Record holder: Barry Bonds equals another National League high mark: giants slugger reached base safely in 58 consecutive games in 2003, tying the National League's top performance in that category set by Hall of Famer Duke Snider in 1954

Baseball Digest, Feb, 2004 by Herman Krabbenhoft

Barry Bonds holds numerous National League records, some of which are also major league marks. For example, he possesses the N.L./M.L. records for most homers, season, 73 (in 2001), and highest slugging average, season, .863 (2001).

Among the N.L. records the San Francisco outfielder owns or shares are these concerned with getting on base:

Most walks, season--198 (2002); also ML record.

Most walks, career--2,070 (through 2003).

Most consecutive games with one or more walks--18 (September 9-28, 2002).

Most intentional walks, season--68 (2002); also ML record.

Most intentional walks, career--484 (through 2003); also ML record.

Highest on-base average, season--.582 (2002); also ML record.

Most consecutive times (plate appearances) reached base safely, season--15 (August 31 -September 4, 1998); shares with John Olerud.

And, in 2003, Bonds added yet another N.L. record to his resume--most consecutive games on base safely (CGOBS) , season. Here are the pertinent details.

Getting on base safely--Officially, there are three ways a batter can get on base safely: (1) by getting a base hit; (2) by getting a walk; (3) by being hit by a pitch. Not included in the official means of getting on base safely are plays involving catcher's interference, dropped third Strikes, a fielder s choice, or fielding errors.

June 25 vs. Los Angeles--Barry was shut down in each of his three plate appearances. That 0-fer ended a rather short five CGOBS streak. Prior to that streak, Bonds had put together a 39 CGOBS streak.

June 27 vs. Oakland--Barry began a new CGOBS streak by hitting a solo home run off Ted Lilly; he also walked twice.

July 6 at San Diego--Although Bonds was retired in three official plate appearances, he was walked intentionally by Brian Lawrence, extending his streak to eight CGOBS.

July 21 vs. Arizona--Again, Barry was able to keep his string intact by getting an intentional walk from Elmer Dessens; his CGOBS streak was now 18.

July 29 at Chicago--While he officially went 0-for-3, thanks to a free pass from the Cubs hurler, Matt Clement, Bonds stretched his CGOBS streak to 24.

August 1 at Cincinnati--The string was about to he snapped as Barry had been retired in each of his first three plate appearances. However, in his final at-bat, he managed to get a single off Kent Mercker.

August 20 vs. Atlanta--Since Barry had been retired in his first three trips to the plate, it came down to the bottom of the 9th inning. With the game knotted, 1-1, Braves pitcher Kevin Gryboski retired the leadoff batter Eric Young. Then Rich Aurilia and Marquis Grissom singled, putting runners at the corners. Not surprisingly, Bonds was intentionally walked to load the bases--and extend his CGOBS streak to 38. And, Edgardo Alfonzo singled to knock in the game-winning run.

September 1 at Arizona--The D'backs hurler, Curt Schilling, had shut down Barry in three at-hats. The game, however, was still scoreless going into the top of the 9th frame. Oscar Villarreal took over for Schilling and walked Young. J.T. Snow and Grissom each singled, loading the bases. Mike Myers relieved Villarreal to face Bonds. Barry singled to center, driving in two runs--and extending his CGOBS streak to 42.

September 11 at San Diego--Thanks again to the tremendous respect that opposing managers accord Bonds for his hitting ability, the only time that Barry was able to get on base safely came on an intentional walk off Jay Witasick in the 8th stanza. Bonds had now achieved a 50 CGOBS streak, which left him only eight short of the N.L. record--established by Duke Spider of the 1954 Brooklyn Dodgers.

September 14 vs. Milwaukee--Barry was given the day off, but with the game tied, 3-3, in the bottom of the eighth inning, manager Felipe Alou called on Bonds to pinch lilt for Jeffrey Hammonds to open the frame.

Fortunately, and predictably, he walked. Bonds' walk was the 2,062nd of his career, tying him with Babe Ruth for second place on the all-time list, and extended his CGOBS streak to 53 games. The Giants won the contest, 54, in 11 innings.

September 19 at Los Angeles--The timing was perfect. Barry had a 56 CGOBS streak on the line. The Giants were facing the Dodgers--their historic arch-enemy. Bonds received an intentional walk in the opening inning and later added a couple of hits, including a home run, as San Francisco emerged with a 6-4 triumph. Barry was now just one game away from equaling The Duke's mark.

September 20 at Los Angeles--After being retired in his first at-bat, Bonds drew a base on balls in his next plate appearance. He had tied the Dodgers Hall of Famer for the record for the longest CGOBS streak in N.L. annals--58.

September 21 at Los Angeles--Barry sat out the final (Sunday) game of the series, thereby prolonging the anticipation.

September 22 at Houston--The Astros mound corps proceeded to shut down Barry in each of his four at-bats, thus terminating his CGOBS streak at 58. Interestingly, Bonds was in the on deck circle when Aurilia made the final out for the Giants in the ninth inning--which leads to the proverbial "What if?."