Famous Baseball Family of Barry Bonds Includes Willie Mays, Reggie Jackson, and Bobby Bonds

Barry Bonds is a polarizing figure in the world ofcousin of Reggie Jackson, who is better known as
sports as he has received arguably moreMr. October in certain circles due to his clutch
attention for his off the field scandals whichperformances in post season play.
include reported steroid abuse than the historicMany people do not realize that Barry Bonds is
statistics that he has put up on the baseballnot the only son of Bobby Bonds to put on a
diamond. The family life of Barry Bonds isprofessional baseball uniform. Barry actually has a
particularly interesting to casual fans of the sportyounger brother named Bobby Bonds Junior was
of baseball because from an early age the youngspent a number of years in the minor leagues but
man that seemingly was destined for fame waswas never able to get himself called up to the big
tied to famous names in the sport of baseballleagues. Bobby Bonds Junior is nearly six years
through family relationships.younger than his older brother Barry. During an 11
Barry Bonds, born in 1964, is the son of threeyear minor league career Bobby Bonds Junior
time all-star outfields Bobby Bonds. Bobby Bondsbounced around to numerous teams and had
was an American celebrity in his own right as amoments of glory but was never able to
noteworthy player for numerous Major Leaguesuccessfully parlay his minor league efforts into
Baseball teams throughout his professional baseballany sort of Major League Baseball career with
career that spanned from 1968-1981. While playingeven a fraction of the success enjoyed by his
for teams in large markets that included Newbrother Barry or father Bobby Bonds Senior.
York City, Chicago, San Francisco, Dallas, andDespite the early promise that Barry Bonds
Southern California the most famous teammateshowed as a naturally gifted young athlete
that Bobby Bonds played alongside was thebaseball historians would have been hard pressed
legendary Willie Mays.to guess that Barry had any conceivable chance
As a right fielder in for the Giants, Bobby Bondsof surpassing the accomplishes of his relatives
patrolled the outfield next to center fielder WillieWillie Mays and Reggie Jackson, or for that
Mays during the twilight of Mays' career. Whenmatter his own father Bobby Bonds. Regardless
Bobby asked his good friend Willie Mays to be theof diverging opinions on implications of alleged
godfather to his then young son Barry Willie gladlyperformance enhancing drug use by Barry Bonds
accepted, thus further cementing the notoriety ofthere is no arguing that he was the most
this baseball family. As an aside it is also topical todominant baseball player of his era.
briefly mention that Barry Bonds is a distant