Disgraced MLB legend Barry Bonds once made his case for Cooperstown by citing support from 'god'

In February 2016, former San Francisco Giants star Barry Bonds made his case for Cooperstown by citing support from 'god.'

Barry made his MLB debut in 1986 with the Pirates. After playing in Pittsburgh from 1986 to 1992, he signed a lucrative contract with the Giants. The seven-time NL MVP is recognized as a prolific home run hitter. Nonetheless, despite his outstanding record, Bonds had a contentious career, most notably for his role in the baseball drug controversy.

Consequently, he failed to get inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame during his 10 years of eligibility with 75% of the vote.

Bonds, though, considers himself to be a Hall of Famer in his own right.

“God knows I’m a Hall of Famer. I know that I’m a Hall of Fame player. I don’t really need to get into that. I’ll leave that to you guys to make that determination. That’s not my fraternity," said Bonds defending his Cooperstown credentials by citing the divine.

He added how not one player/coach can deny his HOF eligibility:

“But in my fraternity, in Major League Baseball, there’s not one player that ever could sit there and say that I’m not one. There’s not a coach who ever coached me that says I’m not one.”

"BREAKING: Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens passed over for Baseball Hall of Fame by Cooperstown committee that elects only Fred McGriff." - AP Sports

Barry Bonds' HOF vote percentages from 2013 through 2022 were:

• 36.2%
• 34.7%
• 36.8%
• 44.3%
• 53.8%
• 56.4%
• 59.1%
• 60.7%
• 61.8%
• 66%

In his 10th year, he received the highest number of votes.

Barry Bonds was not elected to the Hall of Fame by Contemporary Era Committee

Leftfielder Barry Bonds #25 of the San Francisco Giants poses for a photo on March 16, 2004, in Scottsdale Stadium in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by: Andy Hayt/Getty Images)

Despite ineligibility on the ballot, SF Giants icon Barry Bonds received a second chance at getting into HOF through the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee.

The 16-member committee takes into account retired players who were no longer eligible for the vote but nonetheless made significant contributions to baseball between 1986 and 2016. The election took place in December 2022. Bonds garnered fewer than four votes. Twelve out of 16 votes were required for the HOF induction.

"Barry not elected to Hall of Fame by Contemporary Era committee." - KNBR

It's possible for a player to be nominated more than once for an era committee ballot, so this definitely wasn't Bonds' final opportunity.

Bonds won't be inducted into the Hall of Fame until at least 2026. In 2024, the committee will take into account MLB managers, executives and umpires. And, in 2025, players who first entered the MLB before 1980 will be taken into consideration.