2 former SF Giants players labeled ‘Michael Jordan-esque’

Two former SF Giants have been named Michael Jordan-esque by Bleacher Report

The SF Giants have had some truly remarkable players over the past 40 years. From their recent championship teams of the 2010s to the special teams of the 80s and 90s, the Giants have had some incredible players over the past few decades.

But perhaps no athlete will ever reach the cultural status that Michael Jordan did.

More from San Francisco Giants

• Thank you SF Giants for a fun, wild, surprising 2020 season
• SF Giants lose in heartbreaking fashion and miss 2020 MLB playoffs
• SF Giants: Mike Yastrzemski named 2020 Willie Mac Award recipient
• SF Giants: Chadwick Tromp placed on IL with shoulder strain
• SF Giants: Tuesday’s game against the Seattle Mariners postponed

And in celebration of the conclusion of “The Last Dance,” documentary on ESPN, Bleacher Report released an article listing the top nine MLB players of the past 40 years who most closely resembled Jordan.

Of course, we’re referring to his legendary basketball career — not his short-lived time in baseball.

Which SF Giants made the list?

The Giants were one of just two teams to not only have one former player on the list, but two. Those two players were longtime ace Madison Bumgarner who came in at No. 9 and iconic slugger Barry Bonds who ranked at No. 3.

Incredibly, Bumgarner was the only pitcher who made the list and was compared to Jordan for their postseason dominance.

"“Bumgarner has channeled MJ’s dominance and unflappable winning spirit on the postseason stage with a lifetime 2.11 ERA and 0.899 WHIP in 102.1 playoff innings, and he has three rings to show for it.“If you’re going to hand the ball to a guy with the season on the line, you want it to be Michael or MadBum.”"

It’s that very legendary postseason play that endeared Bumgarner to Giants fans and allowed him to cement his place in baseball lore forever.

His inclusion on the list over the likes of every other pitcher in the last 40 years may be surprising to some, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a pitcher who shares the same postseason success that Bumgarner has over his career.

And for that reason, the comparison makes sense.

Bonds, however, needs far less of an explanation. But this is what the article had to say about the MLB’s home-run king.

"“Barry Bonds will never be a beloved sports figure. His accomplishments are tainted by performance-enhancing drug suspicion, and he had a notoriously prickly relationship with the media.But when it comes to dominating his era, he was absolutely Jordan-like.”"

More from Golden Gate Sports

• Raiders: Rookie stock report following Week 3 performance
• 49ers sign new long snapper amidst a flurry of roster moves
• Oakland Athletics win Game 2 of Wild Card round with late-inning drama
• 49ers: George Kittle and Deebo Samuel cleared to return to practice
• 49ers expected to place DE Dee Ford on injured reserve

A clear distinction is made here. Jordan was beloved — Bonds will never be. But if we’re talking from a sheer statistical dominance perspective, there is perhaps no one who resembles Jordan more than Bonds himself.

Bonds captured seven National League MVPs during his legendary career which actually surpasses Jordan’s five MVPs. However, Jordan undoubtedly has the edge when it comes to championships given that Bonds never managed to win a World Series.

It’s fun to see lists like this and it’s even more fun when your team is praised. In fact, the only other team to have two players featured on the list was the New York Yankees with both Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter being ranked in the top nine.

In case you’re wondering, Ken Griffey Jr. earned the No. 1 slot.

Perhaps the Giants have their next franchise centerpiece waiting in the wings. And perhaps that player could one day be compared to Michael Jordan as well.