Report: Bonds retiring after 2006
02/19/2006 5:14 PM ET
MLB.com

Barry Bonds told USA Today on Sunday that he will retire after the 2006 season with or without breaking Hank Aaron's all-time home run record, which he is 47 home runs away from tying.
The Giants left fielder played in only 14 games last season as he battled knee problems. He will earn $18 million in 2006 in the final season of a five-year, $90 million contract.

"I'm not playing baseball anymore after this," Bonds told USA Today in a telephone interview. "The game [isn't] fun anymore. I'm tired of all of the crap going on. I want to play this year out, hopefully win, and once the season is over, go home and be with my family. Maybe then everybody can just forget about me."

Bonds has won a record seven National League Most Valuable Player Awards. He set the single-season home run mark with 73 long balls in 2001.

The 42-year-old won four consecutive MVPs before an injury-marred 2005 season. He batted .286 with five home runs to put his total at 708, third all-time and six homers behind Babe Ruth.

This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.