SHOWDOWN HALL OF FAME: Barry Bonds

Barry Bonds is the greatest hitter of all-time, at least by Showdown standards. In fact, it was Bonds' ridiculous 2001 campaign that caused the original Showdown cards to adjust their formula, as his extreme OBP and 73 HRs broke the formulas. Luckily, here at Greatest MLB Showdown, we are unwilling to bend our methods! So, get ready for the greatest of Barry's seasons in the original card format. For you Pirates fans, no worries-- we've got his early 90s MVP seasons included here as well (including the season that Terry Pendleton robbed him). Yes, I realize there's a real possibility Bonds used steroids to enhance his game, which clearly takes a big leap from his early 90s MVP days to his early 00s MVP season. Here at The Greatest MLB Showdown Project though, we aren't in the business of judging or excluding players, just recording respective Showdown cards of historical legends. So, feel free to ban him from your leagues or let him play and watch some fireworks unfold from his (metaphorical) bat!

Without further ado, an ode to a player who's still waiting for his Hall of Fame induction, but is the FIRST player inducted to the MLB Showdown Hall of Fame.


1990: Bonds won his first MVP in 1990, with perhaps his weakest MVP card. Which is saying a lot, as Bonds is essentially 2013-14 Mike Trout in 1990. With speed, high on-base, and plenty of extra base pop, Bonds is a surefire first-round talent for any MLB Showdown league... and yet pales in comparison to the great years he would produce.

1991: Ok, ok, so Barry technically did not win the MVP this season. However, it is nearly indisputable that he should have. He led the NL in OBP, and had more HRs, RBIs, runs, and SBs than "MVP" Terry Pendleton. His power numbers dropped in 1991, but with a higher OB and still plenty of speed, it is hard to dislike what Barry did for Pittsburgh in 1991. Unfortunately, Pendleton and the Atlanta Braves knocked off Bonds in the NLCS.

1992: Bonds best season in Pittsburgh was also, unfortunately, his last. He had career highs in HRs, runs, slugging, OPS, OBP and BBs while leading the NL in OBP for the second straight season. Stealing nearly 40 bases again, Bonds added another speed A season and collected his third straight gold glove. This fantastic season was just the jumping off point for Bonds, who'd enjoy even more success after leaving Pittsburgh for San Francisco.

1993: Winning his third MVP in four seasons (should have been four straight), Bonds had another career season. With a surge in HRs (twelve more than ever before), and had a season rewriting his best OBP, RBIs, runs, hits, doubles, and batting average in a single season. His card is a great emperical representation of his clear improvement, improving his HRs and doubles. For only 50 more points, this MVP is a winning selection.

2001: The most famous season that Bonds had is also his best one, and gave him his first MVP award in nearly a decade. His chart is almost unfathomable, as blasting HRs in so few ABs produced some MONSTER home run totals. Sure, he's worth over 20% of a single team's budget, and maybe it won't be worth it as any manager that dares to pitch to this Bonds is dealing with fire. However, with speed A, an extreme OB, and getting on at 3... Bonds could easily bat lead off or clean up to make intentionally walking him a much less tempting proposition. Obviously he'd hit more empty base blasts (potentially), but the value in getting ANY opportunities to hit with him is exponentially better than incentivizing intentional walks. Easily the best Showdown card I have made thus far, and I doubt there will be a better season.

2002: While nowhere near as powerful as his 2001 campaign, the 2002 Bonds is still an incredible force to be reckoned with. Still retaining his speed A, this Bonds finally reached a World Series! The 2002 Giants came so close to getting this megastar a ring, only to fall short against the Angels and their rally monkeys. Bonds play in that World Series (.471 BA with a ludicrous .700 OBP, with 4 of his 8 hits being home runs) should have silenced his "chokes in the playoffs" critics, but alas, the lack of a ring is evidence enough for them.

2003: It's pretty incredible that this card seems like a major letdown. Yes, he "only" homers at 17. However, this card still gives speed A, still walks at 3, and if it introduced on its own into the 2016 set, would be the best available card by a large margin (sorry Mike Trout). Honestly, the consistent excellence brought on by Bonds (perhaps through enhancements) during this four year MVP stretch is unparalleled from a Showdown standpoint.

2004: The final MVP season out of this MLB Showdown superstar, Barry had another transcendent season. Better than his 2003 season, this Bonds gets on at 2, even with the OB 12, and hits bombs at 16 still. Forget three true outcome hitters, 2004 Barry Bonds is the epitome of TWO true outcomes- walking or homering. Either way, plug him into a lineup and everyone improves. Amazingly, he put together this card as a 40 year old. It's a real shame Bonds was forced out of the game earlier than his production dictated, as this amazing card just demonstrates how fantastic his production was even in his later years (aka better than any single season card in recent years).