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Bobby Bonds began his big league career with the Giants in 1968. For the next decade he was marched toward Cooperstown.

In 1969 Bonds established himself as one of the game’s bright young stars. The right fielder led the NL with 120 runs scored. He slugged 32 homers, stole 45 bases, drove in 90 runs and tallied a 131 OPS+. Bonds followed that up with a 200-hit campaign in ’70 when he slugged .504.

An All Star for the first time in ’71, Bonds smacked 32 homers with 102 RBI while scoring 110 runs. After a down year in ’72, Bonds rebounded in ’73 to come within one home run of becoming baseball’s first 40-homer/40-steal man. He led the NL in both runs scored (131) and total bases (341). Defensively he earned his second Gold Glove to give him a career-best 7.8 WAR.

Though he received his third Gold Glove in ’74, his numbers dipped across the board. Bonds’ statistical decline and problems with alcohol led to an offseason trade for the Yankees’ Bobby Murcer.

Bonds returned to All Star form in New York, recording his third 30-homer/30-steal campaign. In December, 1975 the Yankees sent him to the Angels. His second year with the Halos was one of his finest. Bonds scored 103 runs, hit 37 homers, tallied 308 total bases, drove in 115 runs, and stole 41 bags.

After his two years in Anaheim, Bonds was a veteran of 10 MLB seasons. His 50.3 WAR in his first decade of service was historically great among right fielders. Before Bonds, only five men at his position recorded a higher WAR in their first 10 years. Hank Aaron (73.9), Reggie Jackson (53.7), Paul Waner (53.3), Elmer Flick (52.3), and Mel Ott (52.2) are all in the Hall of Fame.

Despite his performance, the Angels dealt him to the White Sox. Splitting between Chicago and the Rangers in ’78, Bonds enjoyed the last of his 30/30 seasons.

In his final three big league seasons, Bonds played for the Indians, Cardinals, and Cubs before retiring in 1981. The three-time All Star and three-time Gold Glove winner finished his career as the only player with at least 300 homers and 400 steals. Today he’s joined only by his son Barry.

The elder Bonds had nine seasons with at least 25 homers, eight years with at least 80 RBI, and nine campaigns with an OPS of at least 120. Eleven times he swiped at least 25 bags, highlighted by three seasons of 40+ steals.

Though his career falls short of Cooperstown, Bobby Bonds remains one of the game’s great talents.

In the collection is this index card signed in spring training by Bobby on March 30, 1973. Bonds was about to embark on a career year. He posted career-highs in homers, slugging percentage, OPS, OPS+, runs and total bases. In the latter two categories he led the league. By the time the season ended he had a career-best 7.8 WAR.

 

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Bobby Bonds had his career year in 1973. The 27-year old outfielder came within one home run of becoming baseball’s first 40-homer/40-steal man. His 131 runs and 341 total bases led the NL; his 7.8 WAR was a career best. The Giants star earned a Gold Glove and finished third in MVP balloting.

His reward? An off-season trade.

It was a landmark deal, a one-for-one swap for the Yankees Bobby Murcer. The exchange was baseball’s first straight switch of $100,000 players. The highest-paid player in Yankee franchise history at that point, Murcer was a full-fledged star.

In ’74 each player represented their new leagues in the All Star Game. Bonds became the first man in baseball history to have a 30-homer/30-steal campaign in each league. Murcer hit .298 with a .396 on-base percentage. Before the start of ’76, the Giants made Murcer the highest-paid player in franchise history.

Shown here is a Bobby Murcer autographed Strat-O-Matic card from 1978. Bucknell University math major Hal Richman originated the Strat-O-Matic game in 1961. Advertised in Sports Illustrated and sold out of Richman’s basement, Strat-O-Matic gave its players the ability to make managerial decisions based on MLB statistics.

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Despite his immense skills as a ball player, Bobby Bonds was one of the most well-traveled players of his era.

The outfielder started out with great stability, playing his first 7 seasons in San Francisco. His final year with the Giants came in his third Gold Glove season of 1974. From there he bounced around.

After a year with the Yankees and two with the Angels, Bonds spent 1978 with the White Sox and the Rangers. Then it was on to Cleveland in ’79, St. Louis in ’80 and a final big league season with the Cubs in ’81.

In the collection is this letter dated December 19, 1977. Written on White Sox letterhead, it is authored by Chicago owner and Hall of Famer Bill Veeck two weeks after acquiring Bonds in a six-player deal. Veeck has high praise for Bonds.

“Yes, we feel very good about the acquisition of Bobby Bonds. Anytime you can get a complete player, such as he is, it gives one the feeling of a job well accomplished. We are looking forward to Bobby playing a vital role with the White Sox.”

Veeck had every reason to feel optimistic. The year before, Bonds was terrific with 37 homers, 41 stolen bases, 115 RBI and a .520 slugging percentage.

Two months after the trade Bonds caused a two-car accident and was arrested for drunk driving. His sentence was three years of probation.

Bonds’ stay in the Windy City was brief; the Sox dealt him in May after just 26 games.

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Over 200 big league players have sons who also played the game at the highest level. Bobby and Barry Bonds stand together as perhaps the greatest father/son duo the game has ever known.

They combined to his 1,094 homers, steal 975 bases, and score 3,485 runs, tops among father/son pairs. Bobby and Barry are the only two players in big league history to record at least 300 homers and 400 stolen bases. The record for most 30-homer/30-steal seasons is 5, done by just two players – Bobby and Barry.

They combined to make 17 All Star Games, and win 11 Gold Gloves. Neither man earned a World Series ring.

When Dusty Baker got his first managerial job in San Francisco, he hired old friend Bobby as a coach in 1993. It was also Barry’s first year with the Giants. They suited up together until 1996. Barry went on to break the single-season and career home run marks. Bobby passed away at age 57 in 2003.

Shown here is a Barry’s contract with the Autographed Ball Company. Signed on May 13, 1988, the deal allows the company to put Bonds’ signature on stamped autographed team baseballs. For his work Bonds received one penny per ball sold.