Barry Bonds is finally getting his Hall of Fame call.
No, the seven-time MVP isn’t going into Cooperstown, but the Pittsburgh Pirates announced Tuesday that Bonds will join Jim Leyland and Manny Sanguillen in their 2024 Hall of Fame class.
“As an organization, we are proud to add three significant members to the Pittsburgh Pirates Hall of Fame,” Pirates chairman Bob Nutting said in a release. “Included in this year’s class is a two-time MVP award winner in Barry, a two-time Manager of the Year award winner in Jim and a two-time World Series champion with the Pirates in Manny.”
Bonds played in Pittsburgh from 1986 to 1992 after the Pirates selected him sixth overall in the 1985 draft.
He went on to become the only two-time MVP in franchise history and a two-time All-Star with the Pirates. He also ranks fifth all-time in Pittsburgh history in home runs and sixth in stolen bases.
MLB’s all-time home run king, Bonds played seven seasons and 1,010 games as a Pirate. In that time, he racked up a .275/.380/.503 slash line with 176 home runs, 556 RBI and 251 stolen bases. He led the league in OPS in 1990, 1991 and 1992.
In addition to his prowess at the plate during his time in Pittsburgh, Bonds was a great defender, collecting three Gold Gloves in left field.
“That’s where my career started, right?” Bonds said in a video released by the team. “That’s who drafted me. Couldn’t have had a better manager, better team, a better starting point for me. It was perfect.
“We built a bond that there’s no way it’s ever going to be broken. I’ll tell my kids that your dad’s gotten into the Pirates Hall of Fame. This is just a great moment.”
Bonds appeared in the post-season three times while with Pittsburgh, helping the team to the NLCS in 1990, 1991 and 1992. While the Pirates lost all three series, Bonds collected 13 hits, 14 walks, one home run and six stolen bases over 20 playoff games.
Leyland, who will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame this summer, spent 11 seasons as the Pirates manager. He posted an 851-863 record over his tenure with the club.
Sanguillen won the World Series with the Pirates in 1971 and 1979. He played with the club for 12 seasons, earning three All-Star Game appearances as a catcher.
The Pirates will honour all three of their Hall of Fame inductees on Aug. 24 when they host the Cincinnati Reds.
