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CNN Live Saturday

Remembering Bobb Bonds

Aired August 23, 2003 - 14:32   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


RENAY SAN MIGUEL, CNN ANCHOR: Now onto some other breaking news, this from the world of sports; we have learned Bobby Bonds, former major league baseball player and father of San Francisco Giant Barry Bonds has died.
Bobby Bonds was 57 years old. Joining us now to talk more about this is CNN Sports Matt Morrison. And Matt, you know, there's a generation of baseball fans out there that know only too well about Barry Bonds but maybe needed to be reminded about what Bobby Bonds accomplished.

MATT MORRISON, CNN SPORTS: Bobby Bonds was an awesome baseball player and he will forever be living a little bit in the shadow of the great player he played next to, which was Willie Mays. But Bobby Bonds an all-star player in his own right. A terrific baseball man. Spend 14 seasons in the big leagues, was a three-time all-star, a three time gold glove champ.

So you can see where his son Barry Bonds gets the genetics to do what he was done. Not only was he the most accomplished ball player in the all-star outfield he played in, he was even the most accomplished ball player in his home after Barry Bonds surpassed most of his career mark. But you can't put aside what Bobby Bonds did in a terrific 14 year career.

He passed away at the age of 57 in a Bay area hospital after spending most of the last 2 years battling lung cancer, a brain tumor. He had pneumonia earlier this year and has been fighting hard for the last several months. In fact, Bobby was in the stadium Pac Bell Park Wednesday night to see the Giants victory over the Atlanta Braves.

And Barry Bonds recently missed four games on the East Coast to be home with his father while he was battling in the hospital. The Giants lost all four of those games when they returned to the West Coast. And Barry Bonds has been back in the lineup. They have been on a four-game winning streak. Two of those victories included 10th inning home runs by Barry Bonds and his father was there to see the victory on Wednesday night.

Again, Bobby Bonds, passed away at the age of 57 after a long battle with lung cancer. And again, he's never going to get the credit for the type of ball player that he was, because he played next to Willie Mays and he fathered Barry Bonds.

SAN MIGUEL: And you mentioned the fact that he played with Willie Mays. But if it weren't for Willie Mays and Bobby Bonds nobody would be talking about the 30-30 club. MORRISON: Exactly. Willie Mays the first Nation League player to reach 30 steals, 30 home runs in a single season. Bobby Bonds the second player to do that in the National League. The only two players with 5 30-30 seasons are Bobby Bonds and his son Barry, so he takes that with him.

A player who never stopped giving. Returned to the Giants organization where he has served as a special assistant for the last 6 years. He was also a hitting coach for the club when his son Barry signed with San Fransisco, his hometown team in 1993. Giving a lot to the community. A guy who will be remembered by the players as a terrific father figure, not just to the best player on the team, but to everyone in the clubhouse.

SAN MIGUEL: A lot of folks are going over the stats now. We should mention that he also won three Golden Glove Awards. Not bad as an outfiedler.

MORRISON: Very good outfielder. Was the MVP of the 1973 all- star game. Hit over 300 career home runs, over 400 career steals. This guy is in the record books, and for good reason. And again, he's going to go to his grave known as the father of the best ball player of all time, but he's up there in the top 5 percent.

SAN MIGUEL: Thanks for helping us remember his achievements. We appreciat it. CNN's Matt Morrison, thanks so much.

Back with more news on CNN LIVE SATURDAY. Keep it here.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired August 23, 2003 - 14:32   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RENAY SAN MIGUEL, CNN ANCHOR: Now onto some other breaking news, this from the world of sports; we have learned Bobby Bonds, former major league baseball player and father of San Francisco Giant Barry Bonds has died.
Bobby Bonds was 57 years old. Joining us now to talk more about this is CNN Sports Matt Morrison. And Matt, you know, there's a generation of baseball fans out there that know only too well about Barry Bonds but maybe needed to be reminded about what Bobby Bonds accomplished.

MATT MORRISON, CNN SPORTS: Bobby Bonds was an awesome baseball player and he will forever be living a little bit in the shadow of the great player he played next to, which was Willie Mays. But Bobby Bonds an all-star player in his own right. A terrific baseball man. Spend 14 seasons in the big leagues, was a three-time all-star, a three time gold glove champ.

So you can see where his son Barry Bonds gets the genetics to do what he was done. Not only was he the most accomplished ball player in the all-star outfield he played in, he was even the most accomplished ball player in his home after Barry Bonds surpassed most of his career mark. But you can't put aside what Bobby Bonds did in a terrific 14 year career.

He passed away at the age of 57 in a Bay area hospital after spending most of the last 2 years battling lung cancer, a brain tumor. He had pneumonia earlier this year and has been fighting hard for the last several months. In fact, Bobby was in the stadium Pac Bell Park Wednesday night to see the Giants victory over the Atlanta Braves.

And Barry Bonds recently missed four games on the East Coast to be home with his father while he was battling in the hospital. The Giants lost all four of those games when they returned to the West Coast. And Barry Bonds has been back in the lineup. They have been on a four-game winning streak. Two of those victories included 10th inning home runs by Barry Bonds and his father was there to see the victory on Wednesday night.

Again, Bobby Bonds, passed away at the age of 57 after a long battle with lung cancer. And again, he's never going to get the credit for the type of ball player that he was, because he played next to Willie Mays and he fathered Barry Bonds.

SAN MIGUEL: And you mentioned the fact that he played with Willie Mays. But if it weren't for Willie Mays and Bobby Bonds nobody would be talking about the 30-30 club. MORRISON: Exactly. Willie Mays the first Nation League player to reach 30 steals, 30 home runs in a single season. Bobby Bonds the second player to do that in the National League. The only two players with 5 30-30 seasons are Bobby Bonds and his son Barry, so he takes that with him.

A player who never stopped giving. Returned to the Giants organization where he has served as a special assistant for the last 6 years. He was also a hitting coach for the club when his son Barry signed with San Fransisco, his hometown team in 1993. Giving a lot to the community. A guy who will be remembered by the players as a terrific father figure, not just to the best player on the team, but to everyone in the clubhouse.

SAN MIGUEL: A lot of folks are going over the stats now. We should mention that he also won three Golden Glove Awards. Not bad as an outfiedler.

MORRISON: Very good outfielder. Was the MVP of the 1973 all- star game. Hit over 300 career home runs, over 400 career steals. This guy is in the record books, and for good reason. And again, he's going to go to his grave known as the father of the best ball player of all time, but he's up there in the top 5 percent.

SAN MIGUEL: Thanks for helping us remember his achievements. We appreciat it. CNN's Matt Morrison, thanks so much.

Back with more news on CNN LIVE SATURDAY. Keep it here.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com