As Steve Stein commented in last week’s post on Babe Ruth’s 1921 card, I still hadn’t gotten around to posting Barry Bonds’ 2001 card. I’m not sure why. It wasn’t intentional or any sleight because of substance allegations. That didn’t prevent me from featuring his 2004 card one week.
So here it is. Bonds’ HR record-breaking APBA card.
Bonds of course, hit 73 homeruns that year, best of all time. He also walked a season best 177 times. That mark of 177 is third best of all time. No one Bonds has no more as he broke his own record twice. That was the first year of the embarrassing movement by NL pitchers to start walking him an inordinate amount of times. He led the league for five straight years.
Bonds did manage hit .328 and even steal thirteen bases as well.
| Split | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 Totals | 153 | 664 | 476 | 129 | 156 | 32 | 2 | 73 | 137 | 13 | 177 | 93 | .328 | .515 | .863 |
This is indeed a Monster Card but in some ways, it’s a “weird” card as well. How many .328 hitters do not get a 7 on their card AND get just two 8s and just one 9? Without any speed numbers either? Not many, I’m sure.
Two reasons come to mind for the strangeness. One, Bonds’ power numbers are 1-1-1-0-0-0 which gives him a 55-0. No 7 there but he can be forgiven.
Two, he has an incredible nine 14s. A lot of walks go a long way to helping out the batting average. I did a quick and dirty calculation of his APBA card and he should hit around .311 with this card. A little lower than his actual .328 but his offensive value is in his power and on-base not his batting average. In my opinion, it’s close enough. If I were king of APBA, I may have given him an extra 10.
Fun numbers: 33-1, 55-0, 21-14
Bonds is even better with a runner on first. With the 53-15 and the 61-22, he has two chances for get hit by the pitch. You might have noticed that he isn’t hurt by any 24 double plays either. He has a 41-13.
Some might think this is a gift but Barry Bonds was given a OF-3 in 2001. It’s just gravy on the top.
An interesting note about Bonds’ 2001 season… despite breaking the all-time record in homeruns and doing so handily (he had nine more than second place Sammy Sosa), he was fourth in rbis. Walks don’t drive in runs, apparently.
Thanks to Pastor Rich who knows his monster cards!
This is an important card for card-making – it reveals just how many IBBs are really counted by the card-maker. (35 of those walks were intentional.)
I give Bonds 2001 a one-column 1-1-1-1-6-6 based on not counting most of his IBBs. I think the one-column variant better suits a power hitter of this stature.
“I think the one-column variant better suits a power hitter of this stature.”
Agreed.
Barry Bonds …
One of the many that ruined baseball in so many ways for me. I can’t even stomach playing or simulating seasons that had these cheaters in them.
agreed!!!
I’m curious how you come up with .311 with that card. Against a Grade d he has 9 hit in 26 rolls (36-9 walk, and the 40 at 24), and from there it goes down. There are differences in the master game, which I have forgotten. I’m not saying you are wrong, but with 9/26 against a D, it seems .311 is too high
Hey Bruce,
I read in some APBA Journal way back when that 8s and 9s were worth .8 of a hit (10s were worth .9). By that logic, Bonds’ card comes out to 8.4 hits but like you said, only 27 at-bats because of the 9 14s. That works out to about .311.
Stephen Stein will argue that times have changed and the .8 value is not quite accurate. That’s why it’s my “Quick and Dirty method” :)
http://apbablog.com/card-analysis/card-analysis-quick-and-dirty-way-to-estimate-what-a-card-will-hit
Having made the comment, it could be that the 01 pitcher cards have a large number of D pitchers compared to other seasons. The 68 has a ton of B pitchers, and the hitter cards seem better than one would think at first glance.
Worst card of all time , first stop it should’ve been a single column card ! 22 should have been a one ! 44 a 6 and 55 a 7 !!!! Walks are fine , but this card should have never been a double column card !
Worst card of all time , first stop it should’ve been a single column card ! 22 should have been a one ! 44 a 6 and 55 a 7 !!!! Walks are fine , but this card should have never been a double column card !
The 14*6 for a 45 roll seems intentional. I’ve never seen that in a card before, typo or something else? Thanks ahead of time.