Barry Bonds, in MLB, was one of the most talented and controversial players due to his exclusion from the Hall of Fame. This is not just due to his suspected ties to performance-enhancing drugs but also concerns about his character.
Bonds never failed a drug test, but he faced legal issues, including a 2011 conviction for obstructing justice in a steroid investigation. These factors still spark debate and controversy surrounding his image in baseball. His conviction was overturned in 2015, but Bonds continues to face skepticism and criticism.
In an interview on the “R2C2” podcast with Ryan Ruocco and CC Sabathia, Bonds made a surprising admission about his characteristics as a teammate. He confessed,
“I wasn’t the best clubhouse guy, that’s for damn sure. Because it’s a business, and people don’t understand that I took it as a business. In most teams, everyone thought I was being a d–k, but I really—I wasn’t at all. I love you, I respect you, I would help you in any aspect.” : Said Barry
“I’m not gonna tell you what I do because we don’t know how long we’re teammates, And in a teammate, the factor is that you’re going to another team market to be traded, and then you’re gonna tell someone what I told you… Ain’t no way in hell I’m ever telling anybody what I do. I’m not gonna tell you what I see. I’ll give you general conversation to help you, but I don’t know how long we’re gonna be teammates.” : Mentioned barry
Bonds clarified that his guardedness was rooted in the transient nature of professional sports. He also mentioned that he may not have been the most approachable player in the locker room but defended the reason behind this.
His nature on and off the field showed his knowledge of the business side of baseball, where players are usually traded or move to different teams quickly. Bonds mentioned that his intentions were not to be unapproachable but rather to safeguard his approach and strategies.
Whatever controversies surround Bonds, his impact on the game cannot be ignored. He won an astonishing seven MVP awards and made a record 762 home runs during his career.
Bonds set numerous single-season records, including his remarkable 73 home runs in 2001 and his 232 walks, 120 intentional passes, and a staggering .609 on-base percentage in 2004. The San Francisco Giants have retired Bonds’ No. 25 jersey, for his contributions to the team.
