SAN FRANCISCO — Barry Bonds emerged from the gate in center field, a sellout crowd at AT&T Park chanting his name, and took a long stroll toward the infield grass, where two 8-foot tall orange and black numerals stood. Bonds greeted family, friends, former teammates, and former managers, then took a seat next to his mother, Patricia.
One by one, those who nurtured Bonds' development from top draft pick to transcendent talent spoke of his place in baseball history, celebrating his No. 25 being retired by the Giants prior to first pitch against the Pirates Saturday afternoon. Larry Baer, the Giants' CEO, credited Bonds with the reclamation of the franchise. Dusty Baker, Bonds' manager for 10 seasons in San Francisco, told a story of his friendship with Bonds' father, Bobby. And Jim Leyland, Bonds' manager for seven seasons in Pittsburgh, called him the best player he ever managed.
Bobby Bonilla, Kirk Rueter, Shawn Dunston and Will Clark were among his former teammates in attendance. Finally, moments before Bonds took the podium, Willie Mays, his godfather, implored the Giants to erect a statue of Bonds and for his election to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Bonds, following a 25-second countdown, then walked to the podium and delivered a passionate, emotional 17-minute speech in which he thanked his parents and the only two cities he called home during his 22 seasons in the majors.
"Pittsburgh, where it started," Bonds said. "I truly think it was meant for me to start my career in Pittsburgh. The worst thing you can do is be a hometown boy and fail. There was a lot of tradition here and pressure to live up to. If it wasn’t for the preparation I received in Pittsburgh, I don’t think I would have been ready to be successful here at home. ... Thank you, Pittsburgh. Thank you to the black and gold for all the wonderful years."
Bonds became the 10th player in Giants history to have his number retired, joining Mel Ott, Carl Hubbell, Monte Irvin, Mays, Juan Marichal, Orlando Cepeda, Gaylord Perry and Willie McCovey. They also recognize John McGraw and Christy Mathewson, who pre-date numbers.
"Let me tell you a story about 25." –Danny Glover
#Bonds25 | #SFGiants pic.twitter.com/1q6tK409Pz
— San Francisco Giants (@SFGiants) August 12, 2018
Bonds was drafted sixth overall by the Pirates in 1985 and made his big-league debut one year later, hitting 16 home runs in 113 games. He hit 176 home runs in his seven seasons in Pittsburgh and was twice named the National League MVP. The Pirates failed to reach the World Series, despite making three consecutive NLCS appearances from 1990-92, and Bonds' No. 24 isn't among the nine uniform numbers retired in the franchise's 132-year history.
"It’s so fitting that today’s opponent is the Pittsburgh Pirates," Leyland said. "Barry Bonds is also one of the greatest Pirates of all time. … Without question, he was the best player I managed in my 22 years as a major-league skipper."
Bonds thanked Leyland, calling him the "perfect" manager to begin his career, as well as former Pirates outfield coach Bill Virdon. His tenure with the Pirates ended when he signed a six-year, $43.75 million contract with the Giants, the franchise his father and godfather played for, despite the franchise nearly relocating only one year earlier.
Bonds, of course, became a transcendent talent upon returning home. His 73 home runs in 2001 broke Mark McGwire's single-season record, and he finished his career with 762.
"What’s hard about it all is it’s hard to fathom what he accomplished," the Pirates' Corey Dickerson said. "He made it look so easy at times. Like the balls he hit to center here and put his hands up. ... You never see players hit it to center or left, think it’s gone and don’t run. Not here."
"I don’t think I saw him take a handful of swings off-balanced, in all the swings he took, all the at-bats," Clint Hurdle, whose Rockies faced Bonds from 2002-07, said. "He had the best balance of any hitter I’ve seen play the game. The other remarkable thing was baseball is one of the few games you can actually eliminate a player . … That became a signature move from most managers when he was playing. Four wide and go. You could do that two, three times a night. ... He’d get one or two pitches to hit in four or five times at the plate and he’d hit a home run, at least one, or hit two balls so hard you’d just blow your mind on how this guy could see pitches and as soon as you get one in the zone it’s hammered somewhere."
One last time, #25 takes the field ???#Bonds25 | #SFGiants pic.twitter.com/vaUz2fxquP
— San Francisco Giants (@SFGiants) August 12, 2018
Bonds, still beloved in San Francisco, is credited with helping save the city's baseball franchise. Bob Lurie, the Giants' former owner, agreed to sell the franchise to a group of Tampa Bay investors after he was unable to obtain public funding for a new ballpark. They won 98 games in Bonds' first season and ground was broken on privately-financed AT&T Park four years later.
Despite his otherworldly achievements, Bonds has not been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame and is only eligible on the ballot for four more years.. Although Bonds never tested positive for steroids, he allegedly used performance-enhancing substances in 2006, according to a report by Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams of the San Francisco Chronicle.
Bonds was indicted for perjury and obstruction of justice based on his grand jury testimony on Nov. 15, 2007, and he was convicted on a single charge of obstruction nearly four years later. The conviction was overturned by a panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in 2015.
After Bonds' former teammates spoke fondly of him during the pregame ceremony, Mays, now 87, stood, walked to the podium and made a plea for Bonds to be recognized as one the sport's best.
"I want him to have that honor. ... On behalf of all the people in San Francisco and all over the country, vote this guy in," Mays said.
Like Bonds, Andrew McCutchen started his career with the Pirates, winning the NL MVP in 2013, before joining the Giants. McCutchen has spoken to Bonds at times this season, mostly about the art of hitting, and also backed his candidacy.
"I don’t make that decision. … He has the numbers to prove it, he has the numbers to be there," McCutchen said.
The Pirates' coaching staff and players stood at the railing of the first-base dugout during the ceremony, from start to finish, and clapped when Bonds belted out his final words to the crowd.
"Thank you San Francisco … Thank you for making all my dreams come true," he said.