He WOULD have been the best player in baseball anyways. But when McGwire and Sosa started taking steroids they got better and got all the attention. So Bonds thought he deserved to take them too, but Griffey on the other hand stayed out of it.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

The best player in baseball is probably a stretch, but even so, now he has better stats. There's always room for improvement...he just did it in a highly illegal way.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Before he began his steroid use, he already had 3 MVPs (4 other Top 5 MVP finishes), 8 Golden Gloves, and 7 Silver Slugger Awards. He was easily one of the best, if not the best, in the game before his steroid use. Overall, he is the greatest hitter in baseball history.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

That's a fair point, but his average stats from 1986-1998 were 32 HRs, 94 RBIs, .290 avg. Bonds' 5 year statistical peak from 1990-1994 was 35, 107, .310. Not too shabby, but let's look at some other big hitters' 5 year peaks from the 90s. Frank Thomas: 39 HRs,120 RBIs, .334 avg ('93-'97) Ken Griffey, Jr.: 49 HRs, 126 RBIs, .305 avg ('93-'98 excluding '97 when he was hurt) Mike Piazza: 33 HRs, 105 RBIs, .339 avg ('94-'98) Albert Belle: 40 HRs, 124 RBIs, .306 avg ('93-'97) And of course there are others such as Juan Gonzalez, Tony Gwynn and later Sammy Sosa. Basically, before he took steroids, he was one of the top 5 or 10 players in the league annually, but nothing more.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

First of all, the raw statistics from the '94 season are useless because of the strike, so I'm going to ignore them. Secondly, RBIs are a terrible statistic to use because they are reliant on other players' performances. Thirdly, Bonds' steroid use allegedly began after the '98 season, which is the year McGwire and Sosa had their HR chase. I have to go to class now, but later I'll post the more legitimate statistics from '95-'98 for all of the above players. So far, Barry Bonds: .444 OBP/ .587 SLG/ 1.041 OPS/ 674 PA Also, you have to take defense into account, too. Bonds was one of the best defensive outfielders in history.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Statistics from 1995-1998 (the four years preceding Bonds' alleged steroid use): OBP/ SLG/ OPS .443/.709/1.152 in 666 PA with 1 SB and -8 TZ. (Player A) .438/.581/1.019 in 665 PA with 3 SB and -8 TZ. (Player B) .335/.548/0.883 in 622 PA with 23 SB and 20 TZ. (Player C) .346/.628/1.008 in 687 PA with 17 SB and 15 TZ. (Player D) .444/.587/1.041 in 674 PA with 34 SB and 12 TZ. (Player E) .414/.590/1.005 in 630 PA with 2 SB and -3 TZ. (Player F) .386/.615/1.001 in 686 PA with 7 SB and -7 TZ. (Player G) .394/.493/0.887 in 558 PA with 11 SB and -12 TZ. (Player H) .356/.621/0.977 in 613 PA with 1 SB and -7 TZ. (Player I) Pick the three best Players listed above.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

A, E and D. Now, I know Bonds is E from the steals, I'm gonna say A is Thomas and D is Griffey? It looks like my hatred of Bonds has gotten in the way of the numbers and I don't feel like backing up my opinion anymore. You win.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Player A was Mark McGwire; you forgot him when you were naming players. And yeah, a lot of people are blinded by the cloud of steroids. People always forget, though, that not only have steroids always been a part of baseball's history, they saved the sport from collapse. Here's the list: .443/.709/1.152 in 666 PA with 1 SB and -8 TZ. (McGwire) .438/.581/1.019 in 665 PA with 3 SB and -8 TZ. (Thomas) .335/.548/0.883 in 622 PA with 23 SB and 20 TZ. (Sosa) .346/.628/1.008 in 687 PA with 17 SB and 15 TZ. (Griffey Jr.) .444/.587/1.041 in 674 PA with 34 SB and 12 TZ. (Bonds) .414/.590/1.005 in 630 PA with 2 SB and -3 TZ. (Piazza) .386/.615/1.001 in 686 PA with 7 SB and -7 TZ. (Belle) .394/.493/0.887 in 558 PA with 11 SB and -12 TZ. (Gwynn) .356/.621/0.977 in 613 PA with 1 SB and -7 TZ. (Gonzalez)

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Tests or it didn't happen

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Barry Bonds can go fuck himself. He shouldn't get credit for surpassing the number of HR's Hank Aaron had

by Anonymous 13 years ago

What do Barry Bonds, Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, and Willie Mays have in common? They all took some form of PEDs. Why should Bonds be persecuted for participating in an act that has been a part of a baseball since its earliest days? Why is he considered a villain, yet others' use is ignored? Is it because he is simply BETTER than everyone else?

by Anonymous 13 years ago