*rockstar54*
Nov 15th, 2004, 02:38 PM
Bonds wins seventh MVP award
Giants slugger is oldest to grab honor; no one else has more than three
John Shea, Chronicle Staff Writer
Monday, November 15, 2004
Giants slugger Barry Bonds, despite his advanced age (40) and hefty walks total (232), won his seventh National League MVP award and fourth in a row. The voting results were announced Monday, and Bonds was an easy winner, though not unanimous.
He received 24 of 32 first-place votes – two writers from each NL city got a vote – while three other players received first-place votes. Los Angeles' Adrian Beltre had six, and St. Louis teammates Albert Pujols and Scott Rolen had one apiece.
"Anytime you win an award, it's an honor and privilege. It's a lot of hard work," Bonds said from his home in Beverly Hills. "I don't know if one's better than the other. They're all overwhelming. You sometimes get lost for words. It's nice. I'm happy. My wife and mom are happy. That's what's most important."
Bonds' numbers were staggering.
Aside from his record total of walks – he also drew a record 120 intentional walks – Bonds hit .362 with 45 homers, 101 RBIs, a .610 on-base percentage and an .812 slugging percentage, He also became the third player to reach 700 homers, finishing with 703.
For winning, he earned a $500,000 bonus.
"Every year, I have different challenges," Bonds said. "This year I got walked more than I ever did in my career. I never thought I could win an awards being walked. I didn't think that was possible. Keeping up with these athletes, you think your chances are minuscule."
Bonds spoke publicly for the first time since The Chronicle reported that his weight trainer, Greg Anderson, claimed in a secretly recorded conversation that the outfielder used an "undetectable" performance-enhancing drug during the 2003 season.
"I've been dealing with adversity my entire life. I don't really get concerned about what you guys write. I tell my friends who say, 'Does that bother you?' What for? They do their jobs. They keep the (readers') interest. My dad said, 'If they're talking about you, you must be doing something (right).' I let you guys do your job, and I stay out of it. But these things are hurtful to my family and hurtful to my children. ... I kind of walk right through it."
No other player has more than three MVP awards, and no other player won more than two in a row. The NHL's Wayne Gretzy won nine MVPs.
What's next for Bonds?
"I need to win a World Series. I really want my ball team to do that. I don't have many swings in me."
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2004/11/15/BONDS15.TMP
Giants slugger is oldest to grab honor; no one else has more than three
John Shea, Chronicle Staff Writer
Monday, November 15, 2004
Giants slugger Barry Bonds, despite his advanced age (40) and hefty walks total (232), won his seventh National League MVP award and fourth in a row. The voting results were announced Monday, and Bonds was an easy winner, though not unanimous.
He received 24 of 32 first-place votes – two writers from each NL city got a vote – while three other players received first-place votes. Los Angeles' Adrian Beltre had six, and St. Louis teammates Albert Pujols and Scott Rolen had one apiece.
"Anytime you win an award, it's an honor and privilege. It's a lot of hard work," Bonds said from his home in Beverly Hills. "I don't know if one's better than the other. They're all overwhelming. You sometimes get lost for words. It's nice. I'm happy. My wife and mom are happy. That's what's most important."
Bonds' numbers were staggering.
Aside from his record total of walks – he also drew a record 120 intentional walks – Bonds hit .362 with 45 homers, 101 RBIs, a .610 on-base percentage and an .812 slugging percentage, He also became the third player to reach 700 homers, finishing with 703.
For winning, he earned a $500,000 bonus.
"Every year, I have different challenges," Bonds said. "This year I got walked more than I ever did in my career. I never thought I could win an awards being walked. I didn't think that was possible. Keeping up with these athletes, you think your chances are minuscule."
Bonds spoke publicly for the first time since The Chronicle reported that his weight trainer, Greg Anderson, claimed in a secretly recorded conversation that the outfielder used an "undetectable" performance-enhancing drug during the 2003 season.
"I've been dealing with adversity my entire life. I don't really get concerned about what you guys write. I tell my friends who say, 'Does that bother you?' What for? They do their jobs. They keep the (readers') interest. My dad said, 'If they're talking about you, you must be doing something (right).' I let you guys do your job, and I stay out of it. But these things are hurtful to my family and hurtful to my children. ... I kind of walk right through it."
No other player has more than three MVP awards, and no other player won more than two in a row. The NHL's Wayne Gretzy won nine MVPs.
What's next for Bonds?
"I need to win a World Series. I really want my ball team to do that. I don't have many swings in me."
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2004/11/15/BONDS15.TMP