Rob Dibble: Pirates Players Wanted Reds to Throw at Barry Bonds

Back before Barry Bonds was America’s enemy as #25 for the San Francisco Giants, he was a skinny two-time All-Star for the Pittsburgh Pirates who could steal 50 bases in a season. Not many people remember that Barry because his greatest years came so late in his career, but that’s who he played for before he got on the horse pills.

Anyway, on this week’s Barfly edition of FOXSports.com’s Lunch with Benefits, host Mark Kriegel talked about Bonds with guests Kevin Frazier and Rob Dibble. Frazier was comparing Bonds’ friendliness during his playing days with how he is now, and pointed out that Bonds is much friendlier these days. Dibble rebutted that with a story from his playing days of how Bonds’ teammates on the Pirates would come to him and Norm Charlton and offer a steak dinner if they hit Barry.

Dibble and Charlton were the Nasty Boys at the time, so getting hit with their fastballs actually meant something. Dibble says he never hit Bonds, but that just speaks to the way his teammates felt about him. Of course we’re not breaking any new ground here, just adding another anecdote to the long list of anti-Bonds tales.

Dibble also added that once A-Rod got his $252 million deal from the Rangers, that’s when players wanted to do what they could to extend their careers to continue earning money. Thanks to the Cincinnati Enquirer for the heads up on the story.