Milestone: Bonds Hits No. 500

Barry Bonds never speaks to the media before games. So why should Tuesday have been any different?

Even though he was only one swing away from becoming only the 17th member of the 500-home run club, Bonds still shooed reporters away from his private corner of the San Francisco Giant clubhouse, a personal sanctuary that features a leather recliner and accompanying television set.

“Just looking for a stress-free environment,” Bonds said as he retreated to his stall.

Nearly six hours later, though, at 9:55 p.m., the environment at Pac Bell Park was anything but placid. Not after Bonds, amid exploding camera flashes and garish orange rally rags being waved by the record 41,059 in attendance, blasted a 2-and-0 Terry Adams slider 417 feet into McCovey Cove in San Francisco Bay for his 500th homer, a game-winning two-run shot.

After jumping on home plate at the end of his eighth-inning celebratory trip around the bases, Bonds was joined on the field by family members and co-500-home run club members Willie Mays, who is also Bonds’ godfather, and Willie McCovey for a nine-minute ceremony that delayed a 3-2 Giant victory over the Dodgers.

Bonds, in the final year of his contract, was talking then.

“First of all, I’ve got to thank my parents for having me,” he told the crowd after the fireworks and water cannons died down. “And I want to thank Willie Mays for being here and Willie McCovey and most of all, thanks to all of you. I love you and I’m proud to be in a San Francisco Giant uniform.”

At 36 years, 268 days, Bonds is the 11th-youngest member of the 500-home run club. He reached the milestone in his 7,502nd at-bat, an average of one homer every 15.00 at-bats, the fifth-lowest home run-to-at-bat ratio among members of the 500-homer club.

Bonds’ blast was the ninth homer to reach the water outside the right-field wall, the seventh by Bonds. He is the only Giant to homer into McCovey Cove since Pac Bell Park opened last season.

Bonds, who has homered five times in his last five games, is a three-time National League most valuable player and is the charter and lone member of the 500-homer, 400-steal club. And with 28 more stolen bases, he establishes the 500-500 fraternity.

The Sporting News named Bonds, who signed with the Giants as a free agent on Dec. 8, 1992, the player of the 1990s, an honor that irked Ken Griffey Jr. supporters.

But not Giant Manager Dusty Baker.

“When you’ve been the best player for a long time,” Baker said, “you want to remain the best player.”

Baker began his managerial career in San Francisco the same year Bonds arrived, in 1993.

“What’s more remarkable than the home runs is the home runs and the stolen bases,” Baker said. “That’s where he sets himself apart.

“But his swing is still quick as hell.”

Despite all his accomplishments, Bonds has faltered in the postseason.

Since joining the Giants he has batted only .207 in seven division series games with no homers and three runs batted in. With the Pittsburgh Pirates, Bonds hit .191 with one homer and three RBIs in 20 playoff games.

Bonds has never played in a World Series.

But even if Bonds finishes his career ringless, Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda said Bonds can look back on his status as a member of the 500 club.

“Maybe he’ll take it for granted,” said Cepeda, who entered Cooperstown in 1999 after a 17-year career in which he hit 379 home runs. “But some day he’ll look back and see that it’s a great thing to do. It’s amazing, really, with the consistency, the durability, never getting hurt.

“People don’t let your forget.”

Bonds, who has been on the disabled list only twice, nearly hit No. 500 in the third inning, lofting a high fly ball to the warning track in left-center field. Dodger left fielder Gary Sheffield floated over, though, and caught the ball at the 382-foot sign for the third out of the inning.

Besides joining the 500-homer club, Bonds needs 84 runs batted in to reach 1,500 for his career.

While Bonds’ home run milestone may be seen as the most glamorous of marks, it is hardly the only one to be threatened this season.

Rickey Henderson, 43, who joined the San Diego Padres on Tuesday, entered the season needing 68 runs to pass Ty Cobb as the all-time leading run scorer with 2,246.

Henderson also needed three walks to pass Babe Ruth was the base-on-balls king with 2,063.

Plus, Henderson needed only 86 hits to join the 3,000-hit club. And with 30 more stolen bases, Henderson will extend his record to 1,400.

Other milestones in sight: Harold Baines needs 144 hits to reach 3,000; Mark McGwire needs 45 home runs to join the three-member 600-homer club; Sammy Sosa needs nine homers for 400; Baines needs 16 homers for 400; Juan Gonzalez needs 33 homers for 400; Andres Galarraga needs 36 homers for 400; and Roger Clemens needs 183 strikeouts to take over third place on the all-time strikeout list.

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BONDS WORTH 500

Barry Bonds hit a home run in the 8th inning Tuesday, becoming the 17th player to hit 500. A look at Bonds’ yearly statistics and where he rates all time:

THE CLUB

1. Hank Aaron: 755

2. Babe Ruth: 714

3. Willie Mays: 660

4. Frank Robinson: 586

5. Harmon Killebrew: 573

6. Reggie Jackson: 563

7. x-Mark McGwire: 555

8. Mike Schmidt: 548

9. Mickey Mantle: 536

10. Jimmie Foxx: 534

11. Willie McCovey: 521

tie. Ted Williams: 521

13. Ernie Banks: 512

tie. Eddie Mathews: 512

15. Mel Ott: 511

16. Eddie Murray: 504

17. x-Barry Bonds: 500

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FREQUENCY

At bats per home run:

1. x-Mark McGwire: 10.65

2. Babe Ruth: 11.76

3. Harmon Killebrew: 14.22

4. Ted Williams: 14.79

5. x-Barry Bonds: 15.00

6. Mickey Mantle: 15.12

7. Jimmie Foxx: 15.23

8. Mike Schmidt: 15.24

9. Willie McCovey: 15.73

10. Hank Aaron: 16.38

11. Willie Mays: 16.49

12. Eddie Mathews: 16.67

13. Frank Robinson: 17.08

14. Reggie Jackson: 17.52

15. Ernie Banks: 18.40

16. Mel Ott: 18.50

17. Eddie Murray: 22.49

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PRODUCTION

Where 500 Home Run Club members rank among career RBI leaders:

1. Hank Aaron: 2,297

2. Babe Ruth: 2,204

6. Jimmie Foxx: 1,921

7. Eddie Murray: 1,917

8. Willie Mays: 1,903

9. Mel Ott: 1,861

11. Ted Williams: 1,839

14. Frank Robinson: 1,812

17. Reggie Jackson: 1,702

19. Ernie Banks: 1,636

24. Mike Schmidt: 1,595

27. Harmon Killebrew: 1,584

31. Willie McCovey: 1,555

37. Mickey Mantle: 1,509

42. Eddie Mathews: 1,453

49. x-Barry Bonds: 1,416

59. x-Mark McGwire: 1,351

Note: Numbers for Bonds and McGwire are through Sunday’s games

x-active; through Tuesday

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Home runs by season

1986: 16

1987: 25

1988: 24

1989: 19

1990: 33

1991: 25

1992: 34

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1993: 46

1994: 37

1995: 33

1996: 42

1997: 40

1998: 37

1999: 34

2000: 49

2001: 6

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PITTSBURGH

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YR 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 AVG. .223 .261 .283 .248 .301 .292 .311 RBIs 48 59 58 58 114 116 103

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SAN FRANCISCO

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YR 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 AVG. .336 .312 .294 .308 .291 .303 .262 .306 .217 RBIs 123 81 104 129 101 122 83 106 11

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