It’s always fun to hear former players in any sport reminisce about their own careers. For example, we remember how we used to get glued to Michael Jordan’s “The Last Dance.” But beyond the drama on the court or field, it’s even more fascinating to learn how these players approached the game and the competition. Just watch this video of MLB legend Barry Bonds and Hall of Famer Greg Maddux recalling their epic battles, shared by Not Gaetti on X, formerly Twitter.

In the video, the two former players relive a 1998 game between Bonds’ San Francisco Giants and Maddux’ Atlanta Braves.

“’98? I can’t remember. I’m 60 years old, I can’t remember that far back,” Bonds begins the video, laughing.

Bonds vs. Maddux

It’s incredible how both players were able to recall the exact thought processes that went into their chess game more than 20 years later. First, Maddux describes his approach to facing one of the greatest MLB players of all time.

“You know, in the first inning, it’s too early to pitch around somebody, so you try to throw them out,” he said. Recalling his first pitch, he added, “Pretty good cutter that beat them. I have no problem throwing that pitch.”

Even though the two men were in separate rooms, it seemed incredible that Bonds had perfectly predicted Maddux’s next move. Just listen to his reaction.

“The cutter was faster than him, so I thought he was going to get faster,” the MLB legend said. “I made a change-up and he spit on it. That’s a pretty good change-up and he was able to catch it easily.”

The back and forth continues until Maddux miscalculates and serves Bonds a home run on a silver platter.

“And there it is,” he said. “You can’t come into the well twice, buddy. You just can’t. And Greg knows that because I always say, ‘You can’t come into the penthouse without an invitation.'”

After watching the replay, Maddux admitted that pitching against great hitters takes something different.

“I mean, that’s a good pitch, believe it or not,” he said. “That’s a good pitch, but obviously the wrong pitch. You have to remember that and try not to throw one to him again. He’s the best in baseball and you can’t make it easy for him. That’s the pitch he wants to hit, so you have to get him to hit something else.”

“I think that was the moment when I finally said, ‘I’ve got you now,'” Bonds said. “There’s nothing you can do now.”

In his 23 seasons with the Braves, Greg Maddux won four Cy Young Awards and the 1995 World Series. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2014. Most baseball fans would now consider Barry Bonds one of the greatest baseball players of all time, winning 7 NL MVP awards and 14 All-Star nominations. In addition, Bonds has the most home runs in a single season with 73 and the most home runs in a career with 762.