Vital Statistics:
Born: July 24, 1964
Hometown: Riverside, Calif.
Height: 6-1
Weight: 228
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Family: Wife, Liz; son, Nikolia; daughter, Shikari
Primary position: Left Field
Before the Bigs:
- The son of former All-Star outfielder Bobby Bonds, Barry was drafted by the Giants in the second round in 1982, but opted to go to Arizona State instead.
- After starring for three years for the Sun Devils and earning a degree in criminology, Bonds was selected in the first round of the 1985 draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates. He made his major league debut a year later.
- Is the all-time home run leader, passing Hank Aaron with his 756th home run on Aug. 7, 2007.
- Also holds the single-season record for home runs with 73 in 2001.
- All-time leader in walks (2,426 entering 2007) and intentional walks (645 entering 2007) in baseball history.
- Won the National League MVP award a record seven times, including four in a row from 2001-04.
- A 14-time National League All-Star (1990, 1992-98, 2000-04, 2007).
- Eight-time winner of the Gold Glove Award.
Career Highlights:
Scandals:
Bonds is a central figure in the BALCO (Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative) scandal, a firm that was charged with providing elite athletes with performance-enhancing drugs.
Bonds testified to a grand jury that he had received and used substances from his personal strength trainer, Greg Anderson, during the 2003 season but was told they were the nutritional supplement flaxseed oil and a rubbing balm for arthritis, according to a transcript of his testimony reviewed by The San Francisco Chronicle.
He was not subject to discipline by MLB because steroids weren't illegal at the time he allegedly used them.
