The San Francisco Giants recently announced plans to honor Barry Bonds, one of the most statistically dominant players in baseball history, despite the ongoing controversy surrounding his legacy.
Giants CEO Larry Baer revealed that the team will erect a statue of Bonds outside Oracle Park, placing him alongside other Giants greats such as Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Orlando Cepeda, Juan Marichal, and Gaylord Perry.
During an appearance on The Morning Roast, Baer acknowledged public support for the tribute:
“You know what, no disagreement from us on that topic,” he said. “It’s on the radar. Barry deserves a statue, and I’d say he’s next in line. We don’t have the exact date or spot picked yet, but we’re definitely aligned on the idea.”
He added that Bonds has been increasingly present around the team over the past two seasons and concluded, “It’s coming. All I can say is it’s coming.”
Bonds’ career accolades are unmatched: seven MVP awards, 14 All-Star selections, eight Gold Gloves, 12 Silver Sluggers, two batting titles, and MLB records for home runs (762), walks (2,558), and career WAR (162.8). Despite these accomplishments, he has been excluded from the Hall of Fame, largely due to his connection to the steroid era.
Although Bonds spent 15 standout seasons with the Giants, he failed to reach the 75% voting threshold during his 10 years on the Baseball Writers’ Association of America ballot. While Cooperstown has yet to enshrine him, the Giants have made it clear they’re ready to celebrate his impact on the franchise—even if not everyone in the baseball world agrees with their decision.
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