SAN FRANCISCO — The plan was for Willie Mays to simply sit on the field with other Giants luminaries during Barry Bonds’ jersey retirement ceremony. And even after Mays requested to say a few words, they brought him a hand-held microphone so he could stay put.

But the Say Hey Kid, even at 87, still has range. He insisted on marching to the podium. “When I say something,” Mays told the crowd in that still boyish high-pitched voice, “I want everybody to hear it.”

By the time he was done, it was clear Mays wanted his message to be heard all the way to Cooperstown.

“On behalf of all the people in San Francisco, and all over the country, vote this guy in,” he said, openly campaigning for Bonds’ induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Former San Francisco Giants player Barry Bonds claps during his uniform number retirement ceremony before their game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2018. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) 

Mays kept talking, but the rest of his sentence was drowned out by a roar of approval by 41,209 early arriving fans at AT&T Park.

The cheer, and the many that followed, made it clear Saturday night that this ballpark remains Bonds’ haven, his Eden of unconditional love. It’s a place where he remains so immune to the steroid controversy that the Hall of Fame vote might have been unanimous during the lavish, star-studded, rubber-chicken waving 75-minute ceremony that delayed the start of the Giants’ game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Heck, on this night, Bonds even hugged a Dodger. Eric Gagne, a former gasoline-throwing reliever who served up one of Bonds’ record 762 home runs, made a surprise appearance by coming on the field to salute a hitter he called “the best ever to play the game.”

The this-is-your-life kind of evening prompted tears from Bonds, who choked up several times while talking about the reason he wore No. 25 in the first place. Bonds chose that number shortly after signing with the Giants in 1993 because his father, Bobby Bonds, donned No. 25 for San Francisco from 1968-74, often while playing right field next to Mays.

Periodically looking skyward, Bonds sometimes chose to speak to Bobby directly. “Dad,” he said, fighting his emotions, “a big part of my day is missing without you.”

Bobby Bonds was hard on Barry while growing up in Riverside and, later, San Carlos. If Barry hit two home runs in a Little League game, Bobby would sniff, “Good. Hit two more tomorrow.”

Bonds went silent for several moments while struggling to recount a deathbed conversation with Bobby, who died at age 57 in 2003.

“Daddy, why were you so hard on me,” the son asked.

“Because I loved you so much,” the father replied. “And I’m so proud of you. I knew as long as you were going to chase getting my approval, nothing was going to stop you from being the best you could be.”

Now, No. 25 will never be worn again. Bonds becomes the 11th Giants player to be so honored, joining Bill Terry (3), Mel Ott (4), Carl Hubbell (11), Monte Irvin (20), Mays (24), Juan Marichal (27), Orlando Cepeda (30), Gaylord Perry (36) and Willie McCovey (44). The Giants, like all other major league teams, also retired Jackie Robinson (42).

Former San Francisco Giants player Willie Mays acknowledges the crowd during his godson’s Barry Bonds uniform number retirement ceremony before their game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2018. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) 

His tribute on Saturday included a video montage that recalled a bygone era in San Francisco, back when Bonds’ home run exploits riveted fans from 1993-2007. Out in McCovey Cove, 35 floating buoys signified the landing of each of Bonds’ so-called “Splash Hits.” (The rest of the Giants combined have 43 since the park opened in 2000.)

Mike Krukow, who teamed with broadcast partner Duane Kuiper as the master of ceremonies, recalled how those at-bats connected fans from the ballpark to sports bars to living room recliners everywhere.

“All of a sudden, Bonds is up and we’d stop,” Krukow said. “The room would get quiet and the volume would get turned up. We would boo collectively at the manager who walked him.

“But in that magical moment, that he did 586 times in a Giants uniform, with that beautiful swing that was built for average and for power, he would hit it out of the ballpark. He had the greatest trot. And we would leave our seats and high-five and hug strangers. He united us all together. Us, the most diverse city on the planet.”

Bonds went on to win seven MVP awards. Nobody else has more than three. He was a 14-time All-Star as well as a 12-time Silver Slugger and eight-time Gold Glove winner.

Bonds set a single-season season record with 73 longballs in 2001. He surpassed Hank Aaron’s career total of 755 on Aug. 4, 2007.

In those heady days, Bonds was booed on the road and often pilloried by the press, especially as speculation swirled about his use of performance-enhancing drugs. He has never come close to the Hall of Fame in his six years on the ballot, topping out at 56.4 percent last year. (It takes 75 percent to get inducted.)

Fans hold up the number 25 as former San Francisco Giants player Barry Bonds is introduced during his uniform number retirement ceremony before their game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2018. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) 

Aside from Mays, the only other guest speaker to evoke Cooperstown on Saturday was former pitcher Kirk Rueter. “Woody,” as the fan-favorite was known, spent 10 seasons as Bonds’ teammate and also attended his “Wall of Fame” tribute a year ago.

“The next time I see him … I want the letters ‘HOF’ to be included,” Rueter said.

Bonds laughed and clapped along enthusiastically.

The ceremony had its light moments, too. They played several taped congratulatory messages from sports stars on the video board, but boos drowned out tribute from New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. (Like Bonds, Brady attended Serra High School in San Mateo).

The taped messages from Bay Area icons like Joe Montana, Ronnie Lott, Stephen Curry and Steve Kerr drew a more enthusiastic reaction. “There was nothing more exciting than when you came to the plate,” Montana said.

Bonds spoke for 16 minutes and 45 seconds, mostly in a measured tone designed to keep his emotions in check. But he finished strong.

“Thank you San Francisco,” he said. “Thank you for making all of my dreams come true.”

  • San Francisco Giants slugger had his number retired Aug. 11, 2018. Here is a look back at his career. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

  • San Francisco Giants coach Bobby Bonds, left, follows his son Barry, right, off the field at the Giants' spring training facility in Scottsdale, Ariz., on Feb. 25, 1993. (AP Photo/Gary Stewart)

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  • Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants sits in the dugout prior to a March 1993 game. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

  • San Francisco Giants' Barry Bonds slams the first of three consecutive home runs off of Milwaukee Brewers' starter Cal Eldred while Brewers' catcher David Nilsson, left, looks on in the first inning Sunday, Aug. 22, 1999, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Gary Dineen)

  • Barry Bonds heads around the infield after hitting his first of two three-run home runs against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Oct. 1, 1993, in Los Angeles. Bonds became the first player to win four Most Valuable Player Awards, capping a record-breaking season in which his 73 home runs set the biggest mark of all. The 37-year-old outfielder, who hit .328 with 137 RBIs for the San Francisco Giants, received 30 of 32 first-place ballots and 438 points in voting for the National League award announced Monday, Nov. 19. 2001, by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)

  • San Francisco Giants player Barry Bonds waves to the crowd after hitting a home run in his first home at bat off Florida Marlins pitcher Chris Hammond during the second inning of their game at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, Ca., April 12, 1993. The game is the Giants' home opener and the newly-acquired Bonds' first regular season game at Candlestick Park. (AP Photo/Kristy MacDonald)

  • San Francisco Giants' Barry Bonds bats against the New York Mats at Shea Stadium, May 3, 1994. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

  • San Francisco Giants outfielder Barry Bonds jumps to catch a fly ball off the bat of Atlanta Braves' Javy Lopez during fourth inning action in Atlanta, Monday, April 1, 1996. The Braves beat the Giants 10-8. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

  • San Francisco Giants baseball player Barry Bonds is shown at bat in the 66th All-Star game in Arlington, Texas on July 11, 1995. (AP Photo)

  • San Francisco Giants left fielder Barry Bonds pauses after slamming into the wall when he failed to catch up to a double off the bat of Florida Marlins right fielder Gary Sheffield in the eighth inning of the first game of their National League Division Playoff series Tuesday, Sept. 30, 1997, at Pro Player Stadium in Miami. The Marlins won 3-1. (AP Photo/Jeff Boan)

  • San Francisco Giants Barry Bonds celebrates on top of the Giants dugout after they beat the San Diego Padres to win the National League West title in San Francisco, Saturday Sept. 27, 1997. The Giants won the game, 6-1, and won their first playoff berth since 1989. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

  • San Francisco Giants Barry Bonds raises his hands after his second home run of the game against the Philadelphia Phillies in the seventh inning at 3Com Park in San Francisco in this Aug. 30, 1998 file photo.(AP Photo/Susan Ragan)

  • This is a June 22, 2001, file photo showing San Francisco Giants' Barry Bonds, left, leading off first base in front of St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Mark McGwire in the first inning of a baseball game in St. Louis. McGwire has finally come clean, admitting he used steroids when he broke baseball's home run record in 1998. (AP Photo/James A. Finley, File)

  • San Francisco Giants Barry Bonds, #25, tosses his bat after getting his 171st walk in the 6th inning, breaking Babe Ruth's 1923 Major League Record for walks in a single season, against the Houston Astros at Enron Field on Wednesday, October 3, 2001. (Nhat V. Meyer/Mercury News)

  • Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants is greeted by his son Nikolai (25) and the rest of his team 04 October, 2001 after hitting homerun number 70 against the Houston Astros at Enron Field in Houston, Texas. Bonds tied Mark McGwire's season record of 70 homeruns in a season. (Jeff Haynes/Agence France-Presse)

  • San Francisco Giants' Barry Bonds connects with the ball for his 71st home run of the season against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Friday, Oct. 5, 2001, at Pacific Bell Park in San Francisco. Bonds has the record for most home runs in a season beating Mark McGwire's home run record of 70 set in 1998. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

  • Barry Bonds' mother Pat holds a copy of the Mercury News Ballpark Extra minutes after Bonds broke the season home run record Friday October 5, 2001.

  • San Francisco Giants' Barry Bonds hits his 72nd home run of the season October 5, 2001 at Pacific Bell Park in San Francisco, surpassing his first inning record when he broke Mark McGwire's record of 70 with his 71st home run. The Giants' slugger hit both home runs off Los Angeles Dodgers' pitcher Chan Ho Park, his 72nd in the 3rd inning. REUTERS/Lou Dematteis

  • Barry Bonds jokes with teamates on the bench the day after he set the HR record of 72. Pitcher Kirk Rueter is behind him. The Giants loss the game to the Dodgers, 6-2. (Gary Reyes/Mercury News)

  • San Francisco Giants' left fielder Barry Bonds has a laugh with Milwaukee Brewers' first baseman John Vander Wal between innings of a spring training game Saturday, March 8, 2003, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

  • Barry Bonds holds up the 2003 MVP award that he received prior to the start of the San Francisco Giants game against the Milwaukee Brewers on Opening Day in San Francisco, Monday, April 12, 2004. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

  • San Francisco Giants' Barry Bonds waves to the crowd after receiving Silver Slugger award on opening day ap Pac Bell park in San Francisco, Monday, April 7, 2003. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

  • San Francisco Giants outfielder Barry Bonds catches a liner hit by Quinton McCracken of the Arizona Diamondbacks in the third inning , Friday July 9, 2004 in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Dino Vournas)

  • Home run record holder Hank Aaron greets San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds before the start of the All-Star Home Run Derby in Houston, in this July 12, 2004 file photo. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

  • Fans cheer on Barry Bonds after he hits a homerun on the bottom of the 5th of the season opener at the SBC Park in San Francisco on Monday afternoon. Giants beat against Milwaukee Brewers 7-5. (Joanne Hoyoung Lee/Mercury News)

  • San Francisco Giants left fielder Barry Bonds holds his glove up after making a sliding catch of a fly ball hit by Los Angeles Dodgers' Ramon Martinez in the fourth inning of a baseball game in Los Angeles on Sunday, July 9, 2006.(AP Photo/Francis Specker)

  • San Francisco Giants' Barry Bonds (25) runs the bases after hitting his 750th career home run off Arizona Diamondbacks' Livan Hernandez in the eighth inning of a baseball game Friday, June 29, 2007, in San Francisco. The hit puts Bonds within six of breaking Hank Aaron's home run record. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

  • Barry Bonds hits home run number 754 in the first inning against the Florida Marlins at AT&T Park in San Francisco on July 27, 2007. Marlins pitcher was Rick Vanden Hurk. Bonds is one home run away from tying Hank Aaron's all-time home run record. (Mercury News/Gary Reyes)

  • San Francisco Giants' Barry Bonds follows through on his swing for his record-setting 756th home run in the fifth inning against the Washington Nationals at AT&T Park in San Francisco California, Tuesday, August 7, 2007. (Paul Kitagaki Jr/Sacramento Bee/MCT)

  • Fans celebrate Barry Bonds' home run No. 756 against the Washington Nationals in the fifth inning at AT&T Park in San Francisco on August 7, 2007. Barry Bonds breaks the all-time home run record set by Hank Aaron in 1974. (Gary Reyes/Mercury News)

  • Barry Bonds acknowledges the cheers of the 43,154 spectators who witnessed his 756th career home run to break Hank Aaron's career home run record. Washington Nationals at San Francisco Giants, Aug. 7, 2007, AT&T Park, San Francisco. (Gary Reyes/Mercury News)

  • San Francisco Giants' Barry Bonds waves goodbye as he leaves the baseball game at the end of the sixth inning against the San Diego Padres, Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2007 in San Francisco. It was the last time that Bonds played as a San Francisco Giant in San Francisco. (AP Photo/George Nikitin)

  • Barry Bonds leaves the Federal Courthouse in San Francisco, Calif. on Friday, Dec. 16, 2011 following his sentencing for his obstruction of justice conviction in connection with the Balco steroids scandal. He was sentenced to two years probation, 30 days of home confinement and 250 hours of community service. (Gary Reyes/ Mercury News)

  • Barry Bonds reacts to a fan in front of the Federal Building in San Francisco after a federal jury found him guilty of obstruction of justice on April 13, 2011. A mistrial was declared on three perjury charges. The jury had been in their fourth day of deliberations on the case. Bonds was found guilty of one count of obstructing justice for allegedly lying to a federal grand jury about knowingly using steroids back in 2003. (Gary Reyes /Mercury News)

  • Miami Marlins batting coach Barry Bonds greets Lou Seal at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Friday, April 22, 2016. (Jim Gensheimer/Bay Area News Group)

  • Former San Francisco Giant Barry Bonds joins Willie Mays on the field before the start of the home opener at AT&;T Park in San Francisco, Calif., Tuesday, April 3, 2018. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

  • Former San Francisco Giants' Barry Bonds talks to Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry (30) following the Warriors 121-116 win over the New Orleans Pelicans for Game 2 of the NBA Western Conference semifinals at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, May 1, 2018. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)