With the New York Yankees easily shutting out the San Francisco Giants, 7-0, Netflix’s Opening Day broadcast was instead highlighted by an epic revelation from special guest analyst Barry Bonds.
During an in-game interview with the Netflix booth, led by play-by-play announcer Matt Vasgersian, Bonds recalled entering free agency in 1992 following three MVP seasons in Pittsburgh.
‘I got to tell you a story, because George isn’t here anymore, so I can tell the truth, right?’ Bonds asked.
Bonds was referring to late Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, who died in 2010 but whose family continues to control the franchise.
As Bonds remembered, Steinbrenner called with an offer to make him the ‘highest-paid player at that time,’ albeit with one stipulation.
‘”You have to sign the contract by two o’clock this afternoon,”‘ Bonds recalled Steinbrenner telling him. ‘And I said, “excuse me?” and just hung up the phone.’
With the Yankees easily shutting out the Giants , 7-0, Netflix ‘s Opening Day broadcast was instead highlighted by an epic revelation from special guest analyst Barry Bonds (pictured)
Bonds claimed he hung up the phone on George Steinbrenner, who was trying to make him the highest-paid player in baseball at the time. Ultimately Bonds decided to sign with the Giants
To anyone familiar with Steinbrenner, known for his erratic temper and willingness to spend on free agents, the story was an absolute showstopper. And as Bonds remarked, his agent was left in disbelief by his abrupt phone call with the owner known throughout baseball as ‘the Boss.’
‘Wow!’ several members of the Netflix booth were heard saying in response to Bonds’s claim.
And he wasn’t finished.
Bonds said he went to get lunch after hanging up on Steinbrenner and received a phone call from the Giants soon thereafter. And seeing as his father, Bobby, had his best years in San Francisco, which was Barry’s hometown, he happily agreed to join the Giants for $43.7 million.
‘I said, “I’m going home.”‘
Naturally, that story got a major reaction on social media, where fans marveled at the possibilities.
Bonds, who retired as baseball’s all-time home run leader amid allegations of steroid use, likely would have added to his total of 762 dingers had he benefitted from old Yankee Stadium’s short right-field porch.
‘That’s crazy,’ one fan remarked. ‘Barry would [have] had 1000 career home runs with the Yankees.’
Many more fans remarked on Bonds going without a World Series title as the Yankees won four of their record 27 championships between 1993 and his final season, 2007.
‘And you retired with no rings,’ one critic wrote. ‘Yikes.’
Barry Bonds is pictured with his father Bobby Bonds (near left) and godfather Willie Mays (far left) after signing a free-agent contract with the San Francisco Giants in December of 1992
Other fans poked fun at the late Steinbrenner, who famously hired and fired Billy Martin as manager five times.
‘Steinbrenner just rose from the grave to confirm the story and to fire Billy Martin one last time,’ one fan quipped.
Curiously, Steinbrenner’s suspension went unmentioned in the discussion.
The irascible ship builder from Cleveland was banned from day-to-day operations of the team by then-commissioner Fay Vincent in 1990 for allegedly hiring a gambler to find dirt on star outfielder Dave Winfield.
At the time, Winfield was suing the Yankees for failing to donate $300,000 to his foundation, which was reportedly guaranteed in his contract.
Steinbrenner’s suspension wasn’t lifted until March 1, 1993 — several months after Bonds’s story was supposed to have taken place.
It’s unclear if Steinbrenner would have been banned from directly contacting Bonds at that time, but as far as the phone call, the 61-year-old baseball great insisted he was being honest.
‘It’s the truth,’ Bonds said before taking his exit.
