Barry Bonds: 73 Home Runs in 2001

Barry Bonds: 73 Home Runs in 2001

Barry Bonds: 73 Home Runs

Throughout his entire career, Barry Bonds was considered one of the most feared hitters in Major League Baseball history, simply because of the power he possessed when he connected with a pitch. Many times, the swing of Bonds’ bat carried the ball all the way past the outfield walls.

The 1961 regular season saw a classic home run chase between two New York Yankees teammates, Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris. Then, in 1998, a season widely credited with helping revive baseball in the United States, Mark McGwire of the St. Louis Cardinals and Sammy Sosa of the Chicago Cubs battled back and forth for the single-season home run crown. In 2001, Barry Bonds stood alone, chasing the single-season home run record of 70 that McGwire had set just three years earlier — a chase that would end with Barry Bonds hitting 73 home runs and rewriting the record books.

A Historic and Record-Breaking Season

2001 was a career-defining year for Bonds, as he batted .328 with a .515 on-base percentage, the highest on-base percentage recorded in the National League since John McGraw in 1900. Bonds also posted a career-best .863 slugging percentage, and his 1.379 OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) would be the second-best mark of his career. Because pitchers feared his power, Bonds often drew walks, both intentional and unintentional, finishing the season with 177 of them. He also collected 156 hits, 32 doubles, and 13 stolen bases, along with a career-best 137 runs batted in.

The 73 home runs Barry Bonds hit in 2001 made history, as he became the oldest player in Major League Baseball history to lead the league in home runs in a single season. He also became the oldest player to reach the 40, 50, and 60 home run milestones in a single regular season.

How Bonds Victimized Opposing Pitchers

Repeat Victims on the Mound

Bonds was also skilled at reading how pitchers approached him, studying which pitches they favored on certain counts, and he often guessed right and hit a home run off them. A few pitchers even have the distinction of giving up three home runs to Bonds in the 2001 regular season. Curt Schilling of the Arizona Diamondbacks surrendered three home runs to Bonds — on May 21 (430 feet) and on July 26 (375 and 370 feet). Jason Middlebrook of the San Diego Padres gave up three home runs to Bonds — on September 23 (411 and 365 feet) and on September 28 (440 feet). Chan Ho Park of the Los Angeles Dodgers also gave up three home runs to Bonds — on April 18 (420 feet) and on the historic night of October 5, when Bonds officially broke McGwire’s record (440 and 410 feet).

Memorable Blasts

Other noteworthy feats Bonds accomplished in 2001 include grand slam home runs against Curt Schilling on July 26 and against Ricky Bones of the Florida Marlins on August 14. Bonds also hit three-run home runs in a handful of games, including one against Jimmy Haynes of the Milwaukee Brewers on April 14 (410 feet), one against Joe Borowski of the Chicago Cubs on August 11 (396 feet), and one against Todd Belitz of the Colorado Rockies on September 9 (394 feet).

The shortest home run Bonds hit that season was a quiet 320-foot shot off Pat Rapp of the Anaheim Angels on June 12, while the longest was a booming 488-foot blast off Scott Elarton of the Colorado Rockies on September 9.

Home Run Patterns by Team, Field, and Inning

Favorite Targets Among Opposing Teams

Only a handful of teams were regularly punished by Bonds’ bat, and four of the five teams that gave up the most home runs to him all resided in the National League West. The San Diego Padres pitching staff was punished most, surrendering 11 home runs. The Colorado Rockies followed closely behind, giving up 10. The Arizona Diamondbacks allowed nine home runs to Bonds, though that didn’t stop them from going on to win the 2001 World Series. The Los Angeles Dodgers, the bitter rivals of the San Francisco Giants, gave up six home runs to Bonds, while the Atlanta Braves gave up seven, despite rarely facing the Giants that year.

Where Bonds Hit His Home Runs

Hitters are sometimes evaluated using spray charts, which show where they are most likely to hit the ball out of the park. True to his left-handed swing, Bonds hit 50 of his home runs to right field and right-center field, compared with just 12 to left field and left-center field, and 11 to straightaway center field.

When Bonds Struck During Games

Looking at which innings Bonds hit his home runs in, he did a good job of spreading out when he would strike. Bonds hit 12 home runs in both the first inning and the fourth inning. Close behind were the fifth and eighth innings, with nine home runs apiece. The third inning saw Bonds hit eight home runs, while the sixth inning saw seven. The seventh inning produced six home runs, and the second inning produced five. Bonds also hit three home runs in the ninth inning and just two in the eleventh.

Awards, Recognition, and Legacy

Bonds was voted into the 2001 MLB All-Star Game, and after the season he won the Silver Slugger Award for left field along with the honor of being named the National League Most Valuable Player. 2001 was certainly a remarkable year in the career of Barry Bonds, and regardless of what detractors claim, especially regarding steroid use, Barry Bonds’ 73 home runs stand as a testament to the extraordinary hand-eye coordination that no avid baseball fan can take away from him.