Bobby Bonds 75 -- March 15, 2021

 

Giants slugger Bobby Bonds would have been 75 years old today. He was both on 15-March-1946. I remember when he played for the Giants. I was sad when he went to the Yankees in 1975. I was happy when the Giants signed his son Barry and Bobby became a coach. Bobby died too young. 

Peter Magowan, RIP -- January 28, 2019

I was sorry to hear of the death of Peter Magowan, who led the group of investors who saved the Giants when Bob Lurie tried to move them to Tampa Bay.  As managing general partner, Magowan helped sign Barry Bonds as a free agent.  Under Magowan, the Giants built the Ballpark to Be Named Later without public financing.

Matt Cain, Goodbye -- September 30, 2017

Matt Cain, the Horse, retired today after pitching his last game for the Giants.  In typical Giants fashion, he left the game leading 1-0 and the bullpen blew the save.  More run support would have been nice.  He said he was proud that he had always worn the Giants' uniform.  He joined the team in 2005 and was the last active Giant who had been a teammate of Barry Bonds. 

Barry Bonds, 756 10 Years - August 7, 2017

Ten years ago tonight, on 07-August-2007, Barry Bonds hit his 756th home run, breaking Hank Aaron's record.  Bonds was at the ballpark tonight.   Here is a rerun of my post from 07-August-2007:

Barry Bonds hit his 756th home run, to break Hank Aaron's major league record. He hit it at Pac Bell Park, off of Washington Nationals pitcher Mike Bacsik, in the fifth inning. There was a nice celebration, including a video comment from Hank Aaron. Bonds took his position in the field for the top of the sixth, then left the game.

Now I hope the Giants will go on to win the game.

Sadaharu Oh, watch out. 2,000 rbis and 3,000 hits may come first. 

I took the photo of Bonds standing in left field at Pac Bell Park on 09-June-2007, during a game against the Oakland Athletics.

Barry Bonds Strikes Out -- January 9, 2013

The Baseball Writers' Association elected no one to the Hall of Fame this year.  Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Sammy Sosa have all been the subject of controversy because of accusations about the use of performance enhancing drugs.  I saw Bonds play many times before and after he was accused of cheating.  He was Hall of Fame worthy both ways. 

Willie Mays 80 #2 -- May 7, 2011

06-May-2011 was the 80th birthday of the greatest baseball player who ever lived, Willie Mays. Last night we went to see the Giants play the Colorado Rockies and honor Willie Mays. When I left the office, I was shocked by the power of the wind. My cap blew off as I crossed Harrison. I found a huge crowd waiting in line at the front gate. I also found that the statue of Mays was wearing an orange party hat. I took this photo.

I walked around the outside of the park, waiting for the booth that sells Muni tickets to open. The line for the main gate extended across the bridge and past the McCovey statue. The line for the gate by the bridge went to the marina. The line for the Second Street gate stretched off down the Embarcadero.

I bought the tickets and had a nice chat about Pacifica with the seller. I went across the bridge and found the end of the line near the gate to the little ball field by the McCovey statue. The line wrapped around the statue, back across the bridge, and up to the front gate. My wife and daughter tried to join me as we passed the Dugout store, but a security guard rudely threw them out. I stayed in line to be sure to get one of the statues the Giants were handing out.

I went up to the Club level and looked at the exhibits. I found our seats, out in the left field corner. When the family made it in, we bought sandwiches and took them to our seats. The cold and the papers blowing around reminded us of Candlestick.

Before the game, the Giants honored Willie Mays on his birthday. Two of his teammates from the Birmingham Black Barons, Jimmy Zapp and the Reverend William Greason, were on the field, along with Hall of Famers Gaylord Perry, Orlando Cepeda, and Willie McCovey. Teammates Felipe Alou and Jimmy Davenport were also there. Lon Simmons read a letter from Monte Irvin. Jon Miller read a letter from President and Mrs Obama. Many people spoke on video, including Hank Aaron, President Bill Clinton, Barry Bonds, John Montefusco, and Bill Cosby, who led us all in a toast to his great friend Willy Brown. Willie Mays cried. I wanted to cry.

In the game, Matt Cain pitched against Ubaldo Jimenez. Cain gave up a home run in the first and two in the third. The Giants weren't hitting at all, scoring only one run through the 7th. They tied it in the 8th and won in the 9th. Brian Wilson got the win.

I felt bad, but we had to leave after the 8th. We took an N car to Powell, and drove home from Fifth and Mission.

Today is National Train Day.

Giants 2007, RIP -- October 1, 2007

The 2007 season is over, or will be when the tie-breaker between San Diego and Colorado finishes. It is now tied in the 12th. I always get depressed when the regular season ends, but the Giants' midget-sized performance will make things worse. Thank Heaven they won their last game, against the Dodgers.

The Giants finished last. They managed brief spurts of playing well, but could never put together a consistent string of wins. It was good to see Benjie Molina and Tim Lincecum play well. I felt bad for Ray Durham during a couple of long bad streaks.

The Giants hosted the All Star Game. Barry Bonds won the career home run title. Barry Bonds is gone. Omar Vizquel and Pedro Feliz may be gone.

Pitchers and catchers will report in mid-February.

I took the photo of the Willie Mays statue on 21-September-2007.

Goodbye, Barry -- September 26, 2007

Barry Bonds played his last game as a San Francisco Giant, against the San Diego Padres. He won't play against the Dodgers in LA this weekend. He went 0-for-3 and left in the 7th. He nearly hit it out in his last at-bat.

Barry was right about the guy who bought the 756 home run ball. He is an idiot. He is going to brand it with an asterisk.

I took the photo on 21-September-2007. Later that day, the Giants announced that Barry will not be back.

The Giants are losing this game.

Willie Mac Award and Other News - September 21, 2007

I went for a walk by Pac Bell Park, or whatever it is called this week, at lunch time. I wanted to take a photo of the Willie McCovey statue because today was the day the Giants were going to annouce the 2007 Willie Mac award and I wanted to write about it.

I was hoping Bengie Molina would win, and he did. He has been a great boost to the team and I am happy he is under contract for two more seasons.

As I passed the ballpark going each way, I noticed a lot of people going into the offices. I held the door open for a guy with a big box in his arms. I wonder if the activity had anything to do with the announcement later in the afternoon that Barry Bonds will not return to the Giants next year.

I am very happy that we had Barry Bonds with us for 15 years. I remember his father Bobby when he played for the Giants. I was sad when Barry signed with the Pirates.

I remember when we thought the Giants were leaving for Florida. Then the new owners came in and signed Bonds. Things got better after that.

Barry Bonds is the best player I have ever seen in person, except for Willy Mays.

I'm sorry to say it, but I think it's time that the Giants move on and try to build a new team. Barry is not much of a fielder any more, and he hasn't been in the lineup enough to make a difference this year.

I took the photo today. As I walked back across the Third Street Bridge, I wondered where they were going to put the Barry Bonds statue, and what action it will depict.

Barry Bonds, 756 - August 7, 2007

Barry Bonds hit his 756th home run, to break Hank Aaron's major league record. He hit it at Pac Bell Park, off of Washington Nationals pitcher Mike Bacsik, in the fifth inning. There was a nice celebration, including a video comment from Hank Aaron. Bonds took his position in the field for the top of the sixth, then left the game.

Now I hope the Giants will go on to win the game.

Sadaharu Oh, watch out. 2,000 rbis and 3,000 hits may come first. 

I took the photo of Bonds standing in left field at Pac Bell Park on 09-June-2007, during a game against the Oakland Athletics.

Barry Bonds, 755 - August 4, 2007

Barry Bonds hit his 755th home run, to tie Hank Aaron's major league record. He hit it to left field in the new ballpark in San Diego, which is a tough place to hit a home run.

After he passes Aaron, next up is Sadaharu Oh's professional baseball record, 868. It may not happen. I guess he'll try for 3,000 hits first.

I don't know if he uses or used steroids or not. I know that baseball players have done many things over the years to get an edge, from drinking a lot of coffee to taking amphetamines, to throwing spitballs, shine balls, and burr balls, to holding onto the belt of the runner at third while the umpire wasn't watching.

I do know that steroids won't let someone who can't hit a baseball well hit a baseball well.