The Giants star sent a 2-1 pitch from rookie Rick Vanden Hurk over the wall in left-center in the first inning for a solo shot against the Florida Marlins, his 20th homer of the season. The Giants went on to win 12-10.
Asked whether being on the verge of catching Aaron had finally sunk in, Bonds said with a chuckle: "It's sinking."
Bonds walked in his next four at-bats and will keep up his pursuit Saturday night, when Dontrelle Willis starts for the Marlins.
"Tonight was a great night," Bonds said, joined in his postgame press conference by wife, Liz, daughter, Aisha, and son, Nikolai. "The ball was just carrying."
Bud Selig wasn't there to see this homer, sending MLB president and chief operating officer Bob DuPuy in his place. The commissioner was back in Milwaukee, preparing to go to Sunday's Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Cooperstown, N.Y.
Bonds did hear from Michael Jordan, though. A taped message from the NBA great played on AT&T Park's video board between innings.
"It was great seeing the board, and having Michael Jordan say what he said was phenomenal," Bonds said.
After a brief pause to put specially marked baseballs in play, Bonds had drawn ball one and ball two
- with boos raining down on Vanden Hurk - before a called first strike. Then, the 84 mph changeup was gone
- a drive estimated at 420 feet.
"I wanted to throw it down and I left it hanging up and he hit out," Vanden Hurk said. "I knew he got real good wood on it. I knew when I let it go I didn't bury it or finish it all the way. I just left it up. If a pitch is up, you're going to get hurt, obviously.'
As usual, Bonds stood and watched his ball sail away, then began yet another trot and pumped his fist along the way. "754" flashed on the main scoreboard and Bonds blew kisses to his family when he crossed home.
Fans, already on their feet for Bonds' first at-bat, screamed in delight when it was clear he had homered
- Bonds' first at home since he connected for No. 750 on June 29 against Arizona's Livan Hernandez. "Barry! Barry!" they chanted as he rounded the bases.
"He knew he got it," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "After that he didn't get many pitches to hit."
Hundreds of fans held their cell phones in the air to take pictures after Bonds' home run and during each of his other plate appearances.
The fan who retrieved No. 754 was Eric Stormer, a general contractor and season ticketholder from nearby Martinez.
In his first chance to tie Aaron, Bonds walked on five pitches in the third inning. He also walked in the fifth, sixth and eighth innings.
