After over 30 years, one of the greatest of all time returns to Pittsburgh. Barry Bonds will headline the 2024 Pittsburgh Pirates Hall of Fame class.
After leaving the Pirates after their elimination in the 1992 NLCS, Bonds spent a long time away from Pittsburgh. He will return on August 24 to headline a class featuring his manager, Jim Leyland, and Manny Sanguillen.
Bonds had one of the greatest tenures in the history of the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. He was the only two-time MVP in franchise history, three-time Gold Glove award winner, two-time Silver Slugger, fifth in all-time home runs, and sixth in all-time stolen bases. It was in Pittsburgh where Barry Bonds emerged as one of the best players in all of baseball.
The Pirates had drafted Bonds out of Arizona State in 1985 and called him up in 1986. He played with the Pirates from 1986-1992, and he helped revive a franchise that had been struggling since winning the World Series in 1979. He left in free agency in 1993 but is finally being recognized for the legacy he created in Pittsburgh.
A Long Overdue Honor for Barry Bonds
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Barry Bonds is one of the most polarizing athletes in the history of American Pro Sports. He was incredibly controversial, and the debate will forever rage about whether or not he should be in the Hall of Fame. Regardless of how you feel, he’s one of the greatest players in the history of baseball, and you can’t tell the story of baseball without including him.
The Pittsburgh Pirates were in the basement of baseball when they drafted Bonds. They had just gone through the Pittsburgh Drug Trials, which embarrassed the sport, and hadn’t come close to the postseason since 1979. That all changed quickly thanks in large part to the play of Bonds and the management of Hall of Famer Jim Leyland, who also highlights this class.
While Barry Bonds might be controversially shut out from the Baseball Hall of Fame, he’s finally getting to return to the first team he played for. If you make an all-time team for the Pirates, Bonds is going to be in the starting outfield. You could also make an argument for his teammates Andy Van Slyke and Bobby Bonilla, who, along with Bonds, formed arguably the best outfield of the entire 1990s.
A lot of younger fans might forget that Bonds was even a Pirate. He was far better known amongst the majority of fans for his long tenure with the San Francisco Giants where he became the all-time home run leader. Every story has a beginning and for Bonds, it was in Pittsburgh.
A Chance to Repair a Broken Relationship
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Something that should be noted is that since leaving in 1993, Barry Bonds has had an incredibly fractured relationship both with the Pirates fanbase as well as the organization. He was disliked by the media, and the final play of his time in Pittsburgh is remembered for all the wrong reasons. He had a chance to throw out Atlanta Braves runner Sid Bream and threw an offline ball, which ended up getting the Pirates eliminated from the NLCS for a third straight season.
Barry Bonds’ exit from Pittsburgh has overshadowed what was an otherwise legendary tenure. While his legacy in San Francisco is undeniable, this is a chance to shine a light on a part of his career that has seemingly been forgotten by comparison. He was a 40 stolen bases, and 40 home runs threat in Pittsburgh before he accomplished the feat with the Giants.
Bonds will be headlining an amazing class of three. Jim Leyland was just inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame and is now being honored by the franchise that he helped revive as a manager from 1986-1996. Manny Sanguillen was one of the greatest catchers in Pirates history, playing with the team in 1967, 1969-1976, as well as 1978-1980 and winning two World Series titles.
But the class is highlighted by its most controversial figure. Barry Bonds making his return to Pittsburgh after over 30 years away will allow the Pirates and Bonds to mend their relationship. Pittsburgh Pirates fans, both young and old, can now honor one of their greatest players, and both sides can finally get closure.
About the Author
Alex is a writer at Total Apex Sports and Total Apex Gaming. He’s a loyal fan of many teams, including the Las Vegas Raiders and San Francisco Giants. You can find him on X at @alex_furtotti
