Player: Barry Bonds
Set: 1986 Fleer Update , Topps Traded and Donruss The Rookies
Card Number: 14, 11 and 20 respectively
Why is These Cards are Must Have?: Come on, you knew I couldn’t leave him off the list. What kills me about Bonds is that if you look at his stats, it’s obvious that he started juicing in either 1999 and 2000. It’s a shame because before then he had 3 MVP and 7 Silver Slugger awards, almost 500 home runs and he would have easily made it into the Hall of Fame. However he couldn’t stand not being the premiere player in baseball. Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa were the kings of the hill and I’m sure it burned him up on the inside because he knew they were juicing. Like I said he was a Hall of Famer before the juicing, so that alone should get the voters to put him in, I would never vote him in, but they should. The truth is though even before the ‘roids, he was one of the greatest hitters in baseball history. That’s why these cards are must have. I am very lucky in that I have this card in the Tiffany version and at some point I’ll crack the seal and get it graded. Bonds will never be one of my favorite players, but he was one of those guys that every at bat made you stop and watch. I would have paid to see him play in any venue. In my mind that is a clear indication that his card is in the world of must have. To top it off it was issued in post season sets, which makes it that much harder to get your hands on.
On a Scale of 1 to 10, How Must Have Are These Cards?: A 10, as the old saying goes, love him or hate him, you have to respect what he did pre – steroids. These cards are as must have as any in baseball history and need to be in your collection whether you like him or not. You can find these card for between $3 – $15 on eBay (more for graded and Topps Tiffany Traded which could run you up to $200).
Barry Bonds is the sad story of the rich trying to get richer. Greed and pride all mixed together.
I was a bonds fan when I was a kid. Very much a 10 to have in your collection, but I still hate him for what he did. Yes I really mean hate.
Isn’t it interesting that there have been many articles recently that suggest the fed’s should drop the whole thing? And the main reason given is that the public is tired of the whole thing? Another one of those sign-of-the-times.
http://barrybondstrial.blogspot.com/