San Francisco's Barry Bonds: Modesty, Humility and an Agonzing World Series

Barry Bonds produced the greatest offensive season in baseball history in 2001, yet he was disappointed.

Yes, Bonds set a new single season home run record that will stand forever when he hit 73 round trippers. He broke Babe Ruth's single season slugging average as well as Ruth's record for the most walks in a season. To top things off, Bonds won his fourth MVP award, something no other player had ever accomplished.

But Bonds felt unfilled. Many view him as an arrogant, self-centered individual who is not a team player, but nothing could be further from the truth.

In August of 2001, the real Barry Bonds spoke. He told reporters that the most important thing to him was winning, not setting home run records.

After learning that he had won his fourth MVP award, Bonds expressed his desire and frustration.

"The most important thing to me is winning. I really want an opportunity to win. I've played a long time. And I really want to win."

He showed how humble and modest he really is when he spoke about winning his fourth MVP award, surpassing Stan Musial, Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra, Roy Campanella, Jimmy Foxx, Mike Schmidt and Mickey Mantle.

"I don't think you can ever dream of surpassing players of that stature. There are no words for this. I'm just grateful. Lucky and grateful."

Does that sound like the Barry Bonds portrayed in the media? Does that sound like the Barry Bonds most fans have been led to believe is the real Barry Bonds?

Bonds would not rest on his laurels. He told the media that he was going to start his training program in preparation for 2002.

"When you're not winning the World Series, it's hard to slow down. I need to win. I really need to win."

The San Francisco Giants, the team Bonds played for, led the Anaheim Angels, three games to two in the 2002 World Series. The Giants led the sixth game, 5-0 after six innings.

The Angels scored three runs in the bottom of seventh to make it close. Then it happened.

Darren Erstad led off the eight inning with a home run to cut the Giants' lead to a single run. Tim Salmon singled to put the potential tying run on first. Chone Figgins ran for him, bringing up Garret Anderson, who promptly singled to left.

A heavy, muscle bound Barry Bonds who could hit 73 home runs in a season but who no longer had the agility to bend down, cut off the ball which had rolled into foul territory to then fire the ball to third base to hold the runners at second and first, fumbled the single.

The "new" Barry Bonds, who said winning the World Series was more important than any individual accomplishments, allowed Figgins to get to third with potential tying run and Anderson to get to second with the potential winning run. What a revoltin' development for the Giants.

Both runners scored on a Troy Glaus double to left. The Angels won the game, and they won the next day to become World Champions.

Perhaps if the humble Mr. Bonds had not gained so much body mass during his training regimen, he would have retained the speed and agility in the field that helped make the best player of the '90s, and the left fielder that many ranked ahead of Ted Williams because he was a better fielder than the Splendid Splinter.

But Barry had to continue to train, even during the regular season.

Barry never got to play on a World Champion team.

Reference:

Hermoso, Rafael. "Bonds is Voted M.V.P. A Record Fourth Time." New York Times. 20 Nov. 2001: p. S4.