20 Things You Didn’t Know About Barry Bonds

1. He's Renowned in The Baseball World

Barry Bonds is a king in the world of baseball. He played 22 years in the Major League Baseball for the Pittsburgh Pirates as well as the San Francisco Giants. His career has been majorly successful, one of the most successful baseball players ever.He has become a sports icon worldwide. And, he has promoted the image of baseball over because fans of all ages love to follow his career.(Image Source/ NewYorkTimes)

2. He Was Considered Lazy

Barry Bond was one of those people with bags of raw talent. So, compared to others in the sporting field he did not have to work as hard by comparison to get the same or even better results. And, while nobody could deny the talent that he had, some did consider him as lazy.And, when there were talent spotters and team recruiters some were definitely put off because he had a reputation as lazy. And, despite his talent, teams want a hard-working player with the right attitude. Barry Bond has always had a reputation for massive talent mixed with a lot of unpopular opinions about him.(Image Source/ Slate)

3. His Auntie Was an Olympian

Barry Bonds was not the only sports person in the family, nor the only worldwide rebound athlete. His Aunt, named Rosie was actually a hurdler in the 1964 Olympics.So, it seems that sport was always in his blood and it was only natural that there were going to be other great athletes in the family. So, he followed in his aunts’ footsteps and became a national baseball hero.(Image Source/ Naplesdailynews)

4. His Net Worth is $100 million

Of course, a world-famous athlete is going to be worth a pretty penny. Bobby Bands is worth around a whopping $100 million dollars. His career, which spanned two years and his great success made him one of the most sought-after players ever.And, his pay packet reflected this. Bobby Bands was one of the highest earning baseball players ever. So, it stands to reason that his net worth is so great. Now, he enjoys his funds in retirement.(Image Source/ NewYorkTimes)

5. He Has Won Countless Awards

Bond's started collecting awards back in college. He first won awards there and then he progressed to professional baseball where his accolades car. He came sixth in the NL Rookie of the Year vote. In 1990 Bonds won his first MVP award and he also made the All-Star team.As well as this he won a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger. Then, in 1991 Bonds came in second in the MVP vote and he won his second Gold Glove and Silver Slugger. And, from 1992 to 1998 Bonds made the All-Star team every single year and won two more MVP awards and 6 Gold Glove awards.(Image Source/ Thewashingtonpost)

6. His Godfather was Willie Mays

Barry's life was consumed by baseball. His Godfather was even Willie Mays. He is an American former professional baseball player. He played for the New York and San Francisco Giants and New York Mets as centerfields.He played 23 seasons in total, 21 with the Giants and another two with the New York Mets. He was known worldwide and he was also seen as one of the best players. Despite not being related by blood, this family were extremely talented in the sports field.(Image Source/ NewYorkTimes)

7. He Was Seen as A Bully in School

Barry Bond was always seen as a great sportsman, even in school. However, this power that he had in school was something that he liked to flaunt. And, many people actually considered him a bully. So, while he was loved in the sports world it seems he was less popular in his personal life.His talent had clearly affected how he viewed himself and others and his attitude were often superior. So, he was never very popular amongst his peers in school or amongst his school baseball team either.(Image Source/ McCoveyChronicles)

 

8. His Freshman Team Voted Him Out

Barry Bonds was without a doubt the best player on his freshman team at the time. But, despite this it did not manage to earn him popularity. Usually, a team treasure their best asset. But, in this case not. In fact, his coach held a vote about whether to keep him in the team because of complaints about him.Most of the team voted for him to leave. they did not like him for his attitude and arrogance. But because the vote was not unanimous the coach voted to keep him because he could not afford to lose his best player.(Image Source/ NewYorkTimes)

9. He Was Using Steroids

Bonds, despite being widely recognised as one of the best players, had a very controversial career. He was involved within the steroid scandal surrounding baseball. He was indicted in 2007 on the charges of perjury and obstruction of justice. This was for allegedly lying to a grand jury at the time of the federal government's investigation of BALCO.BALCO, was a manufacturer of an undetectable steroid. This was used by athletes so that they could perm and when they were tested nothing would show up in their results. But her conviction was overturned in 2015. However, it definitely marked his reputation forever. And while he was eligible for the vote, he did not receive 75% of the vote which is necessary to be elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.(Image Source/ NewYorkTimes)

10. He's The Best Hitter of All Time

To many people, Bonds is the best hitter of all time. And this is not only down to personal opinion, it is based on some truth. Because statistically he does have the most home runs of all time as well as the most walks and even intentional walks.Bond's broke many records during his baseball career. So, for many baseballs he is idolised as the best hitter of all time. Some do not agree however, and some do not like to credit him as such because of his reputation and links to performance enhancing drugs.(Image Source/ SFgate)

11. He Grew Up in California

Bonds was born and he was raised in California. But then his dad signed a contract with the California Giants and so the family packed up and all moved to California.Then, he later signed with the Yankees and so he had to move again. This time it was San Francisco that he had to relocate to. And, this time his family did not join him. They continue to live in California with the rest of the family.

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12. He Had a Messy Affair

Bands and his first wife separated in June 1994 and then later got divorced in December 1994. They had their marriage annulled in 1997 by the Catholic Church. The divorce turned into a messy media affair because Bonds and his wife had signed a prenuptial agreement which agreed that she "waived her right to a share of his present and future earnings."At the time Bond was providing his wife $20,000/month in child support and $10,000 in what is called spousal support. During the trial there were accusations of abuse by both parties. In the end, Bond ended up with both houses and he was allowed to reduce his financial support. The trial was dragged on for months and months.(Image Source/ NewYorkTimes)

13. Their trial Changed Californian Law

Due to their messy divorce, there were laws changed in California. Because of their trial, people were not happy with the fact that the prenuptial agreement had been able to be disregarded so easily. So, it was taken to court as a problem because it was thought that a pre-nuptial agreement was a voluntary agreement that should be honoured.And so, the court changed the laws. So, Benny Bond's divorce gained so much media attention that it actually brought about a change in law. After that, pre-nuptial agreements would not be overturned so easily.(Image Source/ TheTorontoStar)

14. He Was Married Twice

On January 10, 1998, Bonds married his second wife who was called Liz Watson. The pair got wed at a huge ceremony the San Francisco Ritz-Carlton Hotel in front of around 240 guests. Then the couple both moved in together and lived in Los Altos Hills, California, along with ceremony their daughter Aisha. But after many years of marriage, Watson filed for divorce in 2009.The divorce cited irreconcilable differences. However, the couple reconciled for several months before Watson formally filed for a divorce in 2010 after things still weren't working out. Bonds this time made every effort possible so that the separation was kept out of the media and the courts and they could settle it between them.(Image Source/ NewYorkTimes)

15. His Little Brother Plays Professional Baseball

Just when we thought there could be no more talent packed in to one family, we discover that his little brother is also a professional baseball player. His little brother is actually also called Bobby Jr after their father who is also called Bobby. |So, the pair together are Barry and Bobby Jr. Bonds.The family were obviously keen on alliteration. He has played professionally for many years, and although he is not as well-known as his big brother, he is still very successful in the baseball world. He followed in the same footsteps. The Bands family is certainly a very talented bunch. (Image Source/ SeattleTimes)

16. He Owns Many Properties

Bonds of course has a collection of properties. We know his net worth is around on million dollars so it makes sense that he has invested his money in lots of property’s. And, many holiday homes for himself.The place he currently resided for the majority of his time is in Beverly Hills in a gated community called Beverly Park. This is a very sought-after place to live which costs millions and millions of pounds. his other properties are scatters over the world. Barry Bonds is most definitely not short of assets. (Image Source/ NewYorkTimes)

17. He Switched Jersey Numbers

Barry had always had the number 24 on his jersey. He had become well known for the number 24 as any athlete becomes associated with the number on their jersey. He had every intention of keeping his number even as he switched from team to team. But he actually eventually switched his number to 25.The number 25 was to honour his father, as it had been Bobby's number in San Francisco. Barry's dad Bobby had also been a baseball player. It was pretty inevitable that this family would become baseball player's as they were surrounded by the influences of the game everywhere. (Image Source/ McCoveyChronicles)

18. He Has a Criminology Degree

Criminology is a branch of Sociology which allows students to gain insight into criminal behaviour. It looks at this at individual, natural and social levels. It also explores how it can be managed and controlled. In 1986 Barry Bonds graduated from Arizona State in 1986 with a degree in criminology.But he never went down the criminology route. Because even whilst studying for his degree, his main passion and focus was baseball. And so, as soon as he graduated, he simply joined another baseball team asides from his college team.(Image Source/ NewYorkTimes)

19. He Was Rejected A 10th Time

Just a few days ago, Bonds was rejected a final time from the Hall of Fame. This is because he was a part of the steroid era. This time he received votes from 66% of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA), which is below the 75% threshold necessary to make the prestigious Baseball Hall of Fame.He is not the only player to have faced rejection for a tenth and final time recently, there were a few others amongst his name. Some people claim that it is wrong to ban them from the Hall of Fame. While others, think that it is right and just.(Image Source/ SanFranciscoChrnoicles)

20. He Signed a Baseball Saying 'Say No to Drugs'

Barry Bonds signed a baseball which read 'say no to drugs'. So now he has created one of the most famous, and hypocritical pieces of sports memorabilia. The message, is completely ironic in his case.Whether he realised at the time the attention this move would make is unclear. But of course, the video went viral with people calling him out for being a hypocrite and other people wondering why he would draw attention to this topic which has marred his whole reputation.(Image Source/ Theundefeated)