The New York Yankees and San Francisco Giants opened the 2026 MLB season at Oracle Park on Wednesday night, three decades ago, when both teams were vying for the game's best player. Bonds, who was close to signing with the Yankees and the Giants, revealed that late Yankees owner George Steinbrenner put a deadline on his offer to make him baseball's highest-paid player, pushing him away from the team. Bonds signed a six-year deal worth just under $44 million with the Giants and made him the highest-paying player in baseball. He had 15 successful seasons with them, winning four MVPs and becoming the all-time home run king.