Dusty Baker, Giants manager
"He's getting more and more ready, especially when you see him hit the ball to left field this early," Baker said after Bonds hit his sixth and seventh homers of the spring March 22nd against the Cubs. "When he hits the ball to his pull field, that's one thing. When you see him hit one to the opposite field, that's big," he elaborated to the San Francisco Chronicle.
"Most times, when you talk about an intelligent player, you're talking about a guy who doesn't play too good. Here's a guy who I equate to Michael Jordan or Mario Lemieux,'' Baker confessed to the Houston Chronicle.
"You can't ever wonder what he'll give you on the field. He plays all out, no matter what else is going on," the manager explained to the Denver Rocky Mountain News.
"Barry has his moods. Who doesn't? His are just usually under a microscope," Baker stressed to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
"As long as Barry continues to love the game, he'll be great. I believe as most guys get older, it's not the body, it's if you continue to love the game the same. I do believe he loves the game."

Former Pittsburgh teammate Jay Bell
He's not going to get out of his game plan, and he's going to hit the ball hard. You don't want to mess around," Bell said to the Arizona Republic during 2000 Spring Training.

Bobby Bonds, Barry's father
"I know exactly what my son's gone through, because I went through the same damn thing myself. They said I was supposed to be the next Willie Mays. When they told me that, it was an honor. You're talking about the guy I consider the greatest player to ever wear shoes. I probably had more success than anyone they ever put the Mays label on. You show me another guy who's going to go 30-30 five times. I sure hadn't met him until my son did it. But all the writers kept talking about was my 'potential'...'You haven't reached your potential,' they would say. Well, unless you (writers) win a Pulitzer Prize, you haven't reached your potential, either!"
"Whenever we talk on the phone, Barry knows I've been there. I've stood 60 feet, 6 inches, from Bob Gibson and Don Drysdale. There's no situation that comes up for Barry that I haven't gone through myself."

Angel Figueroa, a longtime Pirates scout
"He was very aggressive and took advantage of his running speed. He got on base and stole at will. He was a guy who you were always waiting for him to jump out and bite you and do exciting things and give you goose bumps," the scout added in comments appearing in a Bonds biography published by Chelsea House and written by Carrie Muskat.

ASU teammate Mike Devereaux
"Barry did things that were amazing. He would hit a ball with topspin over the fence that would be incredible. A ball that would usually drop in front of the outfielder, but instead his went over the fences," Devereaux explained in comments appearing in a Bonds biography published by Chelsea House and written by Carrie Muskatt.

Ed Farmer
"Barry was a young guy trying to get to the big leagues," said Farmer, who pitched on Barry's class AAA Hawaii club in the Pacific Coast League. "The difference was, you knew this guy was going to make it. He had talent," Farmer insisted in comments appearing in a Bonds biography written by Carrie Muskat.

Tommy Sandt, who managed the Hawaii Islanders in 1986
"It was like 'Wow, this is a big league player.' Put him in the lineup every day, that's all I had to do," Sandt admitted in a Bonds biography published by Chelsea House and written by Carrie Muskat.

ASU coach Jim Brock
"Barry Bonds is clearly the most talented athlete I have had the pleasure to coach. We all knew he would do well in professional baseball, but how could anyone dream that his accomplishments would be this great this quickly," Brock said to the Arizona Republic in 1993.
"He doesn't trust a lot of people. He's always wondering, 'What does this guy really want?' I always found him likable and totally sincere. A lot of kids with a famous dad or uncle are uncoachable, but not Barry. He may have missed a curfew or two, but I never questioned his sincerity," Brock added in the Phoenix Gazette.

Giants owner Peter Magowan, in Barry's first season in San Francisco
"Where Barry has truly affected the entire team is the way he has fun just practicing the game. He truly loves to play. And his defense is contagious. In one game, he made a game-saving catch and cut three sure doubles off at the line and held them to singles; in a couple of cases, his plays saved what would have been runs. He's made everyone in the field more aggressive. Defense is the most contagious aspect of baseball, and Barry has dramatically affected the way the Giants play the game," Magowan stated in a quote printed in the Boston Globe.

Jeff Brantley, in 1993 shortly after Barry began playing with the Giants
"If you ask me, he's a bargain. I know they paid him a lot of money, and everyone expects wonders. But after watching him play, we got a bargain. He can pretty much do it all. His baseball instincts are unbelievable. And he's not just trying to get a hit, he's trying to crush the ball. If you make a bad pitch, he'll hit a home run and he'll embarrass you. If Barry hits a pop fly to the infield, he won't run a full-out sprint to second base. No one will. But if he hits a shot to left and the outfielder doesn't come in and field it cleanly, he'll be at second base. We got a bargain," the former teammate expressed in a quote printed in the Boston Globe.

Mike Shannon, a former St. Louis third baseman Cardinals broadcaster
"He attacks the ball just the same way his dad did. It's got to be tough playing under the shadow of his dad. But he doesn't let it bother him. He's got a lot of guts just to be out there," the ex-player stated in comments appearing in the St. Petersburg Times.

Barry's high school coach, Dave Stevens
"Barry was a very easy young man to coach. An extremely hard worker. The year he hit .467, I remember if anyone was on base for us, teams would just walk him! I coached a lot of fine kids; I had 15 kids sign major league contracts in my eight years at Serra. I never had any problems with Barry. When you give Barry his space, you couldn't be around a nicer kid," the coach explained to the San Francisco Chronicle.

High school teammates
"The guy was bad (as in good). His outfield play, though, was what surprised me. You could tell he really worked at it," claimed Ray McDonald to the San Francisco Chronicle. "In our senior year I actually out hit Barry. He hit .453 (for the regular season) -- that's what it says on the stats from the WCAL (West Catholic Athletic League). I was .481. I carry it around on a little card in my wallet. It doesn't make me any money, but it's a great conversation piece."
"Barry could have done anything he wanted; he's a great athlete,'' added Dave Canziani, the team's first baseman.
"I think being back in comfortable surroundings in the Bay Area has made it easier for him . . . I think everything's fallen into place," explained Bob McKercher, the team's shortstop.
'I played baseball with Barry from the time we were 10 years old. Basketball, too," claimed Mike Roza, a Serra High pitcher. "I knew he was going to be a superstar. You just knew it. He and Gregg Jefferies (now with the St. Louis Cardinals) were kind of rivals, and I asked Gregg recently who was the best player in baseball. He said 'Barry Bonds.' For him to say that really means something."
''Barry's a hell of a player. It's great to see him doing so well," professed Greg Vella, who played right field for the Serra Padres.

Ken Griffey Jr.
"Barry took me out to dinner when I was 17. I think it was his rookie year. We just talked family. We don't talk much baseball. Just like now. I'll call him a few times in the offseason, sometimes write him letters. Family's always the main topic. But I do get on him about his golf game."

Chuck LaMar, former Pirates' director of minor league operations
"Barry is one of the best hitters around," Lamar insisted to The Atlanta Journal and Constitution.

Tony Gwynn
"We've told him, 'Man, you've just got to loosen up. You've got to relax and be yourself. Let them see what you're all about.' I said, �Here's an opportunity for you to let these people get close, but will you do that? No!' And he said, 'You're right, I won't.'
I know what's going on up there in his head, and I can be a little more sympathetic than most people. I still say he's the best player in our league, no question."

Matt Williams
"He's the one guy in our league I would pay to watch."

Jose Rijo
"Barry Bonds is the best player I've ever seen. He can be pitched to, but very carefully.�

Former Pittsburgh manager Jim Leyland
"Most guys who talk about what they're going to do, they usually set themselves up to get humbled," Leyland explained in a Bond biography written by Carrie Muskat. "Barry Bonds was like Joe Namath or Muhammad Ali. He could make a statement and go out and back it up. Not a lot of guys can do that. In fact, managers usually cringe when guys make statements about what they're going to do. In Barry's case, I liked it. I think he did it on purpose to motivate himself. In a lot of ways, it's easy for Barry. I think he needs a little controversy around him."