'If you get 200 hits a season, you're going to hit .333 and you'll still have 400 outs, I don't see why you have to run down to first base every time to make an out,' Bobby Bonds often said. In 1969, Bobby Bonds playing with the San Francisco Giants hit 32 home runs, stole 45 bases and led the National League in runs scored with 120. Bonds became the first major leaguer to hit 30 homers and steal 30 bases in one season. He performed this feat a record five times in his 14-year career. There was a general perception that Bobby Bonds lacked effort, especially in running out ground balls to first base. He was traded to the New York Yankees after the 1974 season ,and in the next nine years played for eight different teams. Bobby Bonds smashed 332 career HR's, stole 461 bases, scored over 1,200 runs, with over 1,000 RBI's in a 14-year career. Bobby Bonds' son Barry is a star left-fielder now playing for the San Francisco Giants. |