SF Giants history: remembering Barry Bonds' moon shot in old Yankee Stadium

With the SF Giants in New York taking on the Yankees, it is worth taking a trip down memory lane to the time when Barry Bonds hit an absolute moon shot that went to the upper deck in the old Yankee Stadium back in 2002.

KNBR shared the video of Bonds' massive home run on social media recently. It is amazing how far the ball goes into the upper deck. This was Bonds at the height of his powers doing unbelievable things on the baseball field.

The call is made all the better with broadcaster Jon Miller saying that the ball was headed for New Jersey. Bonds' homer was so impressive that it brought basically the entire stadium to its feet as they were in awe of the greatest hitter in the game doing something extraordinary like that.

Remembering SF Giants great Barry Bonds' massive homer vs. Yankees

Miller has been on the call during the Giants' current three-game series against the Yankees. He recalled seeing Bonds' homer in the old Yankee Stadium and described it as a moment he would never forget which is saying something considering all of the baseball Miller has watched in his life.

Whenever a team goes into New York there is going to be more media attention and eyeballs on whatever they do. That is why it is a big deal when a star player, like Bonds was at the time, is exactly as advertised and does what everyone expects them to do on the biggest stage.

The backstory to that home run is interesting, as well. Apparently, before the game word reached Bonds that the pitcher who gave up the home run, Ted Lilly, was going to challenge him, Bonds was not one to back down from a challenge as evidenced by his soaring three-run shot.

Later in the game, Bonds faced off against the best closer in MLB history, Mariano Rivera. The all-time saves leader got the best of the all-time home run leader, striking him out. However, the Giants were still able to score in the 9th inning and held on in the bottom of the 9th for the win.

Bonds has remained involved with the Giants over the years and recently was seen hanging around the batting cage during the team's most recent home stand. Maybe he was trying to teach some of the players how to hit upper deck bombs when they got to New York. So far, it has been to no avail.

While there has not been a moon shot quite like the one Bonds delivered, Jung Hoo Lee blasted a three-run home run in Friday's contest with the Yankees which had its own memorable call. It is always fun when a player can have a big moment against a major team like the Yankees.

Bonds had many incredible moments in his career, but the massive homer he hit in New York was the only home run he ever hit in that stadium. If you are only going to hit one, you might as well make it an upper-decker which is exactly what the home run king did.