Beginning in 2000, at age 35/36, the newly bulked-up, BALCOed-up Barry began producing monstrous, drastically higher slugging numbers. This does not happen normally. Ever. In the history of baseball.
In his first 14 seasons, Barry had averaged about 31 HR, slugging % in the mid .500s, batting avg. in the upper .200s. In the last 5 seasons, beginning at age 35, BALCO Barry has averaged 52 HR, with slugging % in the upper .700s, and batting avg. in the mid .300s. This does not happen.
Compare Bonds with the other three top HR hitters in baseball history, their five seasons starting at age 35, in HR, slugging, and batting:
Ruth (1930-34): 49, 46, 41, 34, 22/ .732, .700, .661, .582, .537 / .359, .373, .341, .301, .288
Mays (1967-71): 22, 23, 13, 28, 18/ .453, .488, .437, .506, .482/ .263, .289, .283, .291, .271
Aaron (1970-74): 44, 38, 47, 34, 40/ .607, .574, .669, .514, .643/ .300, .298, .327, .265, .301
Bonds: (2000-04): 49, 73, 46, 45, 45/ .688, .863, .799, .749, .812/ .306, .328, .370, .341, .362
From age 35 on, Ruth experienced a steady decline every year. Mays had mediocre, below-normal seasons all five years. Aaron held close to his career averages. Only Bonds had dramatically better years all five seasons than he had ever had before. Starting at age 35! This does not happen.
Look where Barry was the two seasons prior to his power surge, at ages 33/34 and 34/35:
1998: 37, .609, .303
1999: 34, .617, .262
About 35, .610, .280 . . .This is what you would expect from a very good player beginning the downward glide path. But then, all of a sudden, for the five seasons after that, numbers like 52, .780, .350?! Come on!