| Barry Bonds is a famous American baseball player | | | | California in the area of the state commonly |
| that has been entangled in speculation about | | | | referred to as the Bay Area due to its proximity |
| performance enhancing steroid abuse during the | | | | to the San Francisco Bay. Barry played high school |
| latter half of his major league baseball career and | | | | baseball at Junipero Serra High School in the |
| into retirement. Long before Bonds was enthralled | | | | affluent San Francisco suburb of San Mateo, |
| in what seemed at times like endless media | | | | California. As a teenager Barry did not limit himself |
| speculation he was a promising young baseball | | | | to excelling on the baseball diamond. As a three |
| prospect from a good gene pool. | | | | sport star the naturally gifted young man |
| Barry was born on July 24, 1964 in the city of | | | | competed on the varsity baseball, football, and |
| Riverside, California which is located about an hour | | | | basketball teams. Despite the variety of his |
| east of Los Angeles. Practically from birth the | | | | athletic successes it was baseball that stood out |
| young Barry Bonds was surrounding with a | | | | as his true passion. |
| baseball influence due in large part to the stardom | | | | After spending his freshmen year of high school |
| of his father Bobby Bonds who was an | | | | on the junior varsity team at Junipero Serra High |
| accomplished all-star baseball player in his own | | | | School Bonds graduated to the varsity squad for |
| right. | | | | his sophomore, junior, and senior seasons in San |
| Even though the son would eventually eclipse the | | | | Mateo. During his senior season the baseball |
| father in terms of fame and statistical success, | | | | prodigy but up stellar numbers that included a |
| Bobby Bonds was a popular player who played | | | | miraculous.467 batting average. For his efforts as |
| for eight major league baseball teams including the | | | | a standout prep star Bonds was named a high |
| well-known New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, | | | | school All-American and by all accounts it looked |
| and St. Louis Cardinals amongst others. Most | | | | like the maturing young man with the famous |
| baseball fans who followed the sport during the | | | | father and godfather might someday be able to |
| years of 1968-1981 when Bobby Bonds played | | | | attain the baseball status that his famous relatives |
| best remember the iconic player as a three time | | | | reached. |
| all-star for the San Francisco Giants who shared | | | | Despite being selected in the second round of the |
| the outfield with legendary teammate Willie Mays. | | | | 1982 Major League Baseball (MLB) draft by the |
| Despite the fact that Bobby Bonds and Willie | | | | San Francisco Giants Barry decided to play college |
| Mays were not united until young Barry Bonds | | | | baseball for Arizona State University (ASU) after |
| was nearly four years old Willie took on the | | | | not being able to work out an amenable contract |
| responsibility of being a high profile godfather to | | | | with the Giants. In interviews later in life Barry |
| Barry. | | | | would say that he was glad that he decided to |
| Despite being born in southern California Barry | | | | attend ASU and receive his diploma in criminology |
| Bonds did most of his growing up in northern | | | | in 1986. |