Barry Bonds Returns | Legends of The Hobby

Bonds’ Career, Cards, and Return to The Hobby

Barry Bonds is back in The Hobby. For the first time since 2017, the seven-time MVP will have autograph cards among various Topps offerings. There are two autos to chase in the 2024 Topps Diamond Icons Baseball set, which is also getting a lot of buzz for the debut of Topps’ Liquid Silver technology. Bonds’ cards can be found in the Black PolychromatINK Autograph subset—one from his time with Pittsburgh, the other as a San Francisco Giant.

2025 Topps Baseball Series 1 1990 Topps Baseball Autos #90A-BBO Barry Bonds

Topps also released a first look of this Barry Bonds auto from 2025 Topps Baseball Series 1 1990 Topps Baseball insert set. The card draws inspiration from Topps’ 1990 set, commemorating the 35th anniversary of its release.

1990 Topps Baseball #220 Barry Bonds

While collectors get ready to chase the newest Barry Bonds cards from Topps, let’s take a look back at the slugger’s career, and some of his best with the brand.

Bonds Arrives to the Show

Bonds made his MLB debut on May 30th, 1986. His solid rookie campaign ended with 16 home runs, 48 RBIs, 36 stolen bases, and 65 walks, was good enough for sixth in Rookie of the Year voting and was a taste of what was to come. That same year, his first-ever Topps card was released.

1986 Topps Traded Tiffany #11T Barry Bonds XRC

Making the Leap

Four years after his debut, Bonds’ 1990 campaign solidified the outfielder as baseball’s next big thing. With 33 Home Runs, 114 RBI, 52 SB, and a WAR of 9.7 were more than enough for the electric Bonds to take home his first MVP award. Bonds led the Pirates to their first NLCS since 1979, losing in six games to Cincinnati. Bonds’ 1987 Topps Tiffany Rookie Card remains one of The Hobby’s most sought-after Bonds cards.

1987 Topps Traded Tiffany #320 Barry Bonds RC

Bonds Takes the Bay

Despite Bonds winning a second MVP two years after his first, the Pirates opted to let him walk in free agency. A record-setting $43.75 million, six-year deal sent Bonds to the San Francisco Giants, where he began his career with his third MVP campaign in four seasons. The 103 wins for Bonds’ Giants just barely weren’t enough to make the playoffs, though.

In 1996, Bonds became the first NL player to join the 40-40 club (and the only player other than Jose Canseco to do so at the time). That year, Bonds made his Topps Chrome debut in the first-ever Topps Chrome baseball set.

1996 Topps Chrome Baseball #119 Barry Bonds Refractor

Bonds by the Numbers

All told, Bonds’ legendary and controversial career produced some of the most incredible numbers in sports history. In total, he collected a record 762 home runs, to go along with 1,996 RBI, 514 stolen bases, and a preposterous 2,558 walks (over 500 more than second-place Rickey Henderson).

Perhaps the most ridiculous of all are Bonds’ 688 intentional walks, more than double the 318 Albert Pujols earned to hold second position. There has never been a more feared hitter. Bonds autograph cards have now returned to Topps for the first time since 2017.

2017 Topps Finest Baseball #FA-BB Barry Bonds Auto /5

Bonds Returns to The Hobby

While Bonds’ return to Topps will lead to many exciting cards, this one stands out—a gem of a dual autograph card found in the recently released 2025 Topps Welcome to the Club: 3X MVP. The set features Shohei Ohtani duals with every MLB player to have won three or more MVP trophies.

2025 Welcome to the Club: 3X MVP Baseball Dual Auto #DA1 Barry Bonds/Shohei Ohtani /1

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