Darryl Strawberry of the New York Mets throws out Barry Bonds of the Pittsburgh Pirates at home plate—a moment frozen in time. That was not just an out; it was two different eras and abilities coming together against each other. However, now the same RF who sent him back to the dugout is singing praises for him.
Strawberry’s perspective reveals something profound about Barry Bonds’ rise from a young Pirates outfielder to becoming baseball’s most dominant player. What Strawberry saw during those games was more than just the usual rookie potential. He saw a man carrying unseen weight and being driven by reasons that the baseball world didn’t understand.
Recently, on the ALL THE SMOKE podcast, Strawberry talked about the Bonds play and his journey. He began with when he first saw him at the plate. “Barry is the greatest player I ever ever seen. I saw Barry when he first came up with the Pirates. Never seen anybody like that. I was like, Wow, who’s this guy, A little skinny kid they got in Pittsburgh. He turns a ninety-five mile Parol fastball, Doc Gooding around, hitted out of the ballpark. I said, ‘Man, he’s special.’ Then I saw him play. I was like, there’s nobody, nobody like that.”
He continued, “I don’t care how many players have played this game. There’s never been a player like Barry Bonds. Never. Boy could do everything good and he’ll let you know it, which was great.” And then reveals why he was like that.
Strawberry shared, “It was like that because they treated his father bad and his father was a great player, and he never got the credit for, you know, the kind of player he was. See what a lot of times, what people don’t understand this. Black players never get the credit for how good they really are and what they do because, you know, the media always want to make it out of well, well, well you should. You make it look so easy. This is not easy what you’re doing. I mean, this is hard what we’re doing, you know, out there on the ball field and trying to be a complete player. And that’s what Bobby Bonds was, and that’s what Barry Bonds was. Barry took right after his father, being a complete playe,r playing the game of baseball. I have never seen nobody ever that good.”
Bobby Bonds had a career that was nothing short of amazing. He hit 332 home runs, stole 461 bases, and drove in 1,024 runs over 14 seasons, all while keeping a .268 batting average. He won the Gold Glove three times and was an All-Star three times. The senior Bonds was also the first player to have five 30–30 seasons, becoming the model for the power-speed combination in MLB.
And his son was no less.
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Barry Bonds’ career was nothing short of historic. He hit 762 home runs (the most in MLB history), walked 2,558 times, and stole 514 bases. He is the first player in baseball history to have 500 or more home runs and 500+ steals. Barry Bonds was named the National League MVP seven times, made the All-Star team 14 times, and won eight Gold Gloves for his defense. His lifetime hitting average was .298, and his ability to dominate both power and plate discipline made him a legend that few others can match.
Those numbers speak volumes, and Strawberry has witnessed him play. So, when asked who the GOAT in baseball is for him, he said without a second thought, “Barry Bonds.”
AndBarry Bonds being the GOAT is not just limited to the plate.
Barry Bonds earns Lifetime Achievement from the Pump Foundation
The Harold & Carole Pump Foundation gave Barry Bonds the Lifetime Achievement Award during a star-studded ceremony in Los Angeles. The event raised more than $2.8 million for cancer care and research, marking its 25th anniversary. This gala connected Bonds’ athletic legacy with his work off the field, showing how sports and service can come together in important ways.
In the event, Barry Bonds was cheered for his career and for helping cancer care. And after getting the award, he thanked her mother for always supporting him throughout his career. Bonds said, “She never asked for anything. We all got trophies, we all got awards, and my mom never wanted to be in the front seat. So this trophy, mom, has your name on it and the only person in our family that’s been a Lifetime Achievement person is you.”
The Foundation linked his public image to a deeper purpose by highlighting his long history of excellence, leadership, and dedication to improving the lives of people with cancer. Bonds is now part of an elite club who have won this accolade. Like Pete Rose and Derek Jeter.
The importance goes beyond that. The Pump Foundation has also honored personalities from various sports and entertainment fields, demonstrating how this award recognizes leadership and community contributions across all sectors.
The list of Lifetime Achievement winners also includes legends like Wayne Gretzky, Aaron Donald, and Spike Lee. Many of the winners over the years have come from diverse sports backgrounds, including Mike Tyson, Sugar Ray Leonard, and Shaquille O’Neal. This demonstrates that the award extends beyond specific games and recognizes a broad range of influence.
The Pump Foundation honors Barry Bonds by stating that greatness is more than being a good athlete; it’s about using your platform to help others, make a difference, and leave a lasting legacy.