The Giants are planning to build a Barry Bonds statue outside Oracle Park, CEO Larry Baer confirmed on 95.7 The Game Wednesday.
“On the radar, I would say it’s on the radar,” Baer said. “Barry is deserving of a statue and I would say, should be next up. We don’t have the exact location and the exact date and the exact timing, but you’re saying things that we’re totally in-sync with.”
“You probably notice, Barry’s around a lot, more recently this year and last year as well… It’s coming. All I can say is it’s coming.”
It’s about time. Bonds put up numbers in San Francisco that might never be matched.
The Giants already honor Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Orlando Cepeda, Juan Marichal and Gaylord Perry with statues around the ballpark. Now that’s some company.
Sure, Bonds isn’t in Cooperstown because of the steroid controversy. But what he did between the white lines speaks for itself.
The numbers tell the story. Bonds clubbed 762 career home runs, including 586 during his 15 years with the Giants. In a San Francisco uniform, he hit .312/.477/.666 – which is just absurd production over a decade and a half.
That’s where he launched his 73-homer season in 2001. That’s where he became the most feared hitter in baseball for years.
Fans are already speculating about placement. The smart money’s on somewhere near McCovey Cove, which Bonds turned into his personal splash zone. Makes sense – he owns that piece of water.
Baer mentioned Bonds has been around the organization more lately, which suggests they’re laying the groundwork for this. The exact timing and location are still being worked out, but it sounds like this is happening sooner rather than later.
All things considered, it’s a no-brainer move. Whatever controversies surround Bonds, his impact on Giants baseball is undeniable.
