San Francisco Giants: Bonds Not Deserving Of Franchise Four Nod
By Kevin Saito
Jul 14, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; American League outfielder Mike Trout (27) of the Los Angeles Angels slide in to score against National League catcher Buster Posey (28) of the San Francisco Giants during the fifth inning of the 2015 MLB All Star Game at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Barry Bonds‘ enduring popularity is proving to be more resilient than a cockroach. That fact was proven out yet again, with Bonds being named one of the four most important players in San Francisco Giants history. But it is an honor he absolutely does not deserve.
During the All Star festivities, Major League Baseball unveiled each team’s “Franchise Four” as voted on by the fans. The fact that an honor such as that, is voted upon by the fans, makes it about as credible as say, the fans having such a huge sway in All Star balloting to begin with – but kudos to the Kansas City Royals fans who expended so much time and effort in loading up the All Star team with so many Royals’ players.
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But when you’re talking about the most important players in franchise history, it shouldn’t come down to a popularity contest. As good as Buster Posey is – and he is pretty fantastic – is he really one of the four best players in the history of the San Francisco Giants?
Though a fairly compelling argument can perhaps be made for Posey, given his importance to San Francisco’s three title wins, there is no reason why Bonds should have such an honor bestowed upon him. Given the BALCO scandal, and the steroid cloud he will continue to exist beneath, many believe that Bonds should not have been given a place among the organization’s elite and most important players.
Unlike Posey, Bonds did not lead the Giants to a title. He put up some amazing numbers, sure. But given the steroid scandal he’s been tangled up in – along with at least one failed test for steroids back in 2000, before testing became mandatory – those numbers must all be viewed with a skeptical eye. Without the juice, Bonds’ numbers may not have been so extraordinary. But perhaps they would have. We’ll never know, and that’s the point.
The Giants are a tradition rich ballclub whose history is littered with some of the best players to ever play the game. The selection of Bonds to the Franchise Four lacks a historical perspective and ignores the players who helped make the Giants such a great organization – players who did it the right way.
Here are five players who should have been named to San Francisco’s Franchise Four well ahead of Barry Bonds.
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