MLB Twitter reacts to resurfaced video of Mark McGwire picking up Barry Bonds at 1990 All-Star Game
A snippet of Barry Bonds being lifted by Mark McGwire over his head during the 1990 Major League Baseball All-Star game resurfaced on Twitter recently. This sent baseball fans into a frenzy, joking and speculating about whether this was when his PED use began.
Bonds was captured joking around with the Oakland A's duo of Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco when McGwire tackled Bobby and hoisted him onto his shoulders.
"You boys are too big for me!" Barry exclaimed at the end of the video.
The moment Barry Bonds knew he had to take steroids https://t.co/6ZPyMHA5oq
"The moment Barry Bonds knew he had to take steroids" - Baseball Doesn't Exist, Twitter
Bonds and McGwire have shared a great relationship over the years and had some fantastic battles in the past too. Bonds confirmed the same when McGwire returned to baseball as the St. Louis Cardinals' hitting coach and for his PED admission.
"I have a really good friendship with Mark McGwire. I'm proud of him," Bonds said. "We've had a great relationship throughout our entire lives and throughout our career. I'm proud of what he did. I'm happy for him."
Bonds and McGwire have another similarity that they share. Both consumed performance-enhancing drugs during their playing careers. For this very reason, fans erupted once the video resurfaced, claiming that this episode could be what caused Bonds to take PEDs:
@BaseballDoesnt That's when Barry started taking steroids too!
Another commended McGwire for handling Barry the way he did, saying he would do the same to his "little bitty friends."
Lol that’s how I handle all my little bitty friends. twitter.com/BaseballDoesnt…
@BaseballDoesnt https://t.co/Y5iuFkkAE9
@BaseballDoesnt Bonds never had to worry about steroid shrinking testicles as McGuire gave him a serious nutcracker.
@BaseballDoesnt The real reason in the year that 'saved' MLB. https://t.co/GuSq8UGvMC
@BaseballDoesnt Ken Burns in his 10th inning doc seems to make note that Barry didn’t like the McGwire Sosa race of 98 leaving him behind which I seem to agree with
@BaseballDoesnt Prime Barroid was unreal. Was must see every at bat. Now someone post the vid where he flips the script and picks up Torii Hunter like he’s a toddler
@BaseballDoesnt McGwire looking for Bonds. https://t.co/m9c7SAyJKv
@BaseballDoesnt When Barry says at the end...
"You Boys are too big for me" 👀
@BaseballDoesnt Nah.. that would totally kill the idea that he was a HOFer before .
I’ll stay with the belief that he started using in 99 or 00
Barry Bonds's won't make it to the Hall of Fame
Barry Bonds was undoubtedly one of the most gifted, yet controversial sportsmen of his time. He held many records in baseball that others only dreamt of, while on the other hand, his career was marred by his steroid use.
His PED saga has denied him a seat in the prestigious MLB Hall of Fame, making it one of the most glaring omissions in modern-day baseball.
Barry Bonds has not been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in his last year of eligibility. https://t.co/TakFJx7LIg
"Barry Bonds has not been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in his last year of eligibility." - The Sporting News, Twitter
Bonds nearly made it into the Hall of Fame last year, receiving 66% of the vote with the threshold at 75%. Unfortunately, that was his final year on the ballot. Modern voters were more forgiving, but it just wasn't enough.