The big hitting career of baseball legend Barry Bonds

Seven-time Major League Baseball MVP Barry Bonds will go down as possibly the greatest baseball player to have ever lived.

In a career full of big-hitting, success, and controversy – let's look back at the fascinating story that led him to where he is now.

Born to former Major League Baseball star Bobby Bonds, Barry grew up in San Carlos at the time his dad was playing for the San Fransisco Giants.

At school, Bonds excelled in basketball, football, and baseball. It was during his senior year when baseball became the center of his attention after he earned a .467 batting average and was named prep all-American.

Picture – Instagram @blbonds25

At the time Barry's dad was playing for the San Fransisco Giants, another baseball hero and Hall of Famer was dominating the diamond – Willie Mays.

According to the New York Times, Bonds said, "Willie is the greatest to me, Willie is all the things I wanted to become. That I have become. You marvel over the dude as your hero."

Bonds' college career was as successful as it gets. Attending Arizona State University, the big hitter scored 75 home runs between 1984 and 1985 and tied the NCAA record with seven consecutive hits in the College World Series.

Picture – Instagram @blbonds25

The college superstar was disliked by his teammates and was seen as too self-centred. After being suspended for breaking a curfew – the other players voted against him joining the team again.

Bonds was selected sixth in the 1985 MLB draft to the Pittsburgh Pirates – and a year later graduated with a degree in criminology from Arizona State.

With the prospect of being a major league superstar, Barry Bonds only had a brief spell in the minor leagues with the Prince William Pirates and the Hawaii Islanders.

The young hitter made an instant mark on the MLB when he arrived in Pittsburgh. In his six-year spell with the Pirates, he won two MVP awards, two golden gloves, and two silver slugger awards.

Despite the glittering individual success in his time at Pittsburgh, Bonds and the Pirates never made the World Series. However, the team won the National League East division title three years in a row.

After the childhood influence of father Bobby and all-time great Willie Mays, Barry followed in their footsteps and signed for the San Fransisco Giants in a then-record deal worth $43.75 million.

In a 14-year career with America's oldest sports team, the man nicknamed 'The Asterisk' won a mesmerizing 38 individual honors, including five MVPs and five golden glove awards.

In spite of the sheer dominance he had as an individual on the diamond, Bonds only made the World Series once with the Giants. His one and only appearance was a 4-3 series loss in 2002 to the Anaheim Angels.

Since 2003, Barry Bonds had been a figure in the Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative (BALCO) scandal. BALCO investigated steroid use by major sports stars to enhance performance.

According to nydailynews.com, Bonds' trainer Greg Anderson was indicted by a grand jury for supplying steroids to several athletes. The baseball superstar pleaded his innocence and stated he only used a clear cream from his personal strength trainer.

Throughout his time in the Major League, Barry Bonds was a serial record breaker over his 22-year career.

According to baseball-reference.com, the left fielder broke six MLB records, including 762 career home runs, 73 home runs in a single season, and 2558 career bases on balls.

Since retiring from the sport, Bonds has become a special advisor for the San Fransisco Giants and helps the team at various community and organizational events.