SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Feb. 19 (UPI) -- Barry Bonds of San Francisco has told USA Today that he will retire after the 2006 season, whether or not he breaks Hank Aaron's home run record.
He told the newspaper Sunday at the site of spring training that "the game (isn't) fun anymore." He said after the season he wants to "go home and be with my family. Maybe then everybody can just forget about me."
Bonds, 41, who missed most of the 2005 season because of a right knee that required three separate surgeries, is a seven-time National League MVP and enters the 2006 season with 708 home runs, just six shy of tying Babe Ruth for second place on baseball's all-time list and 47 shy of Aaron.
In his 21st major league season in 2006, he will earn $18 million.
Most of the focus on Bonds in the last two years has been his alleged ties to the use of steroids, a claim he denies.
