Of all the statements that can be made about Barry Bonds, this is the most important: He's the only player in San Francisco Giants' history who can be legitimately compared to Willie Mays.
Mays was better, but not by much, and with Willie you're talking about probably the best all-around player in baseball history. Mays could beat you with his bat, with his feet and with his glove, and so can Bonds.
Like Mays, Bonds is there every year with big numbers. Each of the four years Barry has been a Giant, he's had what could be considered an MVP year. He's won the award three times, once with San Francisco and twice with Pittsburgh, and is one of only eight players to do that. Even Mays didn't win three.
Bonds' consistency as a Giant has been amazing. He's hit 42 and 46 homers in his two full seasons, 33 in the 144-game season of '95, 37 in the 112-game season of '94 -- which would have meant well over 50 if a full season had been played. He's had three .300 seasons and another when he fell just six points short. He's scored more than 100 runs, knocked in more than 100 in three seasons and came close (89 and 81, respectively) even in 112 games in '94.
He's there every day, too, missing only six games in four years. Bill Rigney used to say of Mays, "Every day when I walked into the dressing room and saw Willie, I thought we had a chance to win the game." Dusty Baker can say the same about Bonds.
He never cheats himself or the team. He goes all out for every ball hit his way, steals bases and takes an extra base any time he can.
TOO MUCH HUSTLE?
His manager is even concerned that Bonds works too hard at times. "Dusty
told me there are times when I have to learn to ease up a little, when
the game isn't on the line,'' Bonds said. ``He told me that I'm at an age
where I bruise easier and take longer to recover, so I have to be aware
of that."
Though he doesn't talk of goals, Bonds has already reached one significant milestone, joining Mays, Andre Dawson and his father, Bobby, as the only four players in major-league history to hit more than 300 home runs and steal more than 300 bases.
He seems well aware that some other significant career marks are there for him if he can have a lengthy career, so he stays in superb physical condition with a strenuous training program. He shares a trainer, Ray Faris, with Jerry Rice and sometimes exceeds even his trainer's goals.
"Sometimes, Ray will tell me I should take a day off to let my body recover," Bonds said, "but then he'll say, 'I'm not going to tell you not to go out to the track, because I know you'll go by yourself if I do.' "
This is the kind of dedication only a few athletes have, and it clearly separates Bonds from the pack. Yet, he's had persistent critics among the media and some of the fans since he's been here.
BONDS STAYS PUT
In the offseason, there were persistent rumors that the Giants were
shopping Bonds. That was never true, and Giants managing general partner
Peter Magowan finally made an official statement that Bonds wouldn't be
traded.
The next phase of the Bonds soap opera was the extension of his contract, which had two years to run. That extension was done before spring training, so there is no doubt Bonds will be a Giant when the club opens its new ball park in China Basin for the 2000 season. The Giants had planned that all along; their video pitch to sell charter seats for the new park ends with a Bonds home run sailing into the bay.
Bonds seems a different person this spring. Part of it is probably the contract extension. Another may be the fact that this is his team. In '93, he shared the spotlight with Will Clark and Matt Williams, and Williams was a big factor for each of Bonds's four years with the team. Now, Bonds stands alone.
MR. NICE GUY?
Whatever the reason, he has been much more accommodating to the media
this year and has been signing autographs for kids at a record pace.
This won't win over his critics, of course. Bonds doesn't seem to care, anyway. He does a considerable amount of charity work, but it seldom gets publicized because he isn't seeking publicity for it.
Frankly, Bonds's personality shouldn't enter into this. Early in my career, I found Mays impossible to deal with, but it never kept me from watching in awe what he could do on the baseball field.
I would advise younger readers who had little or no chance to see Mays to approach Bonds the same way. Enjoy him while you can because there's a good chance you'll never again see a player quite like him.