Barry Bonds: ‘God knows I’m a Hall of Famer’
New Miami Marlins hitting coach Barry Bonds discussed his Hall of Fame chances during his introductory news conference on Saturday at Marlins Park.
Bonds is part of Major League Baseball in an official capacity for the first time since his playing days ended nine years ago. And naturally, given the depth and breadth of the steroid allegations against him, Cooperstown became a subject right away. He was asked about his chances of making the Hall of Fame, and expressed his stance.
“I don't really have an opinion about it,” Bonds told reporters. “I know that I'm a Hall of Fame player. I don't really need to get into that. I'll leave that to you guys to make that determination. That's not my fraternity. But in my fraternity, in Major League Baseball, there's not one player that can sit there and say that I'm not one. There's not a coach that's ever coached me that says I'm not one.
“Until you guys decide to make that final decision then that final decision will be made on your terms. But in my heart and soul, and God knows I'm a Hall of Famer.”
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Bonds came up nearly 31 percent of the necessary vote needed for induction in the most recent round of Hall voting by the Baseball Writers Association of America. The former Giants and Pirates star is Major League Baseball’s career leader in home runs (752), walks (2,558) and intentional walks (688) and holds the single-season home run record (73).
