Tom Verducci The People's King: Aaron's home run mark of 755 will endure as a magical number. Serving Up History Catching up with Al Downing, Steve Trachsel and more milestone gopherball pitchers. In His Own Words Often surly and even melancholy, Bonds is always outspoken when it comes to Bonds. The Milestones Take a look back at Bonds' landmark home runs: from No. 100 to 715 and beyond. Hammerin' Hank A career retrospective of the man who first surpassed the Babe's longstanding record. Sports Villians Some consider Bonds one of the true 'bad guys' in the sports world, but he has plenty of company. SI Covers See each of Bonds' eight appearances on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Bonds makes history with No. 756 | VIDEO Heyman: Selig wiggles out of date with history Survey: Is Bonds the true Home Run King? Donovan: Bonds holds record, but he's no hero Taylor: Bonds' ability never in question React: Should Selig have been there? Time.com: Where are the HR balls now? Time.com: The Man With Million Dollar Balls Donovan: Bonds leaves no doubt in San Diego Tale of the Tape: Barry Bonds vs. Darth Vader Markazi: Downing relishes link to Aaron's 715th Baseball Prospectus: Heirs to the throne Freedman: Corporate America shuns Bonds Photos: The Growing Legend of Bonds Excerpt: Game of Shadows | Afterword

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Perhaps Bonds could be on the payroll of grooming companies such as Mennen or Gillette -- which have used stars such as Rodriguez and David Beckham in deodorant and shaving-cream ads -- for as much as $2 million a year. Add to that deals with auto companies, luxury-watch makers, fast-food companies (McDonald's or Burger King) all in the range of $500,000 to $1 million annually.

And how about a deal with a telecommunications firm such as AT&T or Verizon Wireless? It's easy to picture a "Barry Bonds knows how to go long distance" campaign, and AT&T seems like a natural fit, considering Bonds plays his home games at AT&T Park.

Bonds is also in a unique situation because of his age, says Shabelman. Granted, it's a little suspicious that a player can hit 258 home runs over a five-season stretch following his 36th birthday. But let's assume it's all legit, and that now, as he's about to turn 43, he's still mashing monstrous -- and clean -- home runs. Bonds could be playing pitchman for loads of products that you'd never see thirtysomethings Jeter or Rodriguez shilling.

For example, our hypothetical Bonds portfolio also includes products such as pain medication -- remember in the early 1990s when a 45-year-old Nolan Ryan appeared in Advil ads? We also included snack food companies, which might position Bonds as the model dad encouraging his son, Nikolai, to eat healthy.

There's also financial companies, such as retirement plans and brokerage firms: You might recall that a few years back, Bonds actually appeared in Charles Schwab TV spots with Aaron, of all people, as the Field of Dreams-style "voice from above," urging Bonds to retire.

There are other possibilities as well, such as Fortune 500 conglomerates looking to hip their images. James endorses Microsoft, and Woods appears in ads for consulting firm Accenture. And because of where he plays, Bonds could also be a pitchman for a Silicon Valley company such as eBay, Google or even Apple -- how about a Barry Bonds-brand iPod?

In short, the corporate world is still waiting for a baseball juggernaut to sell its product, the James or Manning of the diamond, whose ability to sell matches his ability to produce on the field. It all could have been possible for Brand Bonds -- in a perfect world, that is.