In 2001, Bonds shattered the single season mark for home runs by hitting 73. He is the only player ever to hit at least 500 home runs and steal 500 bases. There is no one in  the 400/400 club. He has 8 gold glove awards, and 6 MVPs. Since 2002, Bonds has hit a home run in one out of every 3.5 San Francisco Giants games. His last three seasons have been the best 3-year span ever with the highest slugging average, on base percentage, the most intentional walks, and the most home runs. And he is doing it all in one of the most difficult ballparks in the National League to hit in--especially for left-handed hitters--SBC Park. Bonds does more damage in more pressure situations than anyone, and he does it seeing fewer pitches to hit--fewer fastballs down the middle. No one has carried a mediocre team to such prominence like Bonds has.
    The best argument against Bonds is found in Babe Ruth. He is the career slugging average leader, and his batting average is much higher than Bonds'. Ruth was more than an outfielder, he was also a very good pitcher with more shutouts than the greatest pitchers of today like Pedro Martinez. Ruth also played in the dead-ball era while Bonds is playing in one of the three most prolific offensive eras in the game. The trouble with comparing Ruth to Bonds is that Ruth played in an all-white league. He did not face the best pitchers of his time, who were playing in the Negro leagues. For many of the people playing baseball at this time, it was a second job, or primarily recreation. Players of today train their entire lives and dedicate every waking moment to honing their skills. Ruth simply did not play the same game at the same level of competition.

    Barry Bonds is the greatest player in the history of baseball. At a time in his career when he is under the most scrutiny, when he is under the microscope on and off of the field, he is playing just as well as anyone ever. Sportscenter ran a bio on him for about 5 days after he hit home run numbers 660 and 661, and he remains unfazed by the special attention he gets, or by the accusations of steroid use.
    As of Thursday, April 22, Bonds was leading the majors in home runs (9), on base percentage (.672, second place is .525), slugging percentage (1.342, second is .867), and thus OPS (on base + slugging 2.015, second is 1.391), walks (20),and batting average (.500). Slugging average is a measurement of the average number of bases a player gets for every at bat. So if a player has two at bats and hits one double and a groundout, his slugging average would be 1.000.
    Barry Bonds is slugging an unheard of 1.342, which means the opposing pitcher would be better off walking him and giving him only 1 base than allowing him to hit for his average which is greater than one. Bonds has been walked 20 times in 58 plate appearances this season, which means more than one out of every three times steps into the batters box he gets a free pass to first base. No player has ever instilled more fear than Bonds.
    In an era of baseball where the players are bigger, stronger, and faster than they have ever been, Barry Bonds is lapping the field. The .475 difference in slugging between Barry Bonds and second place Adam Dunn is larger than the difference between Dunn and 70th place Ryan Klesko. The .147 difference in on base percentage between Bonds and Dunn is larger than the difference between Dunn and 43rd place J.D. Drew.

by N. S. C. Wonder