Home Barry Bonds Barry Bonds says George Steinbrenner ultimatum prevented move to New York Yankees after 1992 season

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Barry Bonds says George Steinbrenner ultimatum prevented move to New York Yankees after 1992 season

Barry Bonds, Major League Baseball's all-time home run leader with 762, stated that he nearly signed with the New York Yankees as a free agent following the 1992 season but turned down an ultimatum from owner George Steinbrenner.[1][2]

In a Netflix documentary on the San Francisco Giants titled "Back to the Bay," Bonds recounted a phone conversation in which Steinbrenner offered to make him the highest-paid player in MLB history but demanded he sign the contract by 2 p.m. that afternoon. Bonds said he ended the call, considered it briefly, then chose to join the Giants instead.[1][2]

Bonds had won the National League Most Valuable Player award in 1992 with the Pittsburgh Pirates, his second such honor in three years after 1990. The Pirates lost the World Series that year to the Atlanta Braves in seven games.[3]

On December 8, 1992, Bonds signed a six-year contract with the Giants worth $43.75 million, the largest in baseball history at the time.[3]

Steinbrenner was under suspension from baseball operations from November 1990 until March 1993, imposed by then-Commissioner Fay Vincent over illegal payments to a gambler seeking to reduce a prison sentence.[4]

The Yankees won World Series titles in 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2000 during their 1990s dynasty, anchored by the "Core Four" of Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettitte.[3]

Bonds won four straight NL MVP awards from 2001 to 2004 with the Giants.[3]