Love him or hate him, Pirates fans had better days with the slugger. Since then, the team hasn’t been the same. BROKEN BONDS

By TOM WILLIAMS

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

OU ZONA’S PASSION FOR THE
Pittsburgh Pirates and their 1990 playoff run motivated him to
create the Pirates Fanatics club for Valley area fans.

Life was good for Zona, the director of The Butler Institute of American Art in Youngstown, and his fellow Pirates fans who cheered the Bucs to three straight National League East Division titles from 1990-92.

Baseball mattered at Three Rivers Stadium and the leader of the pack was left fielder Barry Bonds, the NL’s Most Valuable Player in 1990 and 1992.

Times changed in Pittsburgh after the 1992 season ended with a heartbreaking loss in Game 7 of the National League Championship Series in Atlanta.

The cash-strapped Pirates chose not to retain their top stars before they qualified for free agency. Bonds’ departure for San Francisco to play for the Giants made him Public Enemy Number One for most Pittsburgh fans.

Sore feelings continue to rage as Bonds closes in on one of baseball’s most sacred records — Hank Aaron’s career home-run record of 755.

Area feedback

Bonds’ pursuit has baseball fans in the Valley split.

Some don’t care that many players are suspected of taking steroids and human growth hormones. But many do. As Bonds gets closer to Aaron’s mark, many of the area’s Pirates fans find it hard to embrace the countdown.

Zona, a New Castle resident who still has Pirates season tickets, wishes the players were doing it naturally.

“I do have a problem with what Barry has done to himself,” Zona said. “This is sour grapes maybe, but I would put an asterisk next to it.

“Maybe it’s because we remember that skinny kid that played for Pirates who was such a terrific hitter,” Zona said. “The figure we see now is enhanced.”

Some Bucs fans are more forgiving.

Red Baker of Canfield said he hopes Bonds “does break it. I don’t care who he plays for.”

Baker, the longtime “Voice of Cene Park” in Struthers, was hoping the Pirates would have signed Bonds last winter when he was a free agent.

“I wish him well,” Baker said. “I’m a Pirates fan. He helped the Pirates win when they had him. Ever since, they haven’t been good.”

The Pirates have suffered 14 consecutive losing seasons since last making the postseason.

Fallout

In 2003 when federal investigators raided the BALCO Lab in the San Francisco suburb of Burlingame, records were found linking Bonds, Jason Giambi, Gary Sheffield and many other pro athletes to illegal steroids.

According to leaked testimony, Bonds told to a federal grand jury that he has never “knowingly” taken steroids.

“I think he may have taken something and maybe he’s lying, but he hasn’t been convicted,” said Baker.

Because Major League Baseball did not test for illegal steroids until 2003, Bonds has not broken any baseball rules.

Despite his personal frustration, Zona is happy for baseball that some fans are excited that the home run countdown is on.

“I think people are excited by home runs, but I’m a purist,” Zona said, who added that his feelings about Hank Aaron breaking Babe Ruth’s record in 1974 have changed over the years.

“There were shorter seasons and the level of pitching was better back then,” said Zona of Ruth’s era. “Maybe I’m an ultra-traditionalist, but I’ve come to appreciate Hank Aaron. Plus, he did it fair and square.”

Frank Turocy of Canfield, who grew up in Campbell cheering for the Pirates, said Bonds is “a phenomenal athlete, with great hand-eye coordination.

“I don’t think there is any doubt that he used steroids and I think people are going to remember him for that,” Turocy said.

Not favorite person

Bruce Gordon of Salem, one of the first members of the Pirates Fanatics, said Bonds “is not my favorite person.

“What I’ve heard and read is that his teammates never have liked him wherever he’s been,” Gordon said. “He certainly didn’t return love to Pittsburgh fans who supported him. And he cheated [so] I won’t be dancing in the streets.”

Youngstown’s Bill Duffy, a native of Monroeville, Pa., says he believes Bonds already would own the record if opposing pitchers hadn’t been overly cautious.

“Whether he did steroids or was just a late bloomer, I don’t care,” said Duffy, a truck dispatcher in Aliquippa, Pa. “If they pitched to him the past four, five years, he would have passed that landmark already.”

Although Duffy doesn’t support everything that Bonds represents, he feels loyalty counts.

“He started with the Pirates and earned two MVPs with the Pirates,” Duffy said. “So if I went to see the Giants, I would not boo him.”

Duffy said that if he were in Bonds’ shoes, he want to know exactly what he was putting into his body.

“And if were a pro athlete, I’d be fan friendly,” said Duffy, admitting that’s one accusation Bonds hasn’t faced.

Legacy

Gordon said it’s a shame that Bonds doesn’t have the legacy of Hall of Famers Roberto Clemente or Willie Stargell.

“It was said about [Stargell] that he would sign every autograph, even if it meant missing the bus,” Gordon said. “He was a super guy who would come back for golf outings even when he was coaching elsewhere.”

Gordon said you don’t have to be a medical expert to see the changes in Bonds in the past eight years.

“His head grew two sizes,” Gordon said. “I worry about him healthwise, although he’s brought it on himself.”

The Rev. Steve Cramer of Columbiana, who grew up near San Francisco, became a full-fledged Pirates fan when he attended Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

As a child, the Rev. Mr. Cramer was among those who cheered Bonds’ father, Bobby, who was heralded as the next Willie Mays.

“My childhood heroes were Willie Mays and Willie Stargell,” said Rev. Cramer, the minister of Trinity Presbyterian Church in East Liverpool. “I have mixed feelings.”

Cramer admires how Barry Bonds took less money to go home to San Francisco where his father’s career began

“There seemed to be something noble about going back to the clubhouse he grew up around,” Cramer said. “He probably could have made even more money.

Perception

“The thing I can’t get over is what appears to be the unquestionable use of steroids,” said Cramer.

In his heart, Cramer feels Bonds should not be recognized as the home run king.

“The commissioner [Bud Selig] is in a terrible situation,” Cramer said. “I guess I just wish there were more conclusive evidence.”

Cramer feels for Aaron “who literally went through hell. Now, his place in history is going to be usurped by someone who doesn’t deserve it. There was so much more grace and style in Hank Aaron than there ever has been with Barry Bonds — you couldn’t help but admire the man.”

Bonds homered two times in the Giants’ only game at PNC Park (April 13) this season. Two other games were postponed by cold weather and rescheduled for an Aug. 13 twi-night doubleheader.

Zona did not attend the April 13 game but has tickets for the doubleheader.

“I do plan to go in August because I want to see [former Indians shortstop] Omar Vizquel,” Zona said. “I could not be less interested in Barry Bonds’ achievements.”

williams@vindy.com