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Power plus speed Bobby Bonds: March 15, 1946—August 23, 2003: former slugger was premier leadoff hitter during his era and became first player to have a 30-homer/30-steal season in both leagues - Biography

Baseball Digest, Nov, 2003 by Nick Peters

BOBBY BONDS, WHO OFTEN played like a Hall of Famer during a well-traveled baseball career and formed the greatest father-son duo in major league history with Barry, lost his battle with cancer last August 23.

Bonds, 57, died following a year of major health issues, including lung cancer, kidney and brain tumors and open-heart surgery. Barry Bonds, who took a bereavement leave from the Giants to be with his father, was at his father's bedside when he died.

"Bobby was afraid to go to sleep at night because he thought he might not wake up," former teammate, friend, golf partner and fellow San Carlos resident Jim Davenport said when Bobby Bonds' health took a turn for the worse last summer.

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Bobby Bonds, frail and confined to a wheelchair, watched his son play for the final time last August. Seated in privacy next to the Pacific Bell Park press box, he watched Barry Bonds' first two at-bats and then went home, aware his days were numbered.

"He really started going downhill the last few weeks," recalled Davenport, who visited his friend daily and was told by Bobby Bonds that the game Wednesday likely would be his last. "It was hard to see him that way.

"Sometimes he was too weak to talk, and he'd doze off. He was on oxygen to help him breathe, and they started giving him morphine, so it was a matter of time. Not too long ago, the doctors told him he had three weeks to a month to live.

"He told me that in a couple of weeks, he'd be playing golf with Hank Saner," Davenport said, referring to the late Giants slugger.

Dusty Baker, a boyhood friend in their native Riverside, California also knew the end was near. Bonds was named the Giants' batting coach during Baker's rookie season as manager in 1993. Baker sensed the inevitable during a phone conversation.

"It was very emotional for me," Baker said. "I've known Bobby since I was born. His room would watch me when my mom went to work. Bobby was a little older, and he always treated me great.

"I'd play ball with the older kids in Riverside, and Bobby would make sure I wasn't bullied. He's probably the best athlete I've ever known. He could have been anything he wanted to be, a football or basketball star, an Olympian.

"He put up a tremendous fight. That's what makes it so emotional for me--to see a guy so strong lose it so fast. It's really tough."

Before Bonds enjoyed his stellar major league career, he was an outstanding amateur athlete at Riverside Poly High School. As a senior, he was the state long-jump champion at 25 feet, three inches, and ran the 100-yard dash in 9.5 seconds and the 220 in 21.0. As an all-star tailback, he led his league in rushing and passing. The Southern California Prep Athlete of the Year also was recruited by Long Beach City College coach Jerry Tarkanian to play basketball.

But baseball was Bonds' calling, and he turned down more money from the Los Angeles Dodgers and Minnesota Twins to sign with the Giants in 1965.

"Willie (Mays) was my hero," Bobby said years ago. "I used to tell my friends that someday I'd play in the same outfield with him. I really believed it, and that's why I signed with the Giants."

After tearing up Triple-A pitching with a .370 average for Phoenix in 1968, the 22-year-old Bonds had his chance. He made his debut at Dodger Stadium on June 25 that year.

Batting seventh, Bonds went to the plate with the bases loaded in the sixth inning and delivered a home run off a John Purdin fastball. The first grand slam by a player in his debut since 1898 helped the Giants post a 9-0 victory.

"(Manager) Herman Franks put me in right field, and I was excited to be breaking in near my hometown," Bonds said. "The grand slam was my only hit. That first hit, you always remember the pitcher and the pitch.

"It certainly was a highlight of my career. I started playing regularly right away. Jesus Alou was there, and they still had Ollie Brown, but I didn't feel that I had to win the job. They called me up to play, and I didn't feel I had to beat out anybody."

Nor was he intimidated by the "next Mays" label. He idolized Mays and even wore No. 24 in the minors, so he was flattered by the comparison. However, he felt it was unrealistic to expect him to be like Mays, who is Barry's godfather.

"I always thought of it as a compliment when they would mention his name and mine together," Bobby Bonds said. "But you can't carry on for Mays. People like Willie don't come along every day. He's done his thing. You've got to go out and do yours."

By 1970, Bonds was the premier leadoff batter in the National League, setting a franchise record with 134 runs, hitting 26 home runs and attaining career highs with 200 hits, 36 doubles, 10 triples and a .302 average.

Considering he struck out 189 times, then a major league record, it was an incredible season. Subtracting the strikeouts from his at-bats, Bonds was 200-for-474 when he made contact, a gaudy .422 average. But the strikeouts, along with playing for several teams, attached a stigma to his solid career.

Power plus speed Bobby Bonds: March 15, 1946—August 23, 2003: former slugger was premier leadoff hitter during his era and became first player to have a 30-homer/30-steal season in both leagues - Biography

Baseball Digest, Nov, 2003 by Nick Peters

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