Barry Bonds and American Baseball's Image

 In the middle of April in 2001, Barry Bonds hit his 500th career home run in front of his home crowd in San Francisco. Fans cheered and admired their hero as he rounded the bases. Bonds was 36, the age where most players begin to think about retirement, he was on his way to the Hall of Fame. Players who share similar age with Bonds typically begin to decline in production numbers. But something strange began to happen, Bonds wasn’t declining, in fact, Bonds was hitting the ball at a historic rate. Bonds seemed to be crushing the ball in the beginning of the 2001 season, and by the all star break, Bonds had 39 home runs, a record that still stands today. Many people were curious as to how Barry Bonds was hitting at a record breaking pace. None the less, Bonds continued his hot hitting, and soon was in contention to become the new home run king in a season by breaking Mark McGwire’s record of 70, which he did three years earlier in 1998. On October 7, 2001 Barry Bonds broke McGwire’s record by hitting his 71st home run in front of his home crowd. Bonds would take on two more homers before the season ended, bringing his total to a new record of 73. "He was easily named as the NL MVP that year, his fourth at the time, and was once again considered by experts and fans alike as the greatest player in the world." (Ken Burns Documantary)

 

 Bonds would continue his incredible destruction of baseballs over the next three years, winning the MVP award 2001-2004, bringing his total to a record seven for his career. During this remarkable run, bonds began shattering batting records like never seen, including most walks in a season with 232 in 2004. (Baseball Refernece.com) There was no question anymore,"Bonds truly was the greatest player in the world at the moment, possibly of all time." (Ken Burns Documentary)

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