| I like to be against the odds. I'm not afraid to be | | | | major league debut. On May 30, 1986, the |
| lonely at the top. With me, it's just the | | | | Pittsburgh Pirates drafted him sixth overall in the |
| satisfaction of the game. Just performance." - | | | | 1985 amateur draft. He would play with the |
| Barry Bonds. | | | | Pirates until 1993, when he signed a lucrative free |
| Barry Lamar Bonds was born on Friday, July 24, | | | | agent contract worth $ 43.75 million with the San |
| 1964, in Riverside, California. The son of former | | | | Francisco Giants. |
| All-Star Bobby Bonds and the godson of Baseball | | | | As a leftie, Bonds bats and throws using his left |
| Hall of Famer Willie Mays, Bonds grew up | | | | hand, reminiscent of the great Babe Ruth. |
| surrounded by the sport of baseball. | | | | Currently a left fielder for San Francisco Giants, |
| Barry Bonds attended Junipero Serra High School | | | | he is the holder of many MLB records, including |
| in San Mateo, California. He played three sports: | | | | most home runs in a single season (73) and is |
| football, basketball, and of course, baseball. | | | | second on the all-time career home runs list at |
| Although he was drafted by the San Francisco | | | | 716. Only Hank Aaron's has more than that, with |
| Giants after graduating from high school, Bonds | | | | a career total of 755 home runs. Bonds has also |
| elected to go to college instead. Bonds spent his | | | | been the recipient of seven National League Most |
| college years at Arizona State University. | | | | Valuable Player awards - an unprecedented |
| At the age of 21 years old, Bonds made his | | | | number. |