MLB history, and the highest since Josh Gibson's .868 in 1943.<ref name="SSSlug">{{cite web | title=Single-Season Leaders & Records for Slugging % | website=Baseball-Reference.com | url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/slugging_perc_season.shtml | access-date=2025-04-25}}</ref>

On October 4, by homering off [[Wilfredo Rodríguez]] in the 159th game of the season, Bonds tied the previous record of 70 set by [[Mark McGwire]]—which McGwire set in the 162nd game in 1998.<ref name="2HRT">{{cite web |title=2001 Home Run Tracker |url=http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/mlb/events/mlb_bonds_hr_info.jsp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110107073516/http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/mlb/events/mlb_bonds_hr_info.jsp |archive-date=January 7, 2011 |access-date=August 6, 2010 |work=[[MLB.com]] |publisher=[[MLB Advanced Media]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Shuttlesworth |first=Chris |date=October 5, 2001 |title=A Giant Mark for Bonds: 70 |url=http://www.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/news/mlb_news_story.jsp?article_id=mlb_20011004_bonds70_news&team_id=mlb |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020624050422/http://www.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/news/mlb_news_story.jsp?article_id=mlb_20011004_bonds70_news&team_id=mlb |archive-date=June 24, 2002 |access-date=January 2, 2025 |website=[[MLB.com]] |publisher=[[MLB Advanced Media]]}}</ref> He then broke the record by hitting numbers 71 and 72 the following night off [[Chan Ho Park]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schlegel |first=John |date=October 6, 2001 |title=72: Barry breaks record, and then some |url=http://www.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/news/mlb_news_story.jsp?article_id=mlb_20011005_bonds_news&team_id=mlb |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011006204058/http://www.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/news/mlb_news_story.jsp?article_id=mlb_20011005_bonds_news&team_id=mlb |archive-date=October 6, 2001 |access-date=January 2, 2025 |website=[[MLB.com]] |publisher=[[MLB Advanced Media]]}}</ref> Bonds added his 73rd off [[Dennis Springer]] on October 7.<ref name=2HRT/><ref>{{Cite web |last=Shuttlesworth |first=Chris |date=October 7, 2001 |title=Bonds hits 73rd, Giants win season finale |url=http://giants.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/sf/news/sf_news_story.jsp?article_id=sf_20011007_bonds_news&team_id=sf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011212000609/http://giants.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/sf/news/sf_news_story.jsp?article_id=sf_20011007_bonds_news&team_id=sf |archive-date=December 12, 2001 |access-date=January 2, 2025 |website=[[San Francisco Giants]] |publisher=[[MLB.com]]}}</ref> The ball was later sold to toy manufacturer [[Todd McFarlane]] for $450,000.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 26, 2003 |title=Bonds' homer ball sells for $450,000 |url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2003/06/26/bonds-homer-ball-sells-for-450000/ |access-date=June 14, 2024 |website=[[Tampa Bay Times]] |language=en}}</ref> He previously bought Mark McGwire's 70th home run ball from 1998.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bean |first=Matt |date=October 7, 2002 |title=Trial scheduled to begin over historic Bonds home run ball |url=https://www.cnn.com/2002/LAW/10/16/ctv.baseball.lawsuit/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402122454/http://articles.cnn.com/2002-10-16/justice/ctv.baseball.lawsuit_1_martin-triano-alex-popov-patrick-hayashi?_s=PM%3ALAW |archive-date=April 2, 2012 |access-date=October 4, 2010 |work=[[CNN]]}}</ref> Bonds received the [[Babe Ruth Home Run Award]] for leading MLB in home runs that season.<ref name="syken">{{cite magazine |last=Syken |first=Bill |date=May 9, 2006 |title=Conspicuous absence |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/baseball/mlb/05/08/bonds.ruth/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120630032718/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/baseball/mlb/05/08/bonds.ruth/ |archive-date=June 30, 2012 |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]] |publisher=[[CNN]]}}</ref>

Despite playing in nine fewer games than the previous season, he drew 198 walks, a major-league record; 68 of them were intentional walks,<ref name="br-stats" /> surpassing [[Willie McCovey]]'s 45 in 1969 for another Major League record. He slugged .799, then the fourth-highest total all time. Bonds broke Ted Williams' major league record for on-base average with .582. Bonds also hit his 600th home run,<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Barry Bonds Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News |url=https://www.mlb.com/player/barry-bonds-111188 |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}</ref> less than a year and a half after hitting his 500th. The home run came on August 9 at home against [[Kip Wells]] of the Pirates.<ref>{{cite web |date=August 9, 2002 |title=Pittsburgh Pirates at San Francisco Giants (box score) |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore?gameId=220809126 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110519092129/http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/boxscore?gameId=220809126 |archive-date=May 19, 2011 |access-date=August 6, 2010 |work=[[ESPN]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=August 9, 2002 |title=Bonds's 600th blast not enough to beat Bucs |url=http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=220809126 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110519092140/http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=220809126 |archive-date=May 19, 2011 |access-date=August 6, 2010 |website=[[ESPN]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref>

Bonds batted .322 with eight home runs, 16 RBI, and 27 walks in the postseason en route to the [[2002 World Series]], which the Giants lost in seven games to the [[Anaheim Angels]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=2002 World Series - Anaheim Angels over San Francisco Giants (4-3) |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/2002_WS.shtml |access-date=November 6, 2023 |website=[[Baseball Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

In 2004, Bonds had perhaps his best season. He hit .362 en route to his second National League batting title, and broke his own record by walking 232 times (including an MLB record 120 intentional walks).<ref name="o868">{{cite web | title=Single-Season Leaders & Records for Intentional Bases on Balls | website=Baseball-Reference.com | url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/IBB_season.shtml | access-date=2025-01-06}}</ref> He slugged .812, the tenth-highest of all time, and broke his on-base percentage record with a .609 average. Bonds passed Mays on the career home run list by hitting his 661st off [[Ben Ford (baseball)|Ben Ford]] on April 13.<ref name="BhssisoF">{{Cite web |date=April 13, 2004 |title=Bonds hits solo shot in seventh off Ford |url=http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=240413126 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110519092033/http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=240413126 |archive-date=May 19, 2011 |access-date=August 6, 2010 |website=[[ESPN]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=April 13, 2004 |title=Milwaukee Brewers at San Francisco Giants (box score) |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore?gameId=240413126 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110519092219/http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/boxscore?gameId=240413126 |archive-date=May 19, 2011 |access-date=August 6, 2010 |work=[[ESPN]]}}</ref> He then hit his 700th off [[Jake Peavy]] on September 17.<ref>{{cite web |date=September 17, 2004 |title=San Diego Padres at San Francisco Giants (box score) |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore?gameId=240917126 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110519092226/http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/boxscore?gameId=240917126 |archive-date=May 19, 2011 |access-date=August 6, 2010 |work=[[ESPN]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=September 17, 2004 |title=Giants hold half-game lead on Cubs |url=http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=240917126 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110519092230/http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=240917126 |archive-date=May 19, 2011 |access-date=August 6, 2010 |website=[[ESPN]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> Bonds hit 45 home runs in 373 at-bats, and struck out just 41 times, putting himself in elite company, as few major leaguers have ever had more home runs than strikeouts in a season. Bonds would win his fourth consecutive MVP award and his seventh overall.<ref name=br-stats/><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Draper |first=Rich |date=November 15, 2004 |title=Bonds wins fourth straight NL MVP |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/news/mlb_news.jsp?ymd=20041115&content_id=913660&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041205100757/http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/news/mlb_news.jsp?ymd=20041115&content_id=913660&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp |archive-date=December 5, 2004 |access-date=January 2, 2025 |website=[[MLB.com]] |publisher=[[MLB Advanced Media]]}}</ref> His seven MVP awards are four more than any other player in history. In addition, no other player from either league has been awarded the MVP four times in a row.<ref>{{cite web |author=Carter |first=Bob |date=August 8, 2007 |title=Bonds: The Unpopular Home Run Champ |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/classic/bio/news/story?page=bonds_barry011003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103080923/http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/classic/bio/news/story?page=bonds_barry011003 |archive-date=November 3, 2012 |access-date=April 17, 2008 |work=[[ESPN]]}}</ref> (The MVP award was first given in 1931). The 40-year-old Bonds also broke [[Willie Stargell]]'s 25-year record as the oldest player to win a Most Valuable Player Award (Stargell, at 39 years, 8 months, was National League co-MVP with [[Keith Hernandez]] in 1979).<ref name=":1" /> On July 4, he tied and passed [[Rickey Henderson]]'s career bases on balls record with his 2,190th and 2,191st career walks.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 4, 2004 |title=Bradford, Mulder both walk slugger |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=240704126 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041216142028/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=240704126 |archive-date=December 16, 2004 |access-date=July 19, 2007 |website=[[ESPN]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref>

On May 28, Bonds passed Ruth, hitting his 715th career home run to center field off [[Colorado Rockies]] pitcher [[Byung-hyun Kim]].<ref>{{cite web |date=May 28, 2006 |title=Bonds's milestone homer not enough vs. Rockies |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=260528126 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070702004922/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=260528126 |archive-date=July 2, 2007 |access-date=July 2, 2007 |work=[[ESPN]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Miller |first=Scott |date=May 28, 2006 |title=Bonds hits No. 715, passes Ruth as Giants fall to Rockies |url=http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/gamecenter/recap/MLB_20060528_COL@SF |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070108070109/http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/gamecenter/recap/MLB_20060528_COL%40SF |archive-date=January 8, 2007 |access-date=September 29, 2007 |website=[[CBSSports.com|CBS SportsLine]]}}</ref> The ball was hit an estimated 445&nbsp;feet (140&nbsp;m) into center field where it went through the hands of several fans but then fell onto an elevated platform in center field. Then it rolled off the platform where Andrew Morbitzer, a 38-year-old San Francisco resident, caught the ball while he was in line at a concession stand.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Estrella |first1=Cicero A. |last2=Schevitz |first2=Tanya |date=May 29, 2006 |title=THE BALL / He went for peanuts, and came back with a chance for a fortune |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/05/29/MNG17J42R61.DTL |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061030062644/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2006%2F05%2F29%2FMNG17J42R61.DTL |archive-date=October 30, 2006 |access-date=April 17, 2008 |work=[[SFGate]]}}</ref> Mysteriously, radio broadcaster [[Dave Flemming]]'s radio play-by-play of the home run went silent just as the ball was hit, apparently from a microphone failure. But the televised version, called by Giants broadcaster [[Duane Kuiper]], was not affected.<ref>{{cite web |date=May 29, 2006 |title=Giants' radio call cuts out just as Bonds hits No. 715 |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2461761 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103081138/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2461761 |archive-date=November 3, 2012 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |work=[[ESPN]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref>

On September 23, Bonds surpassed Aaron for the NL career home run record. Hit in Milwaukee like the previous one, this was a solo home run off [[Chris Capuano]] of the Brewers.<ref>{{cite web |date=September 23, 2006 |title=Bonds hits NL-record 734th HR, but Giants lose again |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=260923108 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103081206/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=260923108 |archive-date=November 3, 2012 |access-date=July 2, 2007 |work=[[ESPN]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> This was the last home run Bonds hit in 2006. In 2006, Bonds recorded his lowest [[slugging percentage]] (a statistic that he had historically ranked among league leaders season after season) since 1991 with the [[Pittsburgh Pirates]].<ref name=br-stats/>

In January 2007, the ''[[New York Daily News]]'' reported that Bonds had tested positive for [[amphetamine]]s.<ref name=NYP011107>{{cite news|url=http://www.nypost.com/seven/01112007/sports/report__bonds_used_speed_sports_.htm |access-date=September 4, 2007 |title=Report: Bonds used 'speed' |date=January 11, 2007 |work=[[New York Post]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070128223550/http://www.nypost.com/seven/01112007/sports/report__bonds_used_speed_sports_.htm |archive-date=January 28, 2007 }}</ref> Under baseball's amphetamine policy, which had been in effect for one season, players testing positive were to submit to six additional tests and undergo treatment and counseling.<ref name=NYP011107/> The policy also stated that players were not to be identified for a first positive test, but the ''New York Daily News'' leaked the test's results.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 11, 2007 |title=Report: Bonds failed amphetamine test |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2727325 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070818025425/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2727325 |archive-date=August 18, 2007 |access-date=September 4, 2007 |website=[[ESPN]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> When the Players Association informed Bonds of the test results, he initially attributed it to a substance he had taken from the locker of Giants teammate [[Mark Sweeney]],<ref name=NYP011107/><ref>{{cite magazine |author=Quinn |first=T.J. |date=January 11, 2007 |title=Caught in the act |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/baseball/mlb/01/11/bonds.amphetamines/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070125145544/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/baseball/mlb/01/11/bonds.amphetamines/index.html |archive-date=January 25, 2007 |access-date=September 4, 2007 |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]] |publisher=[[CNN]]}}</ref> but would later retract this claim and publicly apologize to Sweeney.<ref>{{cite news |author=Schulman |first=Henry |date=February 20, 2007 |title=Sweeney: It's 'over and done': Giants don't expect another apology from Bonds |url=http://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Sweeney-It-s-over-and-done-Giants-don-t-2616226.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070810113048/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fchronicle%2Farchive%2F2007%2F02%2F20%2FSPGV7O7HBH1.DTL |archive-date=August 10, 2007 |access-date=September 4, 2007 |work=[[SFGate]]}}</ref>

 

====2007 season====

[[File:Barrybonds2.JPG|thumb|right|Bonds at the plate against the Rockies in 2007]]

Bonds resumed his march to the all-time record early in the 2007 season. In the season opener on April 3, all he had was a first-inning single past third base with the infield shifted right, immediately followed by a stolen base and then thrown out at home on a baserunning mistake, followed by a deep fly-out to left field, late in the game.<ref>{{cite news |author=McCauley |first=Janie |date=April 3, 2007 |title=San Diego 7, San Francisco 0 (recap) |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/recap?gid=270403126 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070406044330/http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/recap?gid=270403126 |archive-date=April 6, 2007 |access-date=April 14, 2007 |work=[[Yahoo Sports]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> Bonds regrouped the next day with his first at-bat in the second game of the season at the Giants' AT&T Park. Bonds hit a pitch from [[Chris Young (pitcher)|Chris Young]] of the San Diego Padres just over the wall to the left of straight-away center field for career home run 735.<ref>{{cite news |author=McCauley |first=Janie |date=April 5, 2007 |title=San Diego 5, San Francisco 3 (recap) |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/recap?gid=270404126 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110523021441/http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/recap?gid=270404126 |archive-date=May 23, 2011 |access-date=April 14, 2007 |work=[[Yahoo Sports]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=April 5, 2007 |title=San Diego 5, San Francisco 3 (box score) |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/boxscore?gid=270404126 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070509214901/http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/boxscore?gid=270404126 |archive-date=May 9, 2007 |access-date=April 14, 2007 |work=[[Yahoo Sports]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> This home run put Bonds past the midway point between Ruth and Aaron.

Bonds did not homer again until April 13, when he hit two (736 and 737) in a 3-for-3 night that included four RBI against the Pittsburgh Pirates.<ref>{{cite news |date=April 13, 2007 |title=San Francisco 8, Pittsburgh 5 (recap) |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/recap?gid=270413123&prov=ap |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070416075146/http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/recap?gid=270413123&prov=ap |archive-date=April 16, 2007 |access-date=April 14, 2007 |work=[[Yahoo! Sports]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> Bonds splashed a pitch by [[St. Louis Cardinals]] pitcher [[Ryan Franklin]] into [[McCovey Cove]] on April 18 for home run 738.<ref name="HR738">{{cite news |date=May 11, 2007 |title=Hounding "The Hammer" |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/hounding-the-hammer/ |access-date=August 29, 2024 |work=[[CBS News]]}}</ref> Home runs number 739 and 740 came in back to back games on April 21 and 22 against the Arizona Diamondbacks.<ref>{{cite news |date=April 21, 2007 |title=San Francisco 1, Arizona 0 (recap) |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/recap?gid=270421126 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070423063807/http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/recap?gid=270421126 |archive-date=April 23, 2007 |access-date=April 23, 2007 |work=[[Yahoo Sports]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=April 22, 2007 |title=San Francisco 2, Arizona 1 (recap) |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/recap?gid=270422126&prov=ap |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070427052252/http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/recap?gid=270422126&prov=ap |archive-date=April 27, 2007 |access-date=April 23, 2007 |work=[[Yahoo! Sports]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref>

The hype surrounding Bonds's pursuit of the home run record escalated on May 14. On this day, Sports Auction for Heritage (a Dallas-based auction house) offered US$1 million to the fan who would catch Bonds's record-breaking 756th-career home run.<ref>{{cite web |date=May 14, 2007 |title=Auction house willing to buy 756 ball for $1M |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2869244 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070517234829/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2869244 |archive-date=May 17, 2007 |access-date=June 30, 2007 |work=[[ESPN]]}}</ref> The million-dollar offer was rescinded on June 11 out of concern of fan safety.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 12, 2007 |title=Auction house withdraws $1M bounty on No. 756 |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2900735 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070907054123/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2900735 |archive-date=September 7, 2007 |access-date=June 30, 2007 |website=[[ESPN]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> Home run 748 came on Father's Day, June 17, in the final game of a three-game road series against the [[Boston Red Sox]] at [[Fenway Park]], where Bonds had never previously played.<ref>{{cite web |date=June 17, 2007 |title=Bonds hits first Fenway homer in loss to Red Sox |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=270617102 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070912082255/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=270617102 |archive-date=September 12, 2007 |access-date=June 30, 2007 |work=[[ESPN]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> With this homer, Fenway Park became the 36th major league ballpark in which Bonds had hit a home run. He hit a [[Tim Wakefield]] knuckleball just over the low fence into the Giants' bullpen in right field. It was his first home run off his former Pittsburgh Pirate teammate, who became the 441st different pitcher to surrender a four-bagger to Bonds. The 750th career home run, hit on June 29, also came off a former teammate: [[Liván Hernández]]. The blast came in the eighth inning and at that point tied the game at 3–3.<ref>{{cite web |date=June 29, 2007 |title=Bonds is 5 homers shy of Aaron's mark after loss in 10th |url=http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=270629126 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007170358/http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=270629126 |archive-date=October 7, 2012 |access-date=June 30, 2007 |work=[[ESPN]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref>

On July 19, after a 21 at-bat hitless streak, Bonds hit two home runs, numbers 752 and 753, against the [[Chicago Cubs]]. He went 3-for-3 with two home runs, six RBI, and a walk on that day.<ref>{{cite news |author=McCauley |first=Janie |date=July 19, 2007 |title=Chi Cubs 9, San Francisco 8 (recap) |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/recap?gid=270719116 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070809081927/http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/recap?gid=270719116 |archive-date=August 9, 2007 |access-date=July 19, 2007 |work=[[Yahoo Sports]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> The struggling last-place Giants still lost the game, 9–8. On July 27, Bonds hit home run 754 against [[Florida Marlins]] pitcher [[Rick VandenHurk]]. Bonds was then walked his next four at-bats in the game, but a two-run shot helped the Giants win the game 12–10. It marked the first time since he had hit #747 that Bonds had homered in a game the Giants won.<ref>{{cite web |date=July 27, 2007 |title=Bonds pulls within one of Aaron's all-time mark with 754th career homer |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=270727126 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071224043608/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=270727126 |archive-date=December 24, 2007 |access-date=September 8, 2007 |work=[[ESPN]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> On August 4, Bonds hit a <span style="white-space:nowrap">382&nbsp;foot&nbsp;(116&nbsp;m)</span> home run against [[Clay Hensley]] of the [[San Diego Padres]] for home run number 755, tying Hank Aaron's all-time record.<ref name="ESPN20070804">{{cite web |date=August 4, 2007 |title=Bonds ties Aaron with No. 755, but Pads win in 12 |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=270804125 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101005074001/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=270804125 |archive-date=October 5, 2010 |access-date=September 8, 2007 |work=[[ESPN]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> Bonds greeted his son, Nikolai, with an extended bear hug after crossing home plate. Bonds greeted his teammates and then his wife, Liz Watson, and daughter Aisha Lynn behind the backstop. Hensley was the 445th different pitcher to give up a home run to Bonds.<ref name=ESPN20070804/> Ironically, given the cloud of suspicion that surrounded Bonds, the tying home run was hit off a pitcher who had been suspended by baseball in 2005 for steroid use.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Crowe |first=Jerry |date=August 7, 2007 |title=Bonds' clay pigeon had his own shadowy history |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-aug-07-sp-crowe7-story.html |access-date= |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |language=en-US}}</ref> He was walked in his next at-bat and eventually scored on a fielder's choice.

On August 7 at 8:51&nbsp;PM [[Pacific time zone|PDT]], at [[Oracle Park]] (then known as AT&T Park) in San Francisco,<ref>{{cite web |last1= |date=July 24, 2014 |title=Bonds breaks Aaron's record |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL3vNXIsEPM |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211123/cL3vNXIsEPM |archive-date=November 23, 2021 |access-date=November 3, 2016 |website=[[YouTube]] |publisher=[[Major League Baseball|MLB]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Bonds hit a <span style="white-space:nowrap">435&nbsp;foot&nbsp;(133&nbsp;m)</span> home run, his 756th, off a pitch from [[Mike Bacsik (left-handed pitcher)|Mike Bacsik]] of the [[Washington Nationals]], breaking the all-time career home run record, formerly held by [[Hank Aaron]].<ref>{{cite web |date=August 7, 2007 |title=Bonds turns page to new era with home run No. 756 |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=270807126 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080529101455/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=270807126 |archive-date=May 29, 2008 |access-date=September 8, 2007 |work=[[ESPN]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> Coincidentally, Bacsik's father had faced Aaron (as a pitcher for the [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]]) after Aaron had hit his 755th home run. On August 23, 1976, Michael J. Bacsik held Aaron to a single and a fly out to right field. The younger Bacsik commented later, "If my dad had been gracious enough to let Hank Aaron hit a home run, we both would have given up 756."<ref>{{cite news |date=August 8, 2007 |title=Unlike father, Bacsik can't prevent home run No. 756 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7jJZAAAAIBAJ&sjid=o0cNAAAAIBAJ&pg=4061%2C1044664 |access-date=January 2, 2025 |work=[[The Union Democrat]] |page=B5 |via=[[Google News Archive]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> After hitting the home run, Bonds gave Bacsik an autographed bat.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bloom |first=Barry M. |date=August 8, 2007 |title=Bonds New King of Swing After No. 756 |url=http://www.salem-news.com/articles/august082007/bonds_folo_080807.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927051431/http://www.salem-news.com/articles/august082007/bonds_folo_080807.php |archive-date=September 27, 2007 |access-date=September 29, 2007 |website=[[The Salem News]]}}</ref>

The pitch, the seventh of the at-bat, was a 3–2 pitch which Bonds hit into the right-center field bleachers. The fan who ended up with the ball, 22-year-old Matt Murphy from [[Queens]], New York City, (and a [[New York Mets|Mets fan]]), was promptly protected and escorted away from the mayhem by a group of San Francisco police officers.<ref name="espn.com">{{Cite web |date=August 9, 2007 |title=Queens man in San Francisco for one day catches famous ball |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2965703 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525070215/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2965703 |archive-date=May 25, 2011 |access-date=September 29, 2007 |website=[[ESPN]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> After Bonds finished his home run trot, a 10-minute delay followed, including a brief video by Aaron congratulating Bonds on breaking the record Aaron had held for 33 years,<ref name="too good to be true">{{cite web |author=Kriegel |first=Mark |date=August 8, 2007 |title=Bonds's historic journey too good to be true |url=http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/7102950 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070815203618/http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/7102950 |archive-date=August 15, 2007 |access-date=September 29, 2007 |work=[[Fox Sports (United States)|Fox Sports]] |publisher=[[MSN]]}}</ref> and expressing the hope that "the achievement of this record will inspire others to chase their own dreams."<ref name="too good to be true"/> Bonds made an impromptu emotional statement on the field, with Willie Mays, his godfather, at his side and thanked his teammates, family and his late father.<ref name="too good to be true"/> Bonds sat out the rest of the game.

The commissioner, [[Bud Selig]], was not in attendance in this game but was represented by the Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations, [[Jimmie Lee Solomon]]. Selig called Bonds later that night to congratulate him on breaking the record.<ref>{{cite web |author=Curry |first=Jack |date=August 8, 2007 |title=Bonds completes rocky journey to break record |url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/08/08/sports/base.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013105656/http://iht.com/articles/2007/08/08/sports/base.php |archive-date=October 13, 2007 |access-date=October 4, 2007 |work=[[International Herald Tribune]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=August 7, 2007 |title=Bonds moves into eternity, assumes MLB home run record |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2965584 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014225429/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2965584 |archive-date=October 14, 2007 |access-date=October 4, 2007 |website=[[ESPN]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> President [[George W. Bush]] also called Bonds the next day to congratulate him.<ref>{{cite web |author=Bloom |first=Barry B. |date=August 8, 2007 |title=Bonds receives presidential congrats |url=http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070808&content_id=2138216&vkey=news_sf&fext=.jsp&c_id=sf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013075718/http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070808&content_id=2138216&vkey=news_sf&fext=.jsp&c_id=sf |archive-date=October 13, 2007 |access-date=October 4, 2007 |work=[[San Francisco Giants]] |publisher=[[MLB.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=August 8, 2007 |title=President Bush called Bonds on Tuesday to congratulate him on 756 |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2966418&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070822121925/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2966418&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines |archive-date=August 22, 2007 |access-date=August 9, 2007 |website=[[ESPN]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> On August 24, San Francisco honored and celebrated Bonds' career accomplishments and breaking the home run record with a large rally in [[Justin Herman Plaza]]. The rally included video messages from [[Lou Brock]], [[Ernie Banks]], [[Ozzie Smith]], [[Joe Montana]], [[Wayne Gretzky]] and [[Michael Jordan]]. Speeches were made by Willie Mays, Giants teammates [[Omar Vizquel]] and [[Rich Aurilia]], and Giants owner [[Peter Magowan]]. Mayor [[Gavin Newsom]] presented Bonds the key to the [[San Francisco|City and County of San Francisco]] and Giants vice president Larry Baer gave Bonds the home plate he touched after hitting his 756th career home run.<ref>{{cite news |author=Wildermuth |first=John |date=August 25, 2007 |title=San Francisco honors Barry Bonds for Giant accomplishments |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/08/25/BAALRP1IQ.DTL |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013190743/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2007%2F08%2F25%2FBAALRP1IQ.DTL |archive-date=October 13, 2007 |access-date=October 4, 2007 |work=[[SFGate]]}}</ref>

The record-setting ball was consigned to an auction house on August 21.<ref>{{cite news |author=Bulwa |first=Demian |date=August 21, 2007 |title=Bonds ball catcher will put souvenir up for auction |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/08/21/SPGGSRMMGJ6.DTL |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120620145646/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2007%2F08%2F21%2FSPGGSRMMGJ6.DTL |archive-date=June 20, 2012 |access-date=September 10, 2010 |work=[[SFGate]]}}</ref> Bidding began on August 28 and closed with a winning bid of US$752,467 on September 15 after a three-phase [[online auction]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wildermuth |first=John |date=September 16, 2007 |title=Going, going – gone! Record-breaking Bonds ball nets $752,467 |url=http://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Going-going-gone-2503233.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014193502/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2007%2F09%2F16%2FBAULS74ES.DTL |archive-date=October 14, 2007 |access-date=October 4, 2007 |work=[[SFGate]]}}</ref> The high bidder, fashion designer [[Marc Ecko]], created a website to let fans decide its fate.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sportscollectorsdaily.com/latest/buyer-of-756th-home-run-ball-will-let-you-decide.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013063609/http://sportscollectorsdaily.com/latest/buyer-of-756th-home-run-ball-will-let-you-decide.html|archive-date=October 13, 2007|title=Buyer of 756th Home Run Ball Will Let You Decide Fate |access-date=October 4, 2007|date=September 17, 2007|work=Sports Collectors Daily}}</ref> Subsequently,<ref>{{cite web |author=Moredich |first=John |date=September 17, 2007 |title=Bounce: UA lines up pitching help for 2009 |url=http://tucsoncitizen.com/morgue/2007/09/19/63417-bounce-ua-lines-up-pitching-help-for-2009/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111009001445/http://tucsoncitizen.com/morgue/2007/09/19/63417-bounce-ua-lines-up-pitching-help-for-2009/ |archive-date=October 9, 2011 |access-date=September 12, 2010 |work=[[Tucson Citizen]]}}</ref> Ben Padnos, who submitted the $186,750 winning bid on Bonds' record-tying 755th home run ball also set up a website to let fans decide its fate.<ref>{{cite web |author=Hoffarth |first=Tom |date=September 17, 2007 |title=You could blow the Bonds HRs balls up real good |url=http://www.insidesocal.com/tomhoffarth/archives/2007/09/they-could-blow.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091205210653/http://www.insidesocal.com/tomhoffarth/archives/2007/09/they-could-blow.html |archive-date=December 5, 2009 |access-date=September 9, 2010 |work=[[Los Angeles Daily News]]}}</ref> Ten million voters helped Ecko decide to brand the ball with an asterisk and send it to the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Celizic |first=Mike |date=September 26, 2007 |title=Verdict in: Bonds ball headed for Cooperstown: But with an asterisk. Marc Ecko shares the results of 10 million-fan vote |url=http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/20987026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110108090220/http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/20987026 |archive-date=January 8, 2011 |access-date=September 12, 2010 |website=[[MSNBC]] |publisher=[[Today (American TV program)|TODAY]]}}</ref> Of Ecko's plans, Bonds said "He spent $750,000 on the ball and that's what he's doing with it? What he's doing is stupid."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Schulman |first=Henry |date=September 19, 2007 |title=Bonds's Ecko: 'stupid' |url=http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/09/19/SP6JS8JMH.DTL |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071004204221/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2007%2F09%2F19%2FSP6JS8JMH.DTL |archive-date=October 4, 2007 |access-date=September 24, 2007 |work=[[SFGate]]}}</ref> Padnos, on the other hand, sold five-year ads on a website, www.endthedebate.com, where people voted by a two-to-one margin to smash the ball.<ref>{{cite web |title=Settle The Score On The Barry Bonds Controversy! |url=http://www.endthedebate.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100830113057/http://endthedebate.com/ |archive-date=August 30, 2010 |access-date=September 12, 2010 |website=EndTheDebate}}</ref>

Bonds concluded the 2007 season with a .276 batting average, 28 home runs, and 66 RBI in 126 games and 340 at-bats. At the age of 43, he led both leagues in walks with 132.<ref name=br-stats/>

On September 21, 2007, the San Francisco Giants confirmed that they would not re-sign Bonds for the 2008 season.<ref name=BwrwGf0tc/> The story was first announced on Bonds' own website earlier that day.<ref name="WdBBgfh">{{Cite web |last=Covill |first=Tom |date=September 21, 2007 |title=Where does Barry Bonds go from here? |url=http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=txbondswherenext |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022064957/http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=txbondswherenext |archive-date=October 22, 2012 |access-date=September 24, 2007 |website=[[Yahoo Sports]]}}</ref> Bonds officially filed for [[free agent|free agency]] on October 29, 2007. His agent [[Jeff Borris]] said: "I'm anticipating widespread interest from every Major League team."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bloom |first=Barry M. |date=October 29, 2007 |title=Bonds files for free agency |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071029&content_id=2287536&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071031073400/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071029&content_id=2287536&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb |archive-date=October 31, 2007 |access-date=October 29, 2007 |website=[[MLB.com]] |publisher=[[MLB Advanced Media]]}}</ref>

There was much speculation before the 2008 season about where Bonds might play.<ref>{{cite web |author=Topkin |first=Marc |date=February 25, 2008 |title=Rays ponder Bonds pursuit |url=http://www.sptimes.com/2008/02/25/Rays/Rays_ponder_Bonds_pur.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081002203554/http://www.sptimes.com/2008/02/25/Rays/Rays_ponder_Bonds_pur.shtml |archive-date=October 2, 2008 |access-date=August 4, 2008 |work=[[Tampa Bay Times|St. Petersburg Times]]}}</ref> However, no one signed him during the 2008 or 2009 seasons.<ref>{{cite news |date=November 6, 2008 |title=Bonds wants federal charges dropped |url=http://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2008/11/06/UPI_NewsTrack_Sports/UPI-32251226030400/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605081142/http://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2008/11/06/UPI_NewsTrack_Sports/UPI-32251226030400/ |archive-date=June 5, 2011 |access-date=September 11, 2010 |work=[[United Press International]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |author=McCann |first=Michael |date=March 19, 2009 |title=Unsigned and unwanted: Is Barry Bonds building a case for collusion? |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/michael_mccann/03/16/bonds.collusion/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090321003604/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/michael_mccann/03/16/bonds.collusion/index.html |archive-date=March 21, 2009 |access-date=September 11, 2010 |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]] |publisher=[[CNN]]}}</ref> If he had returned to Major League Baseball, Bonds would have been within close range of several significant hitting milestones, needing just 65 hits to reach 3,000, four runs batted in to reach 2,000, and 38 home runs to reach 800. He would have needed 69 more [[runs scored]] to move past [[Rickey Henderson]] as the all-time runs champion, and 37 [[extra base hit]]s to move past [[Hank Aaron]] as the all-time extra base hits champion.<ref name="BwrwGf0tc">{{Cite web |date=September 21, 2007 |title=Bonds won't return with Giants for '08, team confirms |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=3030852 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071223220502/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3030852 |archive-date=December 23, 2007 |access-date=September 24, 2007 |website=[[ESPN]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref>

As of November 13, 2009, Borris maintained that Bonds was still not retired.<ref name="timbrown">{{Cite news |last=Brown |first=Tim |date=November 13, 2009 |title=Uggla doesn't want to change positions |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ti-uggla111309 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604073304/http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ti-uggla111309 |archive-date=June 4, 2011 |access-date=November 13, 2009 |work=[[Yahoo Sports]]}}</ref> On December 9, however, Borris told the ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]'' that Bonds had played his last major league game.<ref>{{cite news |last=Shea |first=John |date=December 10, 2009 |title=Bonds's agent concedes playing days are over |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/12/09/SPUI1B20LT.DTL |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091213113544/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2009%2F12%2F09%2FSPUI1B20LT.DTL |archive-date=December 13, 2009 |access-date=December 10, 2009 |work=[[SFGate]]}}</ref> Bonds announced on April 11, 2010, that he was proud of McGwire for admitting his use of steroids. Bonds said that it was not the time to retire, but he noted that he was not in shape to play immediately if an interested club called him.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 12, 2010 |title=Bonds has kind words for McGwire |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=5075743 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100415172912/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=5075743 |archive-date=April 15, 2010 |access-date=September 9, 2010 |website=[[ESPN]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> In May 2015, Bonds filed a grievance against Major League Baseball through the players' union arguing that the league colluded in not signing him after the 2007 season.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Shea |first1=John |last2=FitzGerald |first2=Tom |date=May 13, 2015 |title=Ex-Giant Bonds accusing Major League Baseball of collusion |url=http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Ex-Giant-Bonds-accusing-Major-League-Baseball-of-6262003.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211080526/http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Ex-Giant-Bonds-accusing-Major-League-Baseball-of-6262003.php |archive-date=February 11, 2017 |access-date=February 10, 2017 |work=[[SFGate]]}}</ref> In August 2015, an arbitrator ruled in favor of MLB and against Bonds in his collusion case.<ref>{{cite web |last=Heyman |first=Jon |date=August 27, 2015 |title=MLB prevails over Barry Bonds in collusion case over his career ending |url=http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/mlb-prevails-over-barry-bonds-in-collusion-case-over-his-career-ending/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211081114/http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/mlb-prevails-over-barry-bonds-in-collusion-case-over-his-career-ending/ |archive-date=February 11, 2017 |access-date=February 10, 2017 |work=[[CBSSports.com]]}}</ref>

On December 15, 2011, Bonds was sentenced to 30 days of house arrest, two years of probation and 250 hours of community service, for an obstruction of justice conviction stemming from a grand jury appearance in 2003. However, U.S. District Judge [[Susan Illston]] then delayed the sentence pending an appeal.<ref>{{cite news |date=December 16, 2011 |title=Barry Bonds gets 30 days house arrest, appeal pending |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/baseball/mlb/barry-bonds-gets-30-days-house-arrest-1.1040395 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120202054056/http://www.cbc.ca/sports/baseball/mlb/story/2011/12/16/sp-mlb-bonds-sentencing.html |archive-date=February 2, 2012 |access-date=December 19, 2011 |work=[[CBC.ca]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=December 16, 2011 |title=Judge stays Barry Bonds's sentence |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/7360235/barry-bonds-sentenced-two-years-probation-30-days-house-arrest |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111218101453/http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/7360235/barry-bonds-sentenced-two-years-probation-30-days-house-arrest |archive-date=December 18, 2011 |access-date=December 19, 2011 |website=[[ESPN]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> In 2013 his conviction was upheld on appeal by a three judge panel of the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit]].<ref name="BBocu">{{cite news |last=Lacques |first=Gabe |date=September 13, 2013 |title=Barry Bonds's obstruction conviction upheld |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2013/09/13/barry-bonds-obstruction-of-justice-conviction-upheld/2809745/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170717111516/https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2013/09/13/barry-bonds-obstruction-of-justice-conviction-upheld/2809745/ |archive-date=July 17, 2017 |access-date=August 24, 2017 |work=[[USA Today]]}}</ref> However, the full court later granted Bonds an [[en banc]] rehearing, and on April 22, 2015, an 11-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit voted 10–1 that his testimony was not obstruction.<ref name="Egelko 20150422"/>

On March 10, 2014, Bonds began a seven-day stint as a roving [[spring training]] instructor for the [[2014 San Francisco Giants season|Giants]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Caple |first=Jim |date=March 10, 2014 |title=Barry Bonds all smiles with Giants |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/10584326/barry-bonds-back-san-francisco-giants-new-role |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140312074530/http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/10584326/barry-bonds-back-san-francisco-giants-new-role |archive-date=March 12, 2014 |access-date=March 12, 2014 |website=[[ESPN]] |publisher=}}</ref> On December 4, 2015, he was announced as the new hitting coach for the [[2016 Miami Marlins season|Miami Marlins]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/mlb/miami-marlins/article47966370.html |title=Miami Marlins hire Barry Bonds as hitting coach |work=[[Miami Herald]] |date=December 4, 2015 |access-date=December 4, 2015 |first=Clark |last=Spencer |archive-date=December 8, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208095624/http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/mlb/miami-marlins/article47966370.html |url-status=live }}</ref> but was [[Dismissal (employment)|relieved of his duties]] on October 3, 2016, after just one season.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Cwik |first=Chris |date=October 3, 2016 |title=Report: Barry Bonds fired as Marlins hitting coach after one season |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/news/report-barry-bonds-fired-as-marlins-hitting-coach-after-one-season-220416164.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161003222256/http://sports.yahoo.com/news/report-barry-bonds-fired-as-marlins-hitting-coach-after-one-season-220416164.html |archive-date=October 3, 2016 |access-date=October 3, 2016 |website=[[Yahoo Sports]]}}</ref> He followed up with a public thank-you letter, acknowledging [[List of Miami Marlins owners and executives|owner]] [[Jeffrey Loria]], and the opportunity as "one of the most rewarding experiences of my baseball career."<ref>{{cite news |last=DiPentima |first=Ryan |date=October 7, 2016 |title=Barry Bonds pens thank-you note after being fired by Marlins |url=http://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/baseball/barry-bonds-pens-thank-you-note-after-being-fired-marlins/HqNHkxKOcFLC2PBoFrDlTI/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012153555/http://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/baseball/barry-bonds-pens-thank-you-note-after-being-fired-marlins/HqNHkxKOcFLC2PBoFrDlTI/ |archive-date=October 12, 2016 |access-date=October 11, 2016 |work=[[The Palm Beach Post]]}}</ref> In 2017, Bonds officially re-joined the Giants organization as a special advisor to the CEO.<ref>{{cite news |last=Baggarly |first=Andrew |date=March 21, 2017 |title=Barry Bonds rejoins Giants as special advisor to CEO; are number retirement, statue coming next? |url=http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/03/21/barry-bonds-rejoins-giants-as-special-advisor-to-ceo/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729105851/http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/03/21/barry-bonds-rejoins-giants-as-special-advisor-to-ceo/ |archive-date=July 29, 2017 |access-date=July 8, 2017 |work=[[The Mercury News]]}}</ref> On July 8, 2017, Bonds was added to the [[San Francisco Giants#San Francisco Giants Wall of Famers|Giants Wall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Schulman |first=Henry |date=May 17, 2017 |title=Giants set date for Barry Bonds Wall of Fame ceremony |url=http://www.sfgate.com/giants/article/Giants-set-date-for-Bonds-Wall-of-Fame-ceremony-11153120.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170720061458/http://www.sfgate.com/giants/article/Giants-set-date-for-Bonds-Wall-of-Fame-ceremony-11153120.php |archive-date=July 20, 2017 |access-date=July 8, 2017 |work=[[SFGate]]}}</ref>

On February 6, 2018, the Giants announced their intentions to retire his number 25 jersey, which happened on August 11, 2018.<ref>{{cite web |date=February 6, 2018 |title=Giants to retire No. 25 jersey of Barry Bonds in August |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/22346890/san-francisco-giants-retire-no-25-jersey-barry-bonds-2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180208182818/http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/22346890/san-francisco-giants-retire-no-25-jersey-barry-bonds-2018 |archive-date=February 8, 2018 |access-date=February 8, 2018 |website=[[ESPN]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Anderson |first1=R.J. |date=August 12, 2018 |title=Barry Bonds has number retired by Giants, takes left field in San Francisco one last time |url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/barry-bonds-has-number-retired-by-giants-takes-left-field-in-san-francisco-one-last-time/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180812195548/https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/barry-bonds-has-number-retired-by-giants-takes-left-field-in-san-francisco-one-last-time/ |archive-date=August 12, 2018 |access-date=August 13, 2018 |website=[[CBS Sports]]}}</ref> His number 24 with the Pirates remains in circulation, most prominently worn by [[Brian Giles]] from 1999 to 2003 and by [[Pedro Alvarez (baseball)|Pedro Alvarez]] from 2011 to 2015.<ref>{{cite web |title=Pittsburgh Pirates Uniform Numbers |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/PIT/uniform-numbers.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180825073924/https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/PIT/uniform-numbers.shtml |archive-date=August 25, 2018 |access-date=March 27, 2018 |website=[[Baseball Reference]]}}</ref>

In his ten years of eligibility for the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame]], Bonds fell short of the 75% of the votes from the [[Baseball Writers' Association of America]] (BBWAA) needed for induction. His vote percentages from [[2013 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting|2013]] through [[2022 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting|2022]] were: 36.2%, 34.7%, 36.8%, 44.3%, 53.8%, 56.4%, 59.1%, 60.7%, 61.8% and 66%.<ref>{{cite web |title=Barry Bonds: Appearances on Leaderboards, Awards, and Honors |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bondsba01.shtml#all_leaderboard |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629110919/http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bondsba01.shtml#all_leaderboard |archive-date=June 29, 2011 |access-date=March 27, 2018 |website=[[Baseball Reference]]}}</ref><ref name="mlb.com" /> He appeared on 260 of 394 ballots in his last year.<ref name=NoHoF/>

Despite falling off the ballot, Bonds remained eligible through the Hall of Fame's Today's Game Committee,<ref>{{cite news |date=January 25, 2022 |title=Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Curt Schilling fall off Baseball Hall of Fame ballot in final year |url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/barry-bonds-roger-clemens-curt-schilling-fall-off-baseball-hall-of-fame-ballot-in-final-year/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126002242/https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/barry-bonds-roger-clemens-curt-schilling-fall-off-baseball-hall-of-fame-ballot-in-final-year/amp/ |archive-date=January 26, 2022 |access-date=January 25, 2022 |work=[[CBS Sports]]}}</ref> a committee "{{sic|comprised |hide=y|of}} 16 members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, executives, and veteran media members"<ref>{{cite web |title=Era Committees |url=https://baseballhall.org/hall-of-famers/rules/eras-committees |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719233759/https://baseballhall.org/hall-of-famers/rules/eras-committees |archive-date=July 19, 2018 |access-date=January 26, 2022 |website=[[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum]]}}</ref> (hence the nickname of "[[Veterans Committee]]") who consider retired players who lost ballot eligibility while still having made notable contributions to baseball from 1986 to 2016. The vote was held in December 2022; twelve of the sixteen votes were required for induction, but Bonds received fewer than four.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Axisa |first1=Mike |last2=Anderson |first2=R.J. |date=December 5, 2022 |title=Baseball Hall of Fame results: Fred McGriff voted in by committee; Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens kept out |url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/baseball-hall-of-fame-results-fred-mcgriff-voted-in-by-committee-barry-bonds-roger-clemens-kept-out/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230124062248/https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/baseball-hall-of-fame-results-fred-mcgriff-voted-in-by-committee-barry-bonds-roger-clemens-kept-out/ |archive-date=January 24, 2023 |access-date=January 12, 2023 |work=[[CBS Sports]]}}</ref>

Since 2003, Bonds has been a key figure in the Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative ([[Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative|BALCO]]) scandal. BALCO marketed [[tetrahydrogestrinone]] ("the Clear"), a performance-enhancing [[anabolic steroid]] that was undetectable by doping tests. He was under investigation by a federal [[grand jury]] regarding his testimony in the BALCO case, and was indicted on [[perjury]] and [[obstruction of justice]] charges on November 15, 2007.<ref>{{cite news |last=Williams |first=Larry |date=November 15, 2007 |title=Barry Bonds indicted on 4 perjury counts, obstruction of justice |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/11/16/MNQ1TDKSG.DTL&tsp=1 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120131234544/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/11/16/MNQ1TDKSG.DTL&tsp=1 |archive-date=January 31, 2012 |access-date=November 15, 2007 |work=[[SFGate]]}}</ref> The indictment alleges that Bonds lied while under oath about his alleged use of steroids.<ref>{{cite news |date=November 15, 2007 |title=Barry Bonds indictment |url=http://cdn.sfgate.com/chronicle/acrobat/2007/11/16/barrybondsindictment.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071117084656/http://cdn.sfgate.com/chronicle/acrobat/2007/11/16/barrybondsindictment.pdf |archive-date=November 17, 2007 |access-date=November 15, 2007 |work=[[SFGate]]}}</ref>

During grand jury testimony on December 4, 2003,<ref name=BlEg2yip/> Bonds said that he used a clear substance and a cream that he received from his personal strength trainer, Greg Anderson, who told him they were the nutritional supplement flaxseed oil and a rubbing balm for arthritis.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2004/12/03/MNGGFA0UDU65.DTL |title=What Bonds told BALCO grand jury |date=December 3, 2004 |access-date=October 10, 2007 |work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] |author=Williams, Lance |author2=Mark Fainaru-Wada |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071118085803/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2004%2F12%2F03%2FMNGGFA0UDU65.DTL |archive-date=November 18, 2007 |url-status=live }}</ref> Later reports on Bonds's leaked grand-jury testimony contend that he admitted to unknowingly using "[[the cream]]" and "[[Tetrahydrogestrinone|the clear]]."<ref name=Bttsdw/>

In July 2005, all four defendants in the BALCO steroid scandal trial, including Anderson, struck deals with federal prosecutors that did not require them to reveal names of athletes who might have used banned drugs.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fainaru-Wada |first1=Mark |last2=Williams |first2=Lance |name-list-style=amp |date=July 16, 2005 |title=40 of 42 BALCO charges dropped – Steroid lab owner, Bonds's trainer guilty in plea deal |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/07/16/MNG7PDP6HA1.DTL |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071119122545/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2005%2F07%2F16%2FMNG7PDP6HA1.DTL |archive-date=November 19, 2007 |access-date=February 20, 2008 |work=[[SFGate]]}}</ref>

Bonds appealed his conviction to the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit|U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit]]. In 2013, a three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit affirmed his conviction,<ref name=BBocu/> but in 2015 his appeal was reheard by the full court ''en banc'', which voted 10–1 to overturn his conviction.<ref name="Egelko 20150422"/>

The book contained excerpts of grand jury testimony that is supposed to be sealed and confidential by law. The authors have been steadfast in their refusal to divulge their sources<ref>{{cite web |date=May 6, 2006 |title='Game of Shadows' authors are subpoenaed |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/news/story?id=2435256 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061230154238/http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=2435256 |archive-date=December 30, 2006 |access-date=February 20, 2008 |work=[[ESPN]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> and at one point faced jail time.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 21, 2006 |title=Reporters who refused to reveal BALCO leak get prison |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/news/story?id=2597854 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524193134/http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=2597854 |archive-date=May 24, 2011 |access-date=August 12, 2010 |website=[[ESPN]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> On February 14, 2007, Troy Ellerman, one of [[Victor Conte]]'s lawyers, pleaded guilty to leaking grand jury testimony. Through the plea agreement, he would spend two and a half years in jail.<ref name="BlEg2yip">{{cite web |date=July 12, 2007 |title=BALCO leaker Ellerman gets 2½ years in prison |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2934650 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103083925/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2934650 |archive-date=November 3, 2012 |access-date=February 20, 2008 |work=[[ESPN]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref>

In April 2006 and May 2006, [[ESPN]] aired a few episodes of a 10-part reality TV (unscripted, documentary-style) series starring Bonds.<ref>{{cite news |author=Goodman |first=Tim |date=April 5, 2006 |title='Bonds on Bonds' – You'll love him or hate him: At turns sickening, redeeming, it might be essential viewing |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/04/05/SPG6UI3O1N1.DTL |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060503101923/http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2006%2F04%2F05%2FSPG6UI3O1N1.DTL |archive-date=May 3, 2006 |access-date=April 17, 2008 |work=[[SFGate]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Bloom |first=Barry M. |date=March 1, 2006 |title=Bonds to star in documentary series |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060301&content_id=1329739&vkey=spt2006news&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103121518/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060301&content_id=1329739&vkey=spt2006news&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb |archive-date=November 3, 2012 |access-date=April 17, 2008 |work=[[MLB.com]] |publisher=[[MLB Advanced Media]]}}</ref> The show, titled ''[[Shows on ESPN#Original Series|Bonds on Bonds]]'', focused on Bonds's chase of [[Babe Ruth]]'s and [[Hank Aaron]]'s [[home run]] records. Some felt the show should be put on hiatus until baseball investigated Bonds's steroid use allegations.<ref>{{cite web |author=Solomon |first=George |date=March 14, 2006 |title=ESPN should put 'Bonds on Bonds' on hold |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=solomon_george&id=2368884 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070218191806/http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=solomon_george&id=2368884 |archive-date=February 18, 2007 |access-date=April 17, 2008 |work=[[ESPN]]}}</ref> The series was canceled in June 2006, ESPN and producer Tollin/Robbins Productions citing "creative control" issues with Bonds and his representatives.<ref>{{cite news |author=Goodman |first=Tim |date=June 2, 2006 |title=Bonds Goes Boneyard |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/category?blogid=24&cat=578 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060414051633/http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/category?blogid=24&cat=578 |archive-date=April 14, 2006 |access-date=April 17, 2008 |work=[[SFGate]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Consoli |first=John |date=May 25, 2006 |title=ESPN's Bonds On Bonds Pulled |url=http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/cabletv/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002575683 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070612082520/http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/cabletv/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002575683 |archive-date=June 12, 2007 |access-date=April 17, 2008 |work=[[Mediaweek (American magazine)|Mediaweek]]}}</ref>

Bonds met Susann ("Sun") Margreth Branco, the mother of his first two children (Nikolai and Shikari),<ref name="GAsdpa">{{cite news |author=Brazil |first=Eric |date=March 28, 1995 |title=Giants star defends prenuptial agreement |url=http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/e/a/1995/03/28/NEWS6252.dtl&hw=barry+bonds&sn=098&sc=251 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013190934/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fe%2Fa%2F1995%2F03%2F28%2FNEWS6252.dtl&hw=barry+bonds&sn=098&sc=251 |archive-date=October 13, 2007 |access-date=October 10, 2007 |work=[[SFGate]]}}</ref> in [[Montreal]], Quebec, in August 1987. They eloped to [[Las Vegas Valley|Las Vegas]] February 5, 1988. The couple separated in June 1994, divorced in December 1994, and had their marriage [[annulment|annulled]] in 1997 by the [[Catholic Church]].<ref name="BaLBMP">{{Cite web |last1=Stritoff |first1=Sheri |last2=Stritoff |first2=Bob |title=Barry and Liz Bonds Marriage Profile |url=http://marriage.about.com/od/sports/p/barrybonds.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071024140202/http://marriage.about.com/od/sports/p/barrybonds.htm |archive-date=October 24, 2007 |access-date=April 16, 2008 |website=[[Dotdash Meredith|About.com]]}}</ref> The divorce was a media affair because Bonds had his Swedish spouse sign a [[prenuptial agreement]] in which she "waived her right to a share of his present and future earnings" and which was upheld. Bonds had been providing his wife $20,000/month in child support and $10,000 in spousal support at the time of the ruling.<ref>{{cite news |author=Brazil |first=Eric |date=May 16, 1995 |title=Sun Bonds is loser in ruling on prenuptial agreement Giants star didn't trick her into signing, judge says |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/e/a/1995/05/16/NEWS4238.dtl&hw=Barry+Bonds&sn=010&sc=783 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120620145938/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fe%2Fa%2F1995%2F05%2F16%2FNEWS4238.dtl&hw=Barry+Bonds&sn=010&sc=783 |archive-date=June 20, 2012 |access-date=April 16, 2008 |work=[[SFGate]]}}</ref> During the hearings to set permanent support levels, allegations of abuse came from both parties.<ref>{{cite news |author=Mitchell |first=Eve |date=December 7, 1995 |title=Ex-wife says Bonds beat her repeatedly during marriage: Tearful defendant testifies he kicked her while pregnant |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/e/a/1995/12/07/NEWS7115.dtl&hw=Barry+Bonds&sn=006&sc=889 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090615073424/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fe%2Fa%2F1995%2F12%2F07%2FNEWS7115.dtl&hw=Barry+Bonds&sn=006&sc=889 |archive-date=June 15, 2009 |access-date=April 16, 2008 |work=[[SFGate]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Mitchell |first=Eve |date=December 9, 1995 |title=Lawyer challenges Sun Bonds's account of beating: Testimony centers on '93 altercation |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/e/a/1995/12/09/NEWS5801.dtl&hw=Barry+Bonds&sn=005&sc=899 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110917004534/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fe%2Fa%2F1995%2F12%2F09%2FNEWS5801.dtl&hw=Barry+Bonds&sn=005&sc=899 |archive-date=September 17, 2011 |access-date=April 16, 2008 |work=[[SFGate]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Mitchell |first=Eve |date=December 16, 1995 |title=Bonds counters ex-wife's charges: Giants star testifies in divorce case that she kicked him and broke his trophies |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/e/a/1995/12/16/NEWS14045.dtl&hw=Barry+Bonds&sn=004&sc=956 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090615044841/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fe%2Fa%2F1995%2F12%2F16%2FNEWS14045.dtl&hw=Barry+Bonds&sn=004&sc=956 |archive-date=June 15, 2009 |access-date=April 16, 2008 |work=[[SFGate]]}}</ref> The trial dragged on for months, but Bonds was awarded both houses and reduced support.<ref>{{cite news |author=Mitchell |first=Eve |date=March 8, 1996 |title=Sun Bonds's claims dismissed; houses go to ballplayer: Judge Sides With Giants Star |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/e/a/1996/03/08/NEWS9942.dtl&hw=Barry+Bonds&sn=001&sc=1000 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120620145107/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fe%2Fa%2F1996%2F03%2F08%2FNEWS9942.dtl&hw=Barry+Bonds&sn=001&sc=1000 |archive-date=June 20, 2012 |access-date=April 16, 2008 |work=[[SFGate]]}}</ref> On August 21, 2000, the [[Supreme Court of California]], in an opinion signed by Chief Justice [[Ronald M. George]], unanimously held that "substantial evidence supports the determination of the trial court that the [prenuptial] agreement in the present case was entered into voluntarily."<ref>{{Cite web |title=In re Marriage of Bonds (2000) 24 C4th 1 |url=http://online.ceb.com/CalCases/C4/24C4t1.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150903211743/http://online.ceb.com/CalCases/C4/24C4t1.htm |archive-date=September 3, 2015 |access-date= |website=Online.Ceb.com}}</ref> In reaction to the decision, significant changes in California law relating to the validity and enforceability of premarital agreements soon followed.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hylton |first1=J. Gordon |date=October 20, 2009 |title=Barry Bonds's Contribution to the Growth of American Law |url=https://law.marquette.edu/facultyblog/2009/10/20/barry-bonds%E2%80%99-contribution-to-the-growth-of-american-law/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180307145133/https://law.marquette.edu/facultyblog/2009/10/20/barry-bonds%e2%80%99-contribution-to-the-growth-of-american-law/ |archive-date=March 7, 2018 |access-date=December 16, 2017 |website=[[Marquette University Law School]]}}</ref><ref>Cal. Fam. Code §§ 1610 et seq.</ref>

In 2010, Bonds's son Nikolai, who served as a Giants [[batboy]] during his father's years playing in San Francisco and always sat next to his dad in the dugout during games,<ref name="batboyson">{{Cite news |date=July 27, 2007 |title=Bonds's son might not be working as bat boy when dad breaks HR mark |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2918168 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071008123420/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2918168 |archive-date=October 8, 2007 |access-date=October 10, 2007 |work=[[ESPN]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> was charged with five [[misdemeanor]]s resulting from a confrontation with his mother, Sun Bonds, who was granted a restraining order against Nikolai.<ref>{{cite news |date=January 12, 2010 |title=Barry Bonds's Son Pleads Not Guilty to Assaulting Mother |url=http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/01/12/barry-bonds-son-pleads-guilty-assaulting-mother/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025221142/http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/01/12/barry-bonds-son-pleads-guilty-assaulting-mother/ |archive-date=October 25, 2012 |access-date=September 11, 2010 |work=[[Fox News]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref>

In 1994, Bonds and Kimberly Bell, a [[graphic designer]], started<ref name=graphic>{{cite news |last=Dolan |first=Maura |date=March 29, 2011 |title=Former mistress testifies at Barry Bonds' trial |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2011-mar-29-la-me-0329-barry-bonds-20110329-story.html |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=July 23, 2022 |archive-date=July 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220723135450/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2011-mar-29-la-me-0329-barry-bonds-20110329-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> a relationship that lasted from 1994 through May 2003.<ref>{{cite news |date=August 8, 2005 |title=Barry Bonds's Alleged Mistress Speaks Out |url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0%2C2933%2C147456%2C00.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060422202739/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,147456,00.html |archive-date=April 22, 2006 |access-date=April 17, 2008 |work=[[Fox News]]}}</ref><ref name="spares">{{cite news |last=Preuit |first=Lori |date=March 28, 2011 |title=Kimberly Bell Spares No Graphic Detail |url=https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/kimberly-bell-spares-no-graphic-detail-on-stand/1912623 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404203223/https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/kimberly-bell-spares-no-graphic-detail-on-stand/1912623/ |archive-date=April 4, 2023 |access-date=July 23, 2022 |work=[[KNTV]]}}</ref> Bonds purchased a home in [[Scottsdale, Arizona]], for Kimberly.<ref name=BaLBMP/>

On January 10, 1998, Bonds married his second wife, Liz Watson, at the San Francisco [[Ritz-Carlton]] Hotel in front of 240 guests.<ref name=BaLBMP/> The couple lived in [[Los Altos Hills, California]], with their daughter Aisha<ref name=BaLBMP/><ref name="SecondWife">{{cite web |title=Los Altos Hills People |url=http://www.losaltoshills.com/people/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509052515/http://www.losaltoshills.com/people/ |archive-date=May 9, 2008 |access-date=April 17, 2008 |website=[[Los Altos Hills, California|Los Altos Hills]]}}</ref> during their ten-and-a-half years of marriage before Watson filed for legal separation on June 9, 2009, citing [[irreconcilable differences]].<ref>{{cite news |author=Williams |first=Lance |date=June 9, 2009 |title=Bonds's wife files for separation |url=http://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Bonds-wife-files-for-separation-3228441.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090612035048/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2009%2F06%2F09%2FBADC18388P.DTL |archive-date=June 12, 2009 |access-date=June 29, 2009 |work=[[SFGate]]}}</ref> On July 21, 2009, just six weeks later, Watson announced that she was withdrawing her Legal Separation action.<ref name="Reconciliation">{{cite news|url=http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2009/07/liz-watson-files-to-end-separation-with-barry-bonds/|title=Liz Watson Files to End Separation with Barry Bonds|date=July 21, 2009|access-date=March 31, 2013|work=The Hollywood Gossip|archive-date=February 3, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203003135/http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2009/07/liz-watson-files-to-end-separation-with-barry-bonds/|url-status=live}}</ref> The couple were reconciled for seven months before Watson formally filed for divorce in Los Angeles on February 26, 2010.<ref name="WatsonDivorce">{{Cite web |date=February 26, 2010 |title=Barry Bonds's wife files for divorce in LA |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2010/02/26/sports/s173910S92.DTL |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100301104926/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fn%2Fa%2F2010%2F02%2F26%2Fsports%2Fs173910S92.DTL |archive-date=March 1, 2010 |access-date=March 26, 2017 |website=[[SFGate]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> On June 6, 2011, Bonds and Watson filed a legal agreement not to take the divorce to trial and instead settle it in an "uncontested manner," agreeing to end the marriage privately at an unspecified later date without further court involvement.<ref name="UncontestedManner">{{cite news|url=http://radaronline.com/exclusives/2010/06/exclusive-barry-bonds-moves-one-step-closer-divorce/|title=EXCLUSIVE: Barry Bonds Moves One Step Closer To Divorce|access-date=March 31, 2013|date=June 8, 2010|work=[[Radar Online]]|archive-date=February 19, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219114520/http://radaronline.com/exclusives/2010/06/exclusive-barry-bonds-moves-one-step-closer-divorce/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Several of Bonds' family and extended family members have been involved in athletics as either a career or a notable pastime. Bonds has a younger brother, [[Bobby Bonds Jr.|Bobby Jr.]], who was also a professional baseball player.<ref>{{cite news |author=Knapp |first=Gwen |date=July 1, 2001 |title=Bobby Bonds Jr. plays for the love of the game |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2001/07/01/SP195291.DTL |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120620145502/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2001%2F07%2F01%2FSP195291.DTL |archive-date=June 20, 2012 |access-date=April 17, 2008 |work=[[SFGate]]}}</ref> His paternal aunt, [[Rosie Bonds]], is a former American record holder in the 80 meter [[hurdles]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Barry Bonds |url=http://www.thebaseballpage.com/players/bondsba01.php |archive-url=https://archive.today/20080510144452/http://www.thebaseballpage.com/players/bondsba01.php |archive-date=May 10, 2008 |access-date=April 17, 2008 |website=The Baseball Page}}</ref> and competed in the 1964 Olympics.<ref>{{cite web |date=August 16, 2004 |title=1964 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Olympian Rosie Bonds |url=http://www.wireimage.com/ItemListings.aspx?igi=72635&nbc1=1&VwMd=i |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605033055/http://www.wireimage.com/ItemListings.aspx?igi=72635&nbc1=1&VwMd=i |archive-date=June 5, 2011 |access-date=April 17, 2008 |website=[[Getty Images|WireImage]]}}</ref> In addition, he is a distant cousin of Hall of Famer [[Reggie Jackson]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Grann |first=David |author-link=David Grann |date=September 1, 2002 |title=Baseball Without Metaphor |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/01/magazine/baseball-without-metaphor.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180303055059/https://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/01/magazine/baseball-without-metaphor.html |archive-date=March 3, 2018 |access-date= |work=[[The New York Times Magazine]] |language=en}}</ref>

 

Among Bonds's many real estate properties is a home he owns in the exclusive gated community of [[Beverly Park]] in [[Beverly Hills]], California.<ref>{{cite news |author=Waxman |first=Sharon |date=July 2, 2006 |title=Paradise Bought in Los Angeles |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/02/fashion/02mansion.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090417055702/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/02/fashion/02mansion.html |archive-date=April 17, 2009 |access-date=April 17, 2008 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>

 

 

Bonds is an active practitioner of [[Brazilian jiu-jitsu]] and was promoted to blue belt in the [[Martial arts|martial art]] in 2023.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rogers |first1=Kian |date=July 1, 2023 |title=Baseball Legend Barry Bonds Promoted To BJJ Blue Belt |url=https://jitsmagazine.com/baseball-legend-barry-bonds-promoted-to-bjj-blue-belt/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230701071913/https://jitsmagazine.com/baseball-legend-barry-bonds-promoted-to-bjj-blue-belt/ |archive-date=July 1, 2023 |access-date=July 1, 2023 |website=Jitsmagazine}}</ref>

In late 2007, Chicago rapper [[Kanye West]] recorded a song titled "[[Graduation (album)|Barry Bonds]]" named after the slugger for his album ''[[Graduation (album)|Graduation]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reid |first=Shaheem |date=August 14, 2007 |title=Kanye West And Lil Wayne Counting On 'Barry Bonds' For A Hit Single |url=https://www.mtv.com/news/6qvhvi/kanye-west-and-lil-wayne-counting-on-barry-bonds-for-a-hit-single |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230830190218/https://www.mtv.com/news/6qvhvi/kanye-west-and-lil-wayne-counting-on-barry-bonds-for-a-hit-single |archive-date=August 30, 2023 |access-date=August 30, 2023 |website=[[MTV]] |language=en}}</ref>

*Tenth all-time in plate appearances with 12,606. He is the only player in the top ten of this category to not obtain 3,000 hits and just one of two players with as many as 12,000 plate appearances to not do so (the other being [[Omar Vizquel]]).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Career Leaders & Records for Hits |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/H_career.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014200416/http://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/H_career.shtml |archive-date=October 14, 2012 |access-date=March 11, 2023 |website=[[Baseball Reference]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Career Leaders & Records for Plate Appearances |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/PA_career.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211007060718/https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/PA_career.shtml |archive-date=October 7, 2021 |access-date=July 17, 2023 |website=[[Baseball Reference]]}}</ref>