MLB: Barry Bonds Blamed His Pirates Teammates for Not Winning the World Series

Before he became the Barry Bonds fans know and hate, he was the Barry Bonds fans didn't know very well but still could have hated.

The Pittsburgh Pirates won the Eastern Division title in 1990, 1991 and 1992. Neither the Pirates nor Bonds fared well once the playoffs started. They failed to get to the World Series each time.

Bonds "joked" it wasn't his fault, he blamed his Pirates teammates. What a class act.

The Cincinnati Reds beat the Pirates in six games in the 1991 NLCS and the Atlanta Braves beat them in 1991 and 1992, each time in seven games. Bonds didn't exactly excel in the playoffs.

In 1990, Bonds batted .167 and slugged .167. He managed three singles in 18 at-bats.

In 1991, Bonds batted .148 and slugged .185. He hit three singles and a double in 27 at-bats.

In 1992, he almost doubled his batting average, hitting .261 with six hits in 23 at-bats, including a double and a home run.

Bonds' good friend Bobby Bonilla left the Pirates following the 1991 season to "steal" money from the New York Mets. In 1992, with his new team, Bonilla batted .249 compared to .302 his last season with the Pirates.

Bonilla had provided protection for Bonds, which Barry was eager to note.

"I've played 162 games and I've been pitched around a lot," Bonds told the media.

In 1991, Bonds walked 107 times. In 1992 he led the league with 127 walks.

Of course, walks don't always indicate the possibility that Bonds wasn't getting as many good pitches to hit, but he has always been selective—which the 127 walks reveal.

Prior to the start of the 1992 NLCS, Bonds used gallows humor to excuse his past playoff failures, but his gigantic ego, whose size would be challenged in the future by the size of his head, was ever-present.

He told the media that once the playoffs started, his teammates had to save him so that he could lead them to the World Championship.

"I told them 'I'll get you to the playoffs. Now they've got to get me through them and I'll see we win the World Series.'"

A short time later, he repeated his promise to lead the Pirates to the World Championship if his teammates would only get him there.

"I just said, 'Get me past Atlanta.' I can do this job. I don't lack any confidence."

It's difficult to imagine Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Stan Musial or Hank Aaron using such "humor." They had pride. Bonds has arrogance.

The future all-time single season and career home run leader, whose "accomplishments" are not recognized by many, then jumped on Pirates center fielder Andy Van Slyke, who was one of the fans' favorites, without mentioning him by name.

Bonds made the point that he wasn't the only one who had done poorly in the playoffs. In three previous playoff series, Van Slyke had batted .091, .208 and .160.

Some "experts" wondered how Bonds' poor postseason performances would affect the money he would be offered as a free agent. There was no need to worry.

The San Francisco Giants signed Bonds to a six-year deal for $43.75 million, which was the richest contract at that time.

Reference:

Vecsey, G. (1992, Oct 08). Barry bonds is not yet mr. october. New York Times (1923-Current File), pp. B31. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/108821981?accountid=46260