Bonds Eats Up History

The morning after Barry Bonds joined an exclusive home run club, he wandered through the San Francisco Giants’ clubhouse carrying a large wicker basket.

“You guys want some pot stickers?” Bonds asked, lifting the lid to reveal the Chinese appetizers.

Bonds’ 600th homer put him in the company of Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth and Willie Mays as the only major leaguers to reach the mark.

The fans blanketed Bonds with cheers on Friday night and Saturday, when Bonds stayed in the Giants’ lineup to contribute to their playoff chase despite a torn hamstring that prevents him from sprinting.

“We all need to play,” Bonds said. “We’re down to the part of the season where it’s gut-wrenching time.... I don’t worry about the history right now.”

The atmosphere from Bonds’ latest magical night hadn’t evaporated Saturday at Pacific Bell Park--and neither had his penchant for making history.

Bonds broke Willie McCovey’s major league record for intentional walks in a season, drawing three in an 8-3 victory over Pittsburgh to give him 46 for the year. McCovey had 45 in 1969 with the Giants.

“I see myself in 50 years talking about this--talking about Barry, and what I saw,” said Shawon Dunston, Bonds’ teammate and friend.

“People just don’t appreciate him. You need to appreciate him. This is old-time baseball. This is Babe Ruth, Willie Mays and Hank Aaron, Mickey Mantle, Frank Robinson, Joe DiMaggio. He deserves to be honored like them.”

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The Pirates’ lineup card from Friday night’s game was stolen from Giant Manager Dusty Baker’s office.

Baker planned to present the card and his own lineup card to Bonds, but when Baker got to work Saturday, the Pirates’ card was missing from the folder in which he had stored it.

“I hate a thief,” Baker said. “There are too many keys around here. I shouldn’t have to lock up everything in my office.”