MLB history: The eclectic 300-300 club

Bobby Bonds

Bobby Bonds and Willie Mays were close, to the point where Bonds asked Mays to be the godfather to one of his children. That closeness extended to their all around games.

The senior Bonds was not the player that Mays was, but that is hardly a knock against his career. He was one of the prototypes of the Three True Outcomes player – hitting home runs and drawing walks, but also striking out at rates that were hardly seen before that time.

Unlike Mays, it was easier for Bonds to get the 300 steals needed. He stole that base on June 19, 1976 in the first game of a double header. Bonds victimized Darrell Porter in the first inning, taking second after drawing a two out walk. Porter would later get his revenge, throwing Bonds out when he tried to steal second in the top of the third.

The homers were a little harder to come by, but he belted that 300th home run on May 2, 1979. Again, the Brewers factored into Bonds’ historic moment, as he took Moose Haas deep to lead off the second inning, providing the only run in the Indians 6-1 loss. At 33 years old, Bonds appeared to have plenty of time to add to his resume, but his career suddenly fell off after his 1979 campaign.

Bobby Bonds seemed to be on his way to an incredible career when it all suddenly fell apart. He still made history, as the second player in the 300-300 club.