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SF Giants: Bobby Bonds – the Three True Outcome prototype

By David Hill |
SAN DIEGO, CA - MAY 4, 1995: (FILE PHOTO) Coach Bobby Bonds of the San Francisco Giants gives instructions to his players during a game against the San Diego Padres at Jack Murphy Stadium May 4, 1995 in San Diego, California. The Giants won the game 5-2. Bonds, who had been suffering from a brain tumor and lung cancer, died at the age of 57 August 23, 2003. He was a three-time All-Star and the 1973 game MVP. Bonds hit 332 home runes and stole 461 bases with the Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Texas, Cleveland, St. Louis, California Angels, Giants and New York Yankees. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA - MAY 4, 1995: (FILE PHOTO) Coach Bobby Bonds of the San Francisco Giants gives instructions to his players during a game against the San Diego Padres at Jack Murphy Stadium May 4, 1995 in San Diego, California. The Giants won the game 5-2. Bonds, who had been suffering from a brain tumor and lung cancer, died at the age of 57 August 23, 2003. He was a three-time All-Star and the 1973 game MVP. Bonds hit 332 home runes and stole 461 bases with the Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Texas, Cleveland, St. Louis, California Angels, Giants and New York Yankees. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

We may be familiar with the Three True Outcome player these days, but former SF Giants outfielder Bobby Bonds was the prototype.

It is easy to think of the Three True Outcome player as a modern invention. It does, after all, encompass everything about the current era of the game, focusing on working the count and hitting homers. Walks are perfectly acceptable, and if the player strikes out, that is not a problem. A strikeout is far better than possibly grounding into a double play.

While the Three True Outcome player is prevalent these days, his begins were far earlier. Back in the 1980s, players like Rob Deer and Pete Incaviglia roamed the land, hitting tremendous home runs, drawing walks, and striking out at prodigious rates. Yet, it was former SF Giants outfielder Bobby Bonds who was the prototype for the player we all know and love these days.

If we consider the Three True Outcomes as involving a season with 30+ homers, 80+ walks, and 130+ strikeouts, Bonds was not the first player to reach those marks. That would be Harmon Killebrew, who was the first player in MLB history to reach those thresholds, doing so in 1962 and 1964.

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Bonds, along with Reggie Jackson and Jim Wynn, joined Killebrew in that group in 1969. At the end of the 2019 campaign, there had been 150 different statistical years that hit those marks. In that time, Bonds was only responsible for three of those seasons; players like Mike Schmidt, who no one thinks of in that manner, had more (Schmidt had five qualifying years).

What stands out about the elder Bonds is his career statistics. When his career numbers are extrapolated over a 162 game season, Bonds averaged 29 homers, 80 walks, and 154 strikeouts. He truly was the prototype for the Three True Outcome player, if we just look at those stats.

But that was not the full story with Bonds. He was the second player in the exclusive 300 homer, 300 steal club, joining teammate Willie Mays. Over his career, he produced a solid .268/.353/.471 batting line, hitting 302 doubles, 322 homers, and stealing 461 bases. Unfortunately, he only appeared in a total of 131 games after his age 33 season, likely leading to his receiving a high of 10.6% of the vote for the Hall of Fame.

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Former SF Giants outfielder Bobby Bonds was an excellent player in his prime. He was also the prototype for the Three True Outcome player.

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