Gary Peterson

The super-achieving 40-something is an age-old phenomenon. We've seen a parade of them in our lifetime — Warren Spahn, Ted Williams, Rickey Henderson, Nolan Ryan, Heather Locklear.

Did we say that last one out loud?

Well, no matter. The point has been proven — the prime of life doesn't necessarily end on a person's 40th birthday. We get it. Or at least, we should.

Now here comes Barry Bonds to redefine that concept, too.

Bonds has changed a lot of ideas about a lot of standards and benchmarks over the course of his career. For example, when he broke into the majors, the 300-300 club was the ultimate expression of a player's power-speed quotient. Only two men had ever combined 300 home runs and 300 stolen bases in the same career — his father, Bobby, and his godfather, Willie Mays.

Three other players have since joined that exalted group, but they're no longer members of an exclusive club. Bonds has set the new bar at 500-500.

Another example: Before Bonds, eight players had won three Most Valuable Player awards. He now has seven.

Just two years ago, it appeared Bonds' bar-setting days were over. His right knee was failing him, and surgeons, it appeared, were failing his right knee. He missed most of 2005 and hobbled through most of 2006. When this season began, with Bonds now 42, it was legitimate to wonder how much he had left.

The answer appears to be the same as it was in 2004, his most recent MVP season: As much as opposing pitchers will allow him.

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Through 34 games this season, Bonds' slugging percentage was a major league-leading .711. Nobody over the age of 40 has ever finished a season at higher than .645. He's also hitting .300.

Bonds is not only hitting home runs again, through 34 games his 11 home runs are one behind the National League leaders. At this pace, he will finish the season with 51. No 40-something has ever finished a season with more than 34.

As a result, Bonds has been issued 14 intentional walks this season. He's drawn 97 intentional walks since turning 40. No. 2 on that list is Carlton Fisk, with 34.

Other future Hall of Famers — Fisk, for example — were reasonable facsimiles of their old selves on the far side of 40. Some even approached dominance.

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