Barry Bonds Became a Free Agent in 1992 and Signed with the Giants

Barry Bonds became a free agent after the 1992 season. His original team, the Pittsburgh Pirates, had no chance of signing him because they could not come close to meeting his demand of about $43 million for six years. The Yankees offered Barry slightly more than $36 million for five years, but Barry's agent, Dennis Gilbert, insisted on a sixth year. Yankees' general manager Gene Michael offered an option for a sixth season, which Gilbert considered unacceptable. On December 8, it was announced that Barry had signed a $43 million, six year contract with the Giants.

Most Valuable Player in 1992

Barry was coming off a season in which he led the National League in on base average, slugging percentage, extra base hits, and home runs per at bat. He hit .311 with 34 home runs, 103 RBIs, and 39 stolen bases and was the Most Valuable Player for the second time in three seasons. Considered the game's best player, the Giants believed that the 28 year old Barry's best seasons were ahead of him, which proved to be true.

Barry Thought the Giants Had a Chance to Win

At his first spring training press conference as a San Francisco Giant, Barry made it clear that money was not the primary reason he left Pittsburgh. "I'm used to a winning atmosphere. I came here because I think we have a chance to win." In 1992, the Giants finished with a 72-90 record, 26 games behind division champion Atlanta, a fact that didn't seem to register with Barry, but the what happened in 1993 complicates matters.

The Giants won 103 games. As late as August 22, they led the Braves by 7 ½ games. The Giants continued to play representative baseball, but the Braves took off the way the 1951 Giants had taken off, and when it was all over, the Giants, the team that Barry thought had a chance to win, finished 1 game behind the Braves.

A Great Season as a Giant

Barry had the first of his great seasons as a Giant in 1993, hitting .336 with 46 home runs, 123 RBIs, a .458 on base average, and a .677 slugging average. Barry repeated as MVP, winning his third award in four years, which is as many as Yogi Berra, Roy Campanella, Joe DiMaggio, Jimmy Foxx, Mickey Mantle, Stan Musial, Mike Schmidt, and Alex Rodriguez won during their entire careers. All are Hall of Famers except Rodriguez, who will join the group when he has been retired for five seasons.

Having Barry Bonds as a Giant, and make no mistake, he is a giant in the history of sports, was a great asset. His $43 million, six year contract was a bargain. At the time, it made Barry the highest paid player in the game, but it was only right because it is only right for the game's best player to be the game's highest paid player.

References:

By MURRAY CHASS Special to The New York Times (1992, December 6). Giants Make Investment: $43 Million in Bonds. New York Times (1857-Current file),p. S1. Retrieved October 10, 2008, from ProQuest Historical Newspapers The New York Times (1851 - 2005) database. (Document ID: 116049467).

By MURRAY CHASS Special to The New York Times (1993, February 25). Bonds Steps Onstage for Career's Second Act. New York Times (1857-Current file),p. B9. Retrieved October 11, 2008, from ProQuest Historical Newspapers The New York Times (1851 - 2005) database. (Document ID: 116287079).