Barry Bonds's Success and Achievements in Timeline

A success timeline featuring the most significant achievements of Barry Bonds.

Barry Bonds, a former MLB left fielder, played 22 seasons for the Pittsburgh Pirates (1986-1992) and the San Francisco Giants (1993-2007). Widely regarded as one of baseball's greatest, his career is marked by exceptional achievements but also controversy. Bonds holds MLB records for career home runs (762), single-season home runs (73, in 2001), and career walks (2,558). Allegations of performance-enhancing drug use have significantly impacted his legacy and Hall of Fame consideration.

Sections (7)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

1931: Inception of MVP Award

The Most Valuable Player (MVP) award was first given in 1931.

1943: Josh Gibson's Slugging Percentage

In 2001, Barry Bonds slugging percentage (.863) was the fifth-highest in MLB history, and the highest since Josh Gibson's .868 in 1943.

1969: McCovey's Intentional Walks Record

In 1969, Willie McCovey set a Major League record with 45 intentional walks, which was later surpassed by Barry Bonds in 2002.

1979: Stargell Wins MVP

In 1979, Willie Stargell, at 39 years, 8 months, was National League co-MVP with Keith Hernandez, setting a record as the oldest player to win the award. Barry Bonds would later break this record in 2004.

July 1985: Named Player of the Month

In July 1985, Barry Bonds was named Player of the Month for the Carolina League while playing for the Prince William Pirates.

1985: College Baseball Season at ASU

In 1985, Barry Bonds hit 23 home runs with 66 RBI and a .368 batting average at Arizona State University, earning a Sporting News All-American selection.

1986: Graduates from Arizona State University

In 1986, Barry Bonds graduated from Arizona State University with a degree in criminology and was named ASU On Deck Circle Most Valuable Player.

1990: Wins First MVP Award

In 1990, Barry Bonds won his first MVP Award, hitting .301 with 33 home runs and 114 RBI, also winning his first Gold Glove and Silver Slugger Awards and helping the Pirates to their first postseason berth since 1979.

1991: Another Gold Glove and Silver Slugger Award

In 1991, Barry Bonds batted .292 with 25 homers and 116 runs, earning another Gold Glove and Silver Slugger.

1993: Second Consecutive MVP Award

In 1993, Barry Bonds hit .336, leading the NL with 46 home runs and 123 RBI, en route to his second consecutive MVP award, and third overall.

1996: Bonds joins the 40-40 club

In 1996, Barry Bonds became one of only six baseball players to be in the 40–40 club. He hit 42 home runs and stole 40 bases in the same season.

1996: Named to All-Time College World Series Team

In 1996, Barry Bonds was named to the All-Time College World Series Team.

May 28, 1998: Intentional Walk with Bases Loaded

On May 28, 1998, with two outs in the ninth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Barry Bonds became only the fifth player in baseball history to be given an intentional walk with the bases loaded.

1998: McGwire Sets Home Run Record

In 1998, Mark McGwire set the single-season home run record with 70 home runs in 162 games. Barry Bonds would later tie and break this record in 2001.

1999: Bonds Omitted from All-Century Team

In 1999, Barry Bonds was not selected for Major League Baseball's All-Century Team, while Ken Griffey Jr. was elected. At the time, Bonds was considered the most unappreciated superstar of his generation.

1999: Returns to Action

In 1999, after returning to action on June 9, Barry Bonds still managed to slug 34 home runs, drive in 83 runs as well as hit for a .617 slugging percentage, despite missing nearly two full months with injuries and only playing in 102 games.

1999: Ranked on The Sporting News' List

In 1999, with statistics through 1997 being considered, Barry Bonds ranked Number 34 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players, making him the highest-ranking active player.

2000: Bonds Achieves Career Bests

In 2000, Barry Bonds achieved career bests, up to that point, in slugging percentage (.688) and home runs (49) while playing 143 games. He also led the league with 117 walks.

2001: Bonds Breaks Records

In 2001, Barry Bonds achieved unprecedented offensive levels, breaking both personal and major league records. He hit 28 home runs in the Giants' first 50 games, including 17 in May. On April 17, 2001, he hit his 500th home run against Terry Adams of the Los Angeles Dodgers. By the All-Star break, he had hit 39 home runs (a major league record), drew a major league record 177 walks, and had a .515 on-base average. His slugging percentage (.863) was the fifth-highest in MLB history.

2001: Sets Single Season Home Run Record

In 2001, Barry Bonds set the record for the most home runs in a single MLB season with 73.

2002: Bonds in the 2002 World Series

In 2002, Barry Bonds batted .322 with eight home runs, 16 RBI, and 27 walks in the postseason. The Giants, however, lost the World Series in seven games to the Anaheim Angels.

2003: Bonds Joins 500/500 Club

In 2003, Barry Bonds became the only member of the career 500 home run/500 stolen base club. On June 23, 2003, he stole second base off pitcher Éric Gagné against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He scored the game-winning run later that inning.

2004: Bonds's Best Season

In 2004, Barry Bonds had a remarkable season, hitting .362 and winning his second National League batting title. He broke his own record by walking 232 times. He passed Willie Mays on the career home run list with his 661st on April 13. Bonds hit his 700th on September 17. He also won his fourth consecutive and seventh overall MVP award. On July 4, he tied and passed Rickey Henderson's career bases on balls record.

2005: Bonds ranked 6th by Sporting News

In 2005, Barry Bonds was ranked 6th in The Sporting News list of baseball's all-time greatest players, behind Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, and Hank Aaron.

2005: Bonds Returns After Injury

In 2005, after enduring a knee injury, multiple surgeries, and rehabilitation, Barry Bonds was activated on September 12, 2005, and started in left field for the San Francisco Giants. Upon his return, he hit home runs in four consecutive games from September 18 to 21.

2006: Bonds's 713th Home Run

In 2006, Barry Bonds was the highest-paid player in baseball, earning $172 million during his then 21-year career. On May 7, Bonds hit his 713th career home run, moving him within one of Babe Ruth's second-place record, against Jon Lieber of the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.

2006: Bonds Ties Ruth's Record

On May 20, 2006, Barry Bonds hit his 714th career home run against Brad Halsey of the Oakland Athletics, tying Babe Ruth for second place on the all-time home run list.

2006: Bonds Surpasses Aaron in NL

On September 23, 2006, Barry Bonds surpassed Hank Aaron for the National League career home run record, hitting a solo home run off Chris Capuano of the Brewers. In 2006, Bonds also recorded his lowest slugging percentage since 1991.

September 26, 2007: Bonds' career statistics at time of retirement

As of September 26, 2007, at the time of his retirement, Barry Bonds led all active players in RBI (1,996), on-base percentage (.444), runs (2,227), games (2,986), extra-base hits (1,440), at-bats per home run (12.92), and total bases (5,976).

2007: Bonds' 2007 Season Stats

In 2007, Barry Bonds concluded the season with a .276 batting average, 28 home runs, and 66 RBI in 126 games and 340 at-bats. At age 43, he led both leagues in walks with 132.

April 22, 2015: Conviction overturned

On April 22, 2015, an 11-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit voted 10-1 that Barry Bonds' testimony was not obstruction, overturning his conviction.

2015: Exonerated on Appeal

In 2015, Barry Bonds was exonerated on appeal after having been convicted of obstruction of justice.

July 8, 2017: Bonds added to Giants Wall of Fame

On July 8, 2017, Barry Bonds was added to the San Francisco Giants Wall of Fame.

February 6, 2018: Giants announce retirement of Bonds' number

On February 6, 2018, the San Francisco Giants announced their intentions to retire Barry Bonds' number 25 jersey.

August 11, 2018: Giants retire Bonds' number

On August 11, 2018, the San Francisco Giants retired Barry Bonds' number 25 jersey.

December 2022: Bonds fails to get Hall of Fame Committee vote

In December 2022, Barry Bonds remained eligible for the Hall of Fame through the Today's Game Committee vote, but received fewer than four of the twelve votes required for induction, and therefore did not get inducted.

2022: Last year of Hall of Fame eligibility

In 2022, Barry Bonds appeared on 260 of 394 ballots in his last year of eligibility for the National Baseball Hall of Fame, falling short of the 75% needed for induction with 66% of the vote.