What If…Barry Bonds and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays

On August 7th, 1992, Tampa Bay investors paid $110 million for the Giants franchise. But on November 10th, MLB owners voted to void the Tampa Bay bid and keep the team in San Francisco. Local San Francisco businessman Peter Magowan then bought the team for $100 million and immediately signed Barry Bonds. But what would have happened if the Tampa Bay investors eventually won the team? The Sporting Orange goes back in time and looks into an alternate universe at Barry Bonds and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. -MLM

ST. PETERSBURG- It was another historic night at Tropicana Field and another victory in Tampa Bay’s march to a second consecutive division title.
Devil Rays left fielder Barry Bonds slammed his 869th homer into the right field scoreboard, breaking Sadaharu Oh’s worldwide home run record. The seventh inning solo homer was the difference in Tampa Bay’s 4-3 win over the Houston Astros.

As Bonds trotted the base paths, confetti rained down from the dome’s catwalks. He was greeted at home plate by his teammates, including Oh, who came from Japan to celebrate the breaking of his record.
“I want to thank all the Tampa Bay fans for being here and supporting me,” Bonds said to the crowd of 45,025 during an in game ceremony. “You have embraced me and made me a better ballplayer and better man. Thank you.”

Bonds has become part of the community here in Tampa Bay, despite his reluctance to play originally for the team in 1993. It was Devil Rays owner Vince Naimoli who convinced Bonds to honor his contract and follow the San Francisco Giants to St. Petersburg.
“There wasn’t much convincing to do,” Naimoli humbly said. “Once Barry realized that it’s 322 down the right field line and in a dome, he was packing a moving truck.”

Bonds now has 30 homers this season and once again has led the Devil Rays to a double digit lead in the NL South. Bonds is confident the Rays will win their seventh division title since 1993.
“Look at who we have here; me, Kazmir, Bobby Abreu. This is better than the team that won the title in 2002,” Bonds said as he took a swig of his juice. “If Rocco is healthy, it’ll be a sweep this time.”

Chasing a second World Series is the only motivation left for Bonds. With the cozy layout of the Trop, Bonds holds all the home run records, including the single season homer mark with 63 homers in 1995 and 73 in 2001. Unlike Mark McGwire, Bonds appears clean, instead taking a steady diet of juices from the ballpark’s sponsor.

Following the game Bonds stayed on the field, soaking up the atmosphere. He jogged from his spot in deep left and strolled the warning track, shaking hands with Rays fans young and old.
“With each game here I realize how much these people love this ball club,” Bonds said with tears in his eyes. “It was the only way I could think of giving back to them.”

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