That’s where everyone saw me where I thought they should see me last

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Likely for the last time and almost 11 years after playing his final game Derek Holland Jersey , Barry Bonds ran out to his old spot in his No. 25 Giants jersey.“I wanted to be in left field one more time,” Bonds said Saturday night. “And I thought it was appropriate. That’s what I wanted to do.”“I was going to put the whole uniform on, but just didn’t have time because it ran a little bit longer. I wanted to throw on everything and stand in left field one more time. ” he said.Bonds had his number retired by the Giants during a long ceremony before San Francisco played his other team, the Pittsburgh Pirates — also 11 years to the month from when he broke Hank Aaron’s home run record in his 22nd and final major league season.Still beloved and cheered in the Bay Area he cherishes as home, Bonds finished his career under the cloud of steroids allegations that made him a villain most everywhere else.“I am overwhelmed with emotions as the reality of this day sets in,” Bonds said. “This may come as a surprise to a lot of people but as a child I didn’t even want to play baseball. I wanted to play all sports — basketball, football, ride my bike, all the things that kids do. But once my mom signed me up … I got my first taste of what would be my lifelong passion.”Now called AT&T Park, Bonds knows what he meant to this place.“I think the park thing is more to me than the number thing, because I built this park. That’s all,” Bonds said. “When I walk in this ballpark, I know whose house it is.”Surrounded by former teammates and managers, Hall of Famers and his family, Bonds had no words as he mentally prepared for his number retirement ceremony.“Shhhh,” the slugger said smiling, then a few minutes later repeated three times http://www.giantsfanproshop.com/authentic-evan-longoria-jersey , “I have to focus.”Bonds became the 10th Giants player in franchise history to have his number retired. He finished with 762 career home runs.“I knew it was coming at one point. No one’s wearing it,” he said. “… What they did is fantastic and how they did it was first class.”In July 2015, Bonds said he had a huge “weight lifted” when federal prosecutors dropped what was left of their criminal case against him after a nearly decade-long steroids prosecution. Bonds needs to be on 75 percent of Hall of Fame ballots to be enshrined in Cooperstown. He was on 56.4 percent of Hall ballots this year, up from 53.8 percent last year. He had just 36.2 percent in his initial appearance.“Sure, it would mean a lot to anybody, for all the years I’ve worked and what I’ve done, sure,” Bonds said.The seven-time NL MVP was greeted with a rousing ovation as fans chanted his name. The 54-year-old Bonds waved, clapped his hands and raised both arms to acknowledge the cheers as he made his big entrance from center field.“Thank you San Francisco, thank you for making all my dreams come true,” Bonds said while remembering his late father, Bobby.Giants great Willie Mays, Bonds’ godfather, called for the slugger to reach the Hall of Fame.“When people talk about, ‘Oh, who’s the best ballplayer in the world?’ I don’t care,” Mays said. “I played my 20 years, 22 years http://www.giantsfanproshop.com/authentic-evan-longoria-jersey , whatever it might be. Give somebody honor that deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame is a type of fraternity that, when you get there, you’ll say, ‘Man, how did I get here?’ And I want him to have that honor be something that happens to him.”“Vote this guy in!” Mays added.Other Giants Hall of Famers Orlando Cepeda, Juan Marichal, Willie McCovey and Gaylord Perry also took part in the festivities.Former managers Jim Leyland and Dusty Baker and current Giants skipper Bruce Bochy were on hand. So were Bonds’ mother, Pat, and his three children.“Without question he is the best player I ever managed in my 22 years as a major league skipper,” Leyland said. “Let all of us be thankful that we had the opportunity to see one of the greatest players that’s ever lived for so many years.”The Pirates stood in their dugout and clapped during a ceremony that lasted more than an hour. First pitch was 16 minutes late. R&B singer Johnny Gill performed the national anthem in another surprise to Bonds.Baker managed Bonds from 1993-2002. He recalled watching Bobby Bonds in Riverside, California.“I thought Bobby Bonds was the greatest prep school athlete I had ever seen in my life until one day Bobby Bonds told me that ‘my son is going to be greater than me,'” Baker said. “I couldn’t see that at the time because I hadn’t seen Barry play much before he went to ASU. But he told me, my son — and I told Barry this — is more dedicated and works harder than he did, and Bobby was right.” KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals were a .500 team after a loss on July 25, but since then they’ve been the hottest team in the National League.Yadier Molina broke a tie with a two-run single in the seventh inning, Tyson Ross won his St. Louis debut and the Cardinals defeated the Kansas City Royals 8-2 on Sunday to win their fifth straight, matching a season high.The Cardinals moved eight games above .500 Willie McCovey Jersey , equaling their season high set on June 11, and are a National League-best 12-4 since July 27. Manager Mike Matheny was fired on July 14 in an attempt to jump-start the disappointing team.Molina’s bases-loaded single in the seventh scored Harrison Bader and Patrick Wisdom, who had two hits, drove in a run and scored two in his major league debut. Wisdom’s RBI single had tied it at 2-2.“We feel pretty good about ourselves right now,” Molina said. “We are getting hot at the right time.”The Cardinals concluded a three-city trip with a 7-2 record.“It was a good game, a good road trip and a good series,” Cardinals interim manager Mike Shildt said.Ross, who last pitched on Aug. 3 for San Diego, was an emergency starter, replacing Luke Weaver, who was scratched after cutting his right index finger on the aluminum foil cover of his clubhouse meal on Saturday night.Ross (7-9), who made 22 starts with the Padres before the Cardinals claimed him on waivers last week, allowed two runs on four hits and two walks in six innings.“I felt good and was ready to go,” Ross said. “I was happy to get out there and pitch. After the first inning, I was able to rein it in and get into the strike zone, and keep us in the ballgame.”Paul DeJong hit a two-run homer in a three-run ninth to cap the scoring.Jason Hammel (2-12) entered in the seventh and retired none of the four batters he faced. He was charged with three runs.“I set the tone for the rest of the game right there, coming in and not even getting an out,” Hammel said. “I’m embarrassed.”Jakob Junis limited the Cardinals to three singles Mel Ott Jersey , walked none and struck out eight before leaving after six innings with a 2-1 lead.“I hit my spots with my fastball and played my slider off that and I had some good results,” Junis said.Lucas Duda singled home Salvador Perez in the third to put Kansas City up 2-1. Alex Gordon scored in the first after an error by Wisdom, the first baseman.The Royals have lost nine of 10 and are 15-46 since May 30.WEBB EJECTEDCardinals reliever Tyler Webb was ejected with two outs in the ninth by plate umpire Adam Hamari after he hit Jorge Bonifacio with a pitch. Royals pitchers hit four St. Louis batters. “He definitely hit him on purpose,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “I guess that warrants an ejection. We hit four guys today. When you hit four guys, somebody is going to get it. It’s just the way the game is. I don’t blame them for it. If they hit us four times, we’d probably be upset, too. Did he have to get ejected? No. I don’t think so. I think it was over. We didn’t intentionally try to hit anybody all day long.”CARPENTER STREAK CONTINUESMatt Carpenter singled and was hit by a pitch from Wily Peralta, extending his on-base streak to 30 games.HERRERA AT SECONDRosell Herrera made his first start at second base for the Royals. He had started 19 games in right field, 11 in center, four at third base and three as the DH since joining the club on June 17. He made his big league debut on May 1 with Cincinnati starting at second base, his only other start at the position, although he played there in the minors.ROSTER MOVESThe Royals optioned RHP Glenn Sparkman to Triple-A Omaha.TRAINER’S ROOMRoyals: LHP Danny Duffy has a stiff shoulder. Manager Ned Yost said Duffy has been dealing with it for his past four starts and a decision would be made Tuesday on whether Duffy will make his scheduled start on Thursday. Duffy received an anti-inflammatory shot Saturday. … RHP Blaine Boyer (lower back strain) was activated from the 60-day disabled list. He posted a 1.08 ERA in eight minor league rehab appearances. … OF Jorge Soler (left toe fracture) was transferred to the 60-day DL.Cardinals: RHP Adam Wainwright (elbow inflammation) will throw an inning Monday for the Palm Beach Cardinals in the Florida State League. … With RHP Luke Gregerson (shoulder impingement) moved to the 60-day DL, his season is likely over. “I guess the timing looks like, yeah,” Shildt said. “It’ll be a challenge, but we never say never.”UP NEXTCardinals: RHP Miles Mikolas will start the opener of a four-game series against the Washington Nationals at Busch Stadium.Royals: Rookie RHP Brad Keller will start against Toronto. This will be his 13th start since moving into the rotation on May 30.