Before Jim Leyland joined the Detroit Tigers for eight years at the end of his managerial career, he managed 11 seasons for the Pittsburgh Pirates, two for the Florida Marlins and one for the Colorado Rockies.
In Pittsburgh, Leyland met Barry Bonds, who rose to stardom with the Pirates over his first seven seasons (1986-92).
"You can make a case that he's the best player to ever play," Leyland told the Free Press on Wednesday afternoon. "Barry is a very close friend of mine and always will be. My heart aches for him.