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The New York Yankees did pretty well in the 1990s, but they actually could have been even better.
That’s because, according to MLB home run king Barry Bonds, he almost ended up in the Bronx.
But owner George Steinbrenner, known for his rather hasty decisions, gave Bonds an ultimatum that turned him off.
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San Francisco Giants’ Barry Bonds points to the sky as he crosses home plate after hitting a three-run homer during the first inning of the game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. (James Keivom/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images)
“George’s not here anymore, so I can tell the truth, right? I would have been with the Yankees, but Steinbrenner called and called us and told me, ‘Barry, we’ll give you the money — the highest-paid player at the time — but you have to sign the contract at 2 o’clock this afternoon,'” Bonds said on the Netflix broadcast. “And I said, ‘Excuse me?!’ And I just hung up.
“And I went to lunch and Dennis Gilbert, my agent, they said, ‘Do you know what you just did?!’ I’m like, ‘did you know what he just said?!’ I just said, ‘Forget it.’ Walking down the street to lunch, I said, ‘Let me think about this.’ The Giants called me and I said, ‘I’m going home.'”
So instead of the Bronx, Bonds headed to the Bay Area and went to the San Francisco Giants — still the highest-paid player in MLB history at the time.
San Francisco Giants Barry Bonds talks with New York Yankees Derek Jeter while on base during the game at AT&T Field in San Francisco, California. (Brad Mangin/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
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Bonds was fresh off his second MVP in three years, cementing himself as the game’s best player, all while Steinbrenner was suspended from Major League Baseball and unable to run day-to-day operations (he was still making the payroll, and his suspension was lifted the following March).
Despite Bonds heading to San Francisco, the Yankees were still able to build their dynasty as Gene Michael brought in the Core Four of Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettitte. Add Bernie Williams and Paul O’Neill to the mix, along with other moves by Bob Watson and Brian Cashman later, and you have four World Series titles in five years.
New York Yankees’ catcher Jorge Posada and San Francisco Giants’ Barry Bonds look on as Bonds’ three-run homer sails into the stands during the first inning of the game at Yankee Stadium. (James Keivom/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images)
New York might have used Bonds after the turn of the millennium, when he won four straight National League MVP awards while the Yankees were unable to bring back another title until 2009.
