Early Years and Rise to Fame
Few baseball players in Major League Baseball history have had an impact on the game on and off the field like the kind made by Barry Bonds. As the son of a legendary San Francisco Giants icon Bobby Bonds, Barry was surrounded by baseball long before he picked up a bat.
However, once he did, it didn’t take long for people to notice his skills when he played for Junipero Serra High School and Arizona State University. He amassed a .347 average and 45 home runs during his college career. Scouts were impressed with his speed and power.
Professional Career and Achievements
His prolific career saw him play 22 seasons of Major League Baseball, first with the Pittsburgh Pirates from ‘86 to ‘92 and a remarkable tenure with the San Francisco Giants from ‘93 to ‘07. This concluded his final Major League Baseball season with an impressive .276 average, 28 home runs, and 66 RBIs. While he did not announce his retirement, it was the last time he graced the pitch.
The highly charismatic, rebellious, and often controversial second-generation all-rounder has been in the GOAT discussion for decades with the likes of Ted Williams, Ken Griffey Jr., Tony Gwynn, Hank Aaron, and his godfather Willie Mays.
His phenomenal record and a long list of awards and personal accolades include seven NL MVP awards, twelve Silver Slugger awards, eight Gold Glove awards, and a whopping fourteen MLB All-Star team selections.
Record-Breaking Home Runs
Barry’s most notable achievement is his 762 home run record between 1986 and 2007. He also holds the record for the most home runs in a single season—73 in 2001. Barry may not have won a World Series title, but it was his power-hitting that transformed the Giants into a title-contending team.
With three NL West titles between 1997 and 2003, he paved the way for the Giants to win three World Series titles in five years (2010, 2012, 2014), just three years after he retired in 2007.
Controversy and Legacy
Of course, no mention of Barry Bonds can avoid dealing with the steroid controversy during his years with the Giants. It’s definitely a stain on his great career and will likely result in his never getting into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Still, jerseys sporting his name are some of the best-sellers in the throwback jerseys market among Pirates or Giants fans and MLB baseball jersey collectors.
Vintage Barry Bonds Jerseys at Custom Throwback Jerseys
At Custom Throwback Jerseys, we have a wide selection of vintage Barry Bonds jerseys, including his San Francisco Giants 2001 Majestic Baseball Throwback Jersey and Pittsburgh Pirates 1992 Away Majestic Baseball Throwback Jersey.
Feel free to explore our collection and get an authentic Barry Bonds MLB throwback jersey to showcase your love for the history of Major League Baseball. As leaders in the retro jersey market, we strive to provide our customers with only the best vintage apparel online.
