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.

A Definitive Sports Biography: Based on more than 500 interviews—with teammates, family, critics, and Bonds himself—this is the meticulously researched, unauthorized story of a baseball legend. Baseballs Steroid Era: Go inside the clubhouse and behind the headlines to explore the alleged steroid abuse that defined a generation of the sport and cemented Bondss controversial reputation. Complex Father-Son Legacy: Unpack the fabled and fraught pedigree of being the son of star Bobby Bonds and the godson of Hall of Famer Willie Mays, and how it shaped one of baseballs most polarizing figures. The Debate of Immortality: Examine the stunning athletic achievements—from 7 MVP awards to a record-breaking 73 home runs in a single season—alongside the legendary ego to decide for yourself where Bonds stands in baseball history.