Love Me, Hate Me

From acclaimed sports writer and bestselling author Jeff Pearlman, a searing and insightful look into the life and career of Barry Bonds, one of the most celebrated, contradictory and controversial sports figures of our time

No player in the history of baseball has left such an indelible mark on the game as Barry Bonds. In his twenty-year career, Bonds has amassed an unprecedented 7 Most Valuable Player awards, 8 Gold Gloves, and more than 700 home runs (and counting), an impressive assortment of feats that has earned him the consideration as one of the greatest players the game has ever seen. Equally deserved, however, is his reputation as an insufferable braggart, whose mythical home runs are rivaled only by his legendary ego. From his staggering ability and fabled pedigree (father Bobby played outfield for the Giants; cousin Reggie and godfather Willie are both Hall of Famers), to his well-documented run-ins with teammates and his alleged steroid abuse, Bonds inspires a like amount of passion from both sides of the fence. For many, Bonds belongs beside Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron in baseball’s holy trinity; for others, he embodies all that is wrong with the modern athlete: aloof; arrogant; alienated.

Drawing on extensive interviews with Bonds himself, members of his family, former and current managers, teammates, opponents, trainers, outspoken critics, and unapologetic supporters alike, Pearlman reveals, for the first time, a wonderfully nuanced portrait of a prodigiously talented—and immensely flawed—American icon, whose controversial run at baseball immortality forever changed the way we look at our sports heroes.

Based on more than 500 interviews, this definitive account goes behind the headlines to explore the making of an American antihero:

• The Steroid Era Uncovered: Trace Bonds’s connection to performance-enhancing drugs and the BALCO investigation that rocked Major League Baseball.
• A Complicated Legacy: Examine the stunning statistics—7 MVPs, 8 Gold Gloves, 700+ home runs—alongside the clubhouse clashes and legendary ego that defined his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants.
• Unprecedented Access: Discover a nuanced portrait drawn from hundreds of interviews with teammates, managers, family, and even Barry Bonds himself.
• Father, Son, and Godfather: Delve into the complex relationships with his star outfielder father, Bobby Bonds, and his Hall of Fame godfather, Willie Mays.