It was one of the greatest World Series performances of all time. In 2002, Barry Lamarr Bonds batted 30 times as his Giants battled the Angels in a memorable seven game set. Barry had 8 hits, including 4 home runs and 13 walks. He batted .471 with a .700 on base average and slugged 1.294, but Barry's Giants lost the championship. One might think that losing the World Series would have put a damper on his performance, but in the 21st century, getting to the World Series is as meaningful as winning it, which seems like twisted logic, but the experts disagree. After all, you have to be in it to win it.
Only Ruth Did Better
Barry Bonds' career has been compared with those of other greats, including Babe Ruth and Henry Aaron. Ruth's greatest World Series performance, which occurred in 1928 against the Cardinals, was better than even Barry's. Babe batted .625, had a .647 on base average, hit 3 home runs and 3 doubles in the four game Series, while slugging an incredible 1.375. Hank Aaron's best World Series was in 1957 against the Yankees. Henry hit .393, had a .414 on base average, hit 3 home runs and slugged .786 as Milwaukee won in seven games.
Greatest Impact of Any Hitter in History
It is difficult to imagine Barry's impact. Angels' pitching coach Bud Black said, "In all the years I've been in baseball, I've never heard one player dominate conversations about how we're going to pitch him. It's incredible. I mean some great players have been in postseason. This is unheard of." Angels' manager Mike Scioscia did Black one better. "He's in a league of his own as a hitter. There isn't any way you can overrate Barry Bonds. The last two years are the best of anyone in the history of baseball. Nobody's had better years when you combine all the numbers he's had the last two years."
Intentional Walk With the Bases Loaded
Scioscia went on to declare that he might intentionally walk Bonds if Barry came up with the bases loaded. The Angels would take the bat out of Barry's hands if it would help to minimize the damage. In the late 1990s, Arizona manager Buck Showalter walked Bonds with the bases loaded. Arizona was ahead in the ninth inning, 8-6. Barry's walk forced in a run, cutting the lead to 8-7 and bringing up Brent Mayne, who lined out to end the game. Barry didn't disappoint his fans, Bud Black, or Mike Scioscia. In his first World Series at bat, leading off the second inning, he hit a home run.
Batting Average is Overrated
Babe Ruth might have been better than Barry, but that's about it. Bonds has a .298 batting average, which is the same as Mickey Mantle, who often said that his greatest regret was that playing the last two years of his career cost him a .300 lifetime batting average. But in 2008, sabermetricians have discovered that batting average is a highly overrated statistic, so maybe Mickey aggravated himself over nothing. Barry has a .444 on base average, which is third behind Ruth and Ted Williams among modern (1901) players, and has slugged .607, which is the sixth best ever.
Barry Was the Best Player of the 1990s
Barry Bonds was the best player of the 1990s, and he has had the best offensive seasons of any player over the age of 36 in baseball history. Things don't happen by accident. Barry Bonds put up numbers that were incredible. He has walked over 2,500 times, has stolen over 500 bases, and has hit more home runs in a single season and in a career than anyone who ever played the game. What is the reason that Barry may have trouble being elected to the Hall of Fame?
References:
Barry Bonds at Baseball-Reference
Chass, Murray. "Angels Facing a Challenge: To Go At, or Around Bonds." New York Times. 18 October 2002, p. D1.
Curry, Jack. "On Baseball: No Excuse Necessary for Avoiding Bonds." New York Times. 25 October 2002, p. D3.
