 08/19/2003 10:09 PM ET
Bonds returns with heavy heart
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By John Schlegel / MLB.com
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SAN FRANCISCO -- Barry Bonds, or at least as much of his physical and mental presence as he could muster, was back with the Giants and back in the lineup Tuesday night.
San Francisco's superstar slugger and left fielder made it clear prior to Tuesday's game that he's returning with a heavy heart and a split mindset after spending the previous five days on the bereavement list to spend time with his cancer-stricken father, Bobby.
"It was important for me to be there with my dad at this time," Bonds said. "It's also important for me to be here too as well. I'll do the best I can to do both. I just hope everyone understands."
Bobby Bonds, the former star outfielder who played 14 years in the Majors, has been battling different forms of cancer for more than a year now, and recently had open-heart surgery.
Barry Bonds said his father might try to come out to Pacific Bell Park on Wednesday night to see the second game of the Giants-Braves series and acknowledge the fans who have supported him through this ordeal.
There's no question the Bonds family has the support of the organization and manager Felipe Alou. They all know what's going on, and most of them know the elder Bonds for his role as a hitting instructor for the Giants and as a former star player in the Majors.
Barry Bonds / LF
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"The guys know why Barry has not been there," Alou said. "It's not like he's hurt or his wife was having a baby. We know why he hasn't been with us. It hurts the team -- everybody."
Barry Bonds left the club after Wednesday's game and was placed on the newly enacted bereavement list. He spent the weekend with his father, who has been going back and forth from the hospital to his home.
The younger Bonds was subdued and somber in his first comments since he left the team last week.
"My dad wants everybody to know that he thanks them for all their support. God willing, he's going to try and come out to the game [Wednesday]," Bonds said. "But unfortunately he's in a real big fight with this cancer now. He wishes he could be here on a regular basis. But unfortunately he can't do that right now.
"He wants to thank all the fans for all their support and for their prayers, especially all the baseball players that he played with past and now present. God willing, he'll be able to come here [Wednesday] and wave to everybody himself."
John Schlegel is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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