Analysis Bonds's Powerful Show Barry Bonds hugs Giants legend Willie Mays as Willie McCovey looks on Tuesday night after Bonds became the 17th player in major league history to hit 500 home runs. Barry Bonds hit his 500th career home run Tuesday night as the Giants topped the Dodgers, 3-2. Barry Bonds hit the 500th home run of his career late Tuesday night in San Francisco and reminded baseball again of his underappreciated gifts. Although many considered Bonds the best player of the 1990s, his star was always eclipsed somehow, whether by Cal Ripken's durability, Ken Griffey Jr.'s sheer talent or Mark McGwire's Ruthian home runs.
Bonds is the rare player who seems to get better with age.
Last season, in which he turned 36 in July, saw him set career highs with 49 homers and a .688 slugging percentage. His homer Tuesday night marked his fifth straight game with a homer, a career best. He's always had a good stroke, a nice idea of the strike zone, power to all fields. . . . It seems like 100 is the easiest, then 200, then 300 and 400. He just got 500.