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Barry Bonds is a Hall of Fame hitter, simply because Cooperstown is not based on personality and how likable a player is. The Hall of Fame is for players that were the greatest of all time. Barry Bonds, like him or not, is one of the greatest players of all time.

Bonds' Hall of Fame resume is extremely strong. Over the course of his career, he has won 7 Most Valuable Player awards, including 4 in a row from 2001-2004. He is the all-time major league leader in walks, a mark that will likely never be surpassed. He is, and has been for some time, the most feared hitter in the game. Even though Bonds is no longer the threat that he was three seasons ago, he is still walked nearly half the time he comes to the plate.

Bonds is also a 14-time National League All-Star. He has lead the National League in nearly every offensive category at least once during his 21 year career. In his younger days he was the consummate five-tool player. He stole bases, hit home runs, and played the field exceptionally well. He has won 8 Gold Glove awards during the course of his career. Age and injuries have caused many fans to forget that part of his playing days. Bonds is also the only member of the 500 home run/500 stolen base club. He is miles ahead of anyone else in this category, as no other player in history has been able to surpass 400 home runs and 400 stolen bases. This attests to Bonds' dominance.

Barry Bonds, though perhaps as despicable a person as the game of baseball has ever seen, is still a first-ballot Hall of Famer. He has been dominant in every offensive category over his career, as well as a stellar defender for the vast majority of it. Based on his numbers, there is no argument that Barry Bonds belongs in the Hall of Fame.

Learn more about this author, David Teter.
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