Barry Bonds’ Hall of Fame chances are slim, and it’s clear that is bothering the legendary slugger.
In an interview with the “Hollywood Swingin’ ” podcast, Bonds opened up about his frustration with not being in the Hall, arguing that he didn’t break any rules, or any laws that should bar him from inclusion.
“Yeah, does it bother you? Sure. I’m human, I’m not some wall sitting up here [who] doesn’t care,” Bonds said. “Sure, it bothers you. But at the same time, I also know who I am. And the thing is that people have to understand … I was vindicated. I went to the court, I was in federal court, and I won my case, 100 percent.
“Where is the vindication of me in my own sport? That’s what bothers me.”
While Bonds was never punished by Major League Baseball for using performance enhancing drugs, the court of public opinion has found him guilty. In his 10 years of eligibility for the Hall, Bonds never came close to the 75 percent vote needed for induction. Last December he was also denied entry by the into Cooperstown by the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee. Bonds will still have another opportunity to be voted in by that committee in 2026.
Bonds was found guilty by a U.S. District Court for obstruction of justice for giving an evasive answer to a question under oath in 2011, but had an appeal overturned in 2015.
“I appealed that charge, and I won. I’m not under federal, I’m not a criminal of any kind, I’m not anything,” Bonds said on the podcast. “[My] Major League Baseball records are still there, and I try to tell everybody this … I don’t care if they want to judge athletes on performance enhancing drugs or not, it doesn’t matter. Major League Baseball, and let’s get this clearly and straight, had a rule and has rules, OK?
“Whether they were broken or not broken, there were rules, some rules. My era, there was no rules.”
Bonds makes the case that because he wasn’t punished by MLB when he played, he’s being punished by the Hall of Fame now. Whereas players who have been dinged for performance enhancers in this era, won’t be further punished by the Hall of Fame.
“Why is the Hall of Fame punishing me? It doesn’t make sense,” Bonds said.
