Bonds Steals Membership in the Exclusive 40-40 Club

Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants joined Jose Canseco as the only players in major league history to hit 40 homers and steal 40 bases in a season when he stole second base in the third inning of the Giants’ 9-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies Friday night.

Bonds, who has 42 homers, stole his 40th base on the first pitch from Armando Reynoso, one of the NL’s most effective pitchers at holding runners close. Bonds reached second easily as Jeff Reed’s throw bounced once before reaching the bag. Bonds removed second base and was greeted by a mixture of cheers and boos.

Canseco became the first 40-40 player in 1988 when he stole 40 bases and hit 42 homers for the Oakland Athletics.

This is the fourth year in which Bonds has reached the 30-30 mark. That includes 1990, when he stole 52 bases and hit 33 homers and was named most valuable player.

Bonds’ father, Bobby, a coach with the Giants, had five 30-30 seasons--the most in the majors. He nearly hit the 40-40 mark with San Francisco in 1973 but fell one homer short.