November 15, 200421 yr 11/15/2004 2:00 PM ET Bonds wins fourth straight NL MVP Giants outfielder honored for seventh time overall By Rich Draper / MLB.com In his 20th pro season, Barry Bonds led the National League with a .362 average. (Jeff Chiu/AP) SAN FRANCISCO -- Barry Bonds long ago staked his claim as one of the greatest ballplayers in history, and at times the Giants slugger seemingly can only top himself for Major League honors. He did it again on Monday, capturing his unprecedented fourth consecutive National League Most Valuable Player Award and seventh overall, records only the 40-year-old veteran can boast. Bonds received 24 of 32 first-place votes, seven second-place votes and one third-place vote. Finishing second was Adrian Beltre of Los Angeles, followed by Albert Pujols, Scott Rolen and Jim Edmonds of the National League champion St. Louis Cardinals. NL: Barry Bonds, Giants AL: To be announced, 11/16 Complete MLB Awards coverage > Bonds' numbers almost defy physics, especially when one considers he "lost" 232 at-bats by being walked that many times, almost half of them intentional. He had only 373 official plate appearances -- the second lowest total of his career -- over 147 games. In his 20th professional season, Bonds led the Senior Circuit with a .362 average and an .812 slugging percentage, blasted 45 homers, collected 102 RBIs, became the first player to ever record a plus-.600 on-base percentage (.609) and hit .394 with runners in scoring position. Bonds' stats were astounding but confounding, with the opposition rarely giving him a good pitch to hit and also shifting the infield all the way toward the right side. Still, he helped the Giants score 850 runs, second only to the Cardinals' 855. The Giants slugger literally hit the daylights out of the ball, batting .475 during day games and helping San Francisco during its strong run for the playoffs. Bonds now has 703 lifetime home runs, third on the career list, trailing Babe Ruth by 11 and all-time leader Hank Aaron by 52. Bonds' award also gives San Francisco its fifth straight MVP trophy, as Jeff Kent won the honor in 2000. The New York Yankees are the only other team to have four consecutive MVPs -- Roger Maris in 1960 and 1961, Mickey Mantle in 1962 and Elston Howard in 1963. Bonds also took National League honors in 1990 and 1992 with Pittsburgh and in 1993, his first season with the Giants. Other San Francisco winners are Kevin Mitchell (1989), Willie McCovey (1969) and Willie Mays (1965). Rich Draper is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
November 15, 200421 yr 12/2/2010 Bonds dies of steroid overdose Giants doper to have awards stripped By: Peter Gammons / ESPN SAN FRANCISCO---The greatest steroid user in sports history has died. Barry Bonds apparently suffered a massive heart attack at his San Francisco home after an apparent steroid overdose. ? ? ? ? At 47 Bonds was involved in the biggest steroid controversy since BALCO in the early 2000's. Commissioner George Bush was considering whether to strip Bonds of all his awards and records after an interview with "30 mins" 3 months ago, where Bonds revealed he used and still used steroids. What surprised doctors and scientist was how a 47 year-old doper could produce a child when his testicles have shrunken by and estimated 95%. ? ? ? ? His family is planning a small memorial service at the recently opened MLB cemetery for former dopers. He will join the likes of Sammy Sosa, Gary Sheffield, Ken Caminiti, and Billy Koch. ? ? ? ? The San Francisco Giants denied a report they would hold a memorial service. The Giants recently had a statue of Bonds torn down in front of SBC/Pac Bell/Giants/Nike/Enron Field after fans started complaining that "a loser as big as Bonds" should not be honored. The statue is to be replaced by one that guy who dresses up like President Shwarzenegger and catches home runs in Nike Presents: McCovey Cove in his boat. ? ? ? Bonds was 47. ? ? ? Peter Gammons is a reporter for ESPN.com.
November 15, 200421 yr 12/2/2010 Bonds dies of steroid overdose Giants doper to have awards stripped By: Peter Gammons / ESPN SAN FRANCISCO---The greatest steroid user in sports history has died. Barry Bonds apparently suffered a massive heart attack at his San Francisco home after an apparent steroid overdose. At 47 Bonds was involved in the biggest steroid controversy since BALCO in the early 2000's. Commissioner George Bush was considering whether to strip Bonds of all his awards and records after an interview with "30 mins" 3 months ago. What surprised doctors and scientist was how a 47 year-old doper could produce a child when his testicles have shrunken by and estimated 95%. His family is planning a small memorial service at the recently opened MLB cemetery for former dopers. He will join the likes of Sammy Sosa, Gary Sheffield, Ken Caminiti, and Billy Koch. The San Francisco Giants denied a report they would hold a memorial service. The Giants recently had a statue of Bonds torn down in front of SBC/Pac Bell/Giants/Nike/Enron Field after fans started complaining that "a loser as big as Bonds" should not be honored. The statue is to be replaced by one that guy who dresses up like President Shwarzenegger and catches home runs in Nike Presents: McCovey Cove in his boat. Bonds was 47. Peter Gammons is a reporter for ESPN.com. 614980[/snapback] Not funny. :thumbdown
November 15, 200421 yr 12/2/2010 Bonds dies of steroid overdose Giants doper to have awards stripped By: Peter Gammons / ESPN SAN FRANCISCO---The greatest steroid user in sports history has died. Barry Bonds apparently suffered a massive heart attack at his San Francisco home after an apparent steroid overdose. At 47 Bonds was involved in the biggest steroid controversy since BALCO in the early 2000's. Commissioner George Bush was considering whether to strip Bonds of all his awards and records after an interview with "30 mins" 3 months ago. What surprised doctors and scientist was how a 47 year-old doper could produce a child when his testicles have shrunken by and estimated 95%. His family is planning a small memorial service at the recently opened MLB cemetery for former dopers. He will join the likes of Sammy Sosa, Gary Sheffield, Ken Caminiti, and Billy Koch. The San Francisco Giants denied a report they would hold a memorial service. The Giants recently had a statue of Bonds torn down in front of SBC/Pac Bell/Giants/Nike/Enron Field after fans started complaining that "a loser as big as Bonds" should not be honored. The statue is to be replaced by one that guy who dresses up like President Shwarzenegger and catches home runs in Nike Presents: McCovey Cove in his boat. Bonds was 47. Peter Gammons is a reporter for ESPN.com. 614980[/snapback] Not funny. :thumbdown 614984[/snapback] Very funny. :thumbup
November 15, 200421 yr Cards finish 3-4-5 in MVP voting Pujols, Rolen, Edmonds line up behind Bonds, Beltre By Matthew Leach / MLB.com Albert Pujols finished among the top four in voting for the fourth time in his four seasons. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) ST. LOUIS -- So Barry Bonds wears a big red 'S' on his chest. That's no knock on the mortals who populate the rest of the National League. In another universe, Albert Pujols already has a couple of NL Most Valuable Player awards. In an alternate reality, Scott Rolen split his first with Jim Edmonds on Monday. Instead, the Cardinals' "MV3s" will have to settle for all finishing in the top five in this year's MVP balloting. Oh, and also for that NL pennant they wrapped up a couple of weeks ago. Pujols finished third in the final vote, the fourth time in his four big league seasons that he's finished fourth or better, with Rolen fourth and Edmonds fifth. Bonds extended his own records with his seventh MVP and fourth straight, and Los Angeles' Adrian Beltre was the runner-up. The last time three teammates finished in the top five in MVP balloting was 1993, when the Braves' David Justice, Fred McGriff and Ron Gant finished 3-4-5. The three hitters at the core of the Cards lineup helped make St. Louis the highest scoring team in the National League in 2004. With Bonds putting up another almost inconceivable season, and Beltre carrying the surprising Dodgers to the playoffs, it's hard to say that a split vote cost any of the three Cards an MVP award. But then again, it's also hard to dispute that they didn't help each other's causes. If you'd taken a vote at midseason, Rolen would have been the winner. The Gold Glove third baseman carried the St. Louis offense through May while Edmonds and Pujols struggled -- at least by their own standards. Rolen still might have been a strong candidate to finish second in the season-end voting, if not for a calf injury that cost him 2 1/2 weeks late in the season. Even with the missed games, Rolen posted a career year. He set personal bests in batting average (.314), on-base percentage (.409), slugging percentage (.598), home runs (34) and RBIs (124). He led the league in RBIs when he got hurt, but Vinny Castilla soon passed Rolen in that category. By June, Edmonds found his stroke, and from late June to late August he was the league's best player -- with a July Player of the Month trophy to show for it. Edmonds put up a final line of .301/.418/.643, with the slugging percentage marking a new career high. His 42 homers equaled his personal record, and he drove in a career-best 111 runs. And he did it all while bringing in his seventh Gold Glove. And then there's Pujols, who remains as consistently brilliant as any hitter not named Bonds. In his first season as the full-time first baseman, Pujols continued to improve as a hitter. His 46 homers were the highest total of his career, as were his 99 extra-base hits. Pujols hit .331/.415/.657, while increasing his walk total and cutting his strikeouts -- both for the third straight season. (And they finished 3-4-5 correctly IMO. Bonds and Beltre were too valuable to their team whereas the Cards had 3 valuable players. Cant argue with this)
November 15, 200421 yr Congrats to one of the all-time greats.... cut the steroid crap out already....Untill proven guilty Can you imagine this man's numbers if he wasnt walked all the time...scary
November 15, 200421 yr Congrats to one of the all-time greats.... cut the steroid crap out already....Untill proven guilty Can you imagine this man's numbers if he wasnt walked all the time...scary 614997[/snapback] Could you imagine his numbers if he hadn't doped?.....mediocre :plain
November 15, 200421 yr Congrats to one of the all-time greats.... cut the steroid crap out already....Untill proven guilty Can you imagine this man's numbers if he wasnt walked all the time...scary 614997[/snapback] Could you imagine his numbers if he hadn't doped?.....mediocre :plain 615004[/snapback] Mediocre,c'mon the guy won an MVP way before he bulked up...he's been a great player since his college days...oh and i guess steroids helps you win gold gloves also...
November 15, 200421 yr Great player but his accomplishes will always be tainted.. proven guilty or not.
November 15, 200421 yr Wow, that little steroid article brings out a new level of envy and jealousy I've never witnessed before. Congrats to the best player of all time !!
November 15, 200421 yr Player, team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th Total Bonds, S.F. 24 7 1 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 407 Beltre, L.A. 6 21 3 2 -- -- -- -- -- -- 311 Pujols, St.L. 1 1 20 5 4 1 -- -- -- -- 247 Rolen, St.L. 1 3 7 12 5 3 -- -- -- -- 226 Edmonds, St.L. -- -- -- 5 12 6 2 3 3 -- 160 Drew, Atl. -- -- -- 1 5 6 6 7 -- 2 114 Berkman, Hou. -- -- -- 2 4 6 7 1 -- 1 100 Clemens, Hou. -- -- 1 1 -- 4 3 3 2 1 61 Loretta, S.D. -- -- -- 1 -- 1 3 5 5 1 50 Ramirez, Chi. -- -- -- 1 1 -- 2 2 5 5 42 Gagne, L.A. -- -- -- -- -- 3 3 1 -- -- 30 Beltran, Hou. -- -- -- 1 -- -- 1 3 -- -- 20 Kent, Hou. -- -- -- 1 -- 1 -- 1 1 1 18 Finley, L.A. -- -- -- -- -- 1 2 -- 1 -- 15 Alou, Chi. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 3 2 2 15 Pierre, Fla. -- -- -- -- -- -- 1 -- 1 3 9 Helton, Col. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 1 1 4 9 Estrada, Atl. -- -- -- -- -- -- 1 -- 2 -- 8 Johnson, Ari. -- -- -- -- -- -- 1 -- 1 1 7 Thome, Phi. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 2 3 7 Smoltz, Atl. -- -- -- -- 1 -- -- -- -- -- 6 Cabrera, Fla. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 1 3 5 Benitez, Fla. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 1 -- -- 3 Burnitz, Col. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 1 -- -- 3 Abreu, Phi. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 1 1 3 Castilla, Col. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 1 1 3 Oswalt, Hou. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 1 1 3 Dunn, Cin. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 1 -- 2 Zambrano, Chi. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 1 -- 2 Nevin, S.D. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 1 1 Rollins, Phi. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 1 1 A statistical breakdown of the top 5: PlayerABRH2B3BHRRBISBCSBBBAOBPSLGOPSGTPA#PitP/PATBXBHHBPIBBGDPSHSFBonds3731291352734510161232.362.609.8121.42214761724243.9303759120503Beltre598104200320481217253.334.388.6291.01715665724603.737680291504Pujols592133196512461235584.331.415.6571.07215469224973.6389997122109Rolen500109157324341244372.314.409.5981.00714259324054.129970135817Edmonds4981021503834211183101.301.418.6431.06115361225874.232083512408
November 15, 200421 yr Ravech on Sportscenter said a key thing....what if you took 250 ABs away from Adrian Beltre....or Pujols? What woulkd there numbers be? Decent. Bonds already had his 250 taken away.
November 15, 200421 yr Beltre's team went to the playoffs. Bonds' didn't. Nuff said. 615092[/snapback] Beltre had a team, Bonds didnt 'Nuff said.
November 15, 200421 yr Congrats to one of the all-time greats.... cut the steroid crap out already....Untill proven guilty Can you imagine this man's numbers if he wasnt walked all the time...scary 614997[/snapback] Could you imagine his numbers if he hadn't doped?.....mediocre :plain 615004[/snapback] Steroids aren't a factor with Bonds. He didn't fall apart when rigorous testing occured, you want to throw stones at someone, aim at Giambi and Sosa, those two couldn't maintain anything when the 'roids became an issue. Bonds works out religiously, has a personal chef, trainer, massage therapist, nutritionist, and just about everything else an athelte could desire. The fact that he's still putting up numbers like this, when steroids are now being tested heavily for is mind-blowing. Besides, let us not forget that he has been tested twice; believe me, they obviously didn't turn up anything juicy because if we know that he was tested "anonymously," then some scum-bag media outlet certainly paid for a "thrown-away" test result...show me a negative test and then maybe we can talk, but he's innocent until proven guilty. And even with steroids, coordination and reflex muscles don't benefit...like a corked bat, it's an incredibly overrated form of "cheating." PS: When Bonds allegedly "roided" it wasn't even against the rules of MLB to do so, so I guess there can't even be an (*) next to his records... AND PPS: If Barry made an out EVERY SINGLE TIME he went to the plate this year, he'd still have a higher OBP than Juan Pierre just by the number of times he walked...that's an amazing statistic, Barry's legacy as the greatest player ever doesn't begin and end with his power numbers. He is, over his career, the most complete player in history, and he's showing unprecedented domincance in a sport that is considered more of a team game than an individual showing...
November 15, 200421 yr Great post, TSwift.....Finally, someone that can appreciate his accomplishments.
November 15, 200421 yr Beltre's team went to the playoffs. Bonds' didn't. Nuff said. 615092[/snapback] Beltre had a team, Bonds didnt 'Nuff said. 615119[/snapback] How valuable is a player on a team that doesn't make the playoffs? Take Barry out, they still don't make the playoffs. I think there should be a rule put in place that MVPs have to be from playoff teams.
November 15, 200421 yr Beltre's team went to the playoffs. Bonds' didn't. Nuff said. 615092[/snapback] Beltre had a team, Bonds didnt 'Nuff said. 615119[/snapback] How valuable is a player on a team that doesn't make the playoffs? Take Barry out, they still don't make the playoffs. I think there should be a rule put in place that MVPs have to be from playoff teams. 615142[/snapback] Take him out and they win maybe 30 games.
November 15, 200421 yr Beltre's team went to the playoffs. Bonds' didn't. Nuff said. 615092[/snapback] Beltre had a team, Bonds didnt 'Nuff said. 615119[/snapback] How valuable is a player on a team that doesn't make the playoffs? Take Barry out, they still don't make the playoffs. I think there should be a rule put in place that MVPs have to be from playoff teams. 615142[/snapback] So Pokey Reese is more qualified for AL MVP than Barry Bonds is for NL MVP? Nice reasoning :thumbdown
November 15, 200421 yr Take him out and they win maybe 30 games. 615147[/snapback] The goal of a team is to make the playoffs, and win a title. With Bonds, they don't make the playoffs. How valuable was he compared to Beltre, whose team did make the playoffs, this season? So Pokey Reese is more qualified for AL MVP than Barry Bonds is for NL MVP? Nice reasoning :thumbdown 615204[/snapback] I don't quite recall saying Pokey Reese is more of an MVP than Bonds is. However, Vlad Guerrero, being the Most Valuable Player on a playoff team, is more valuable than Bonds was.
November 15, 200421 yr MVP=THE BEST PLAYER ...just because a player doesnt make the playoffs doesnt mean what he did during the year is worthless....there has been a bunch of guys that won the MVP with there teams not making the playoffs and thats because they were the best...
November 15, 200421 yr MVP=THE BEST PLAYER ...just because a player doesnt make the playoffs doesnt mean what he did during the year is worthless....there has been a bunch of guys that won the MVP with there teams not making the playoffs and thats because they were the best... 615230[/snapback] MVP Stands for best player? Oops, I thought Best started with a B. I guess all these years I've been told it was Most Valuable Player was just lies.
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.