Barry Bonds

Barry Bonds (b. July 24, 1964, Riverside, California) is a professional baseball player who holds the single season home run record, having hit 73 in 2001 (breaking the record of 70, set by Mark McGwire in 1998). The same year Bonds also set the single season base on balls record with 177 (breaking the previous record of 170, set by Babe Ruth in 1923), and in slugging percentage with .863 (breaking the mark of .847 set by Ruth in 1920), and tying the National League record for most extra base hits in a season (107, also accomplished by Chuck Klein in 1930).

Bonds began his Major League career in 1986 with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He joined the San Francisco Giants in 1993.

Bonds was voted the National League's Most Valuable Player four times, in 1990, 1992, 1993 and 2001. No other player has won the award more than three times. He was second in the voting for that award in 2000 to teammate Jeff Kent. He is 7th on the all-time home run list, with 566. He is 7th in all-time slugging percentage. He has also stolen 488 bases in his career, making him only the second major-league ballplayer to hit over 500 home runs and steal over 400 bases (the other being -- see below -- Willie Mays).

Bonds has won eight Gold Glove awards as an outfielder, which is the third most ever for that position.

His father, Bobby Bonds, was also a professional baseball player. Baseball Hall of Famer Willie Mays is his godfather. Another Baseball Hall of Famer, Reggie Jackson, is his cousin.