San Francisco Giants: 15 Greatest Moments at AT&T Park

3. Barry Bonds breaks the All-Time Home Run Record

Love him or hate him, Bonds was the most fascinating and exciting player of his generation. It seemed as he was in a different league from everyone, which is saying a lot since he played during the height of the “Steriod Era.” His milestone home runs were all anxiously awaited from Giants fans and critics alike, but none more than the home run of home runs.

Breaking Hank Aaron‘s record of 755 career home runs was seen as impossible requiring longevity and extreme consistency. Furthermore, AT&T Park is seen primarily as a pitcher’s park as the wind off the shores of McCovey Cove are known to frustrate hitters. But Bonds’ immense power and high baseball IQ put him in a class of his own.

In Bonds fashion, he challenged the deepest part of the yard for the home run, and it cleared the fence with ease, much to Giants color commentator, Mike Krukow‘s amazement.

The national media was all over the home run chase as all of Bonds’ at-bats were shown live on all sports channels, and even CNN covered the story. There was a fascination with Bonds, and the division of opinions regarding the slugger made for excellent ratings. While many see this moment as “tainted” due to Bonds’ alleged steroid use, it will never be forgotten in San Francisco, and one must remember that Bonds did play in an era full of PED users.

What was witnessed on this night was baseball history, a moment that we may not see for maybe 30 or 40 years until a new slugger can challenge what Bonds did.

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