From a pure on-field standpoint, Barry Bonds is considered the most-feared hitter in the modern history of Major League Baseball.
Beginning his career as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1986 and concluding it during a brilliant 15-year tenure with the San Francisco Giants, Bonds dominated in every possible way.
Despite this, he is still not a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame 15 years after retirement. That has now been extended after the votes for the Class of 2022 were tallied.
Fellow slugger David Ortiz was the only former player to earn his spot in Cooperstown once the final vote was announced Tuesday evening.
As for Barry Bonds, he received 66% of his vote. A total of 75% was needed in order to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
The backdrop here is alleged Steroid use on the part of Bonds and other finalists during their careers. That includes Sammy Sosa, Roger Clemens and Sammy Sosa — all of which were in their 10th and final year on the writers’ ballot.
Bonds, 57, ended his career as MLB’s all-time leader in home runs (762), walks (2,558) and intentional walks (688). During a five-year span with the Giants from 2000-04, he averaged 52 homers and 109 RBI while posting a .339 batting average. That included breaking the single-season mark with 73 homers in 2001.