Sources: Jim Leyland Likely to Have Special Attendee at Hall Ceremony

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. – Jim Leyland might have a special guest when he is inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday.

Multiple sources told PittsburghBaseballNow.com on Saturday that Barry Bonds is expected to attend, though nothing is finalized.

Leyland was Bonds’ manager with the Pittsburgh Pirates for the slugger’s first seven seasons from 1986-92. Bonds is baseball’s all-time home run leader with 762.

Bonds failed to gain election to the Hall of Fame during his 10 years on the Baseball Writers Association of America ballot. He has also been passed over by one of the Hall’s veterans’ committees.

So, it will likely create quite a stir if Bonds shows up.

“I’m going to address that right now,” Leyland coyly said when asked Bonds. “But you could think about and maybe draw your own conclusions.”

That seemingly seems to signal that Bonds will be here. We’ll find out for certain on Sunday.