As for his image problem, Bonds told MLB.com, "I can't turn back the clock now. Time has passed. Wounds for me have healed."

The controversy makes it unlikely Bonds will receive the necessary 75 percent of the vote from longtime members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America to make the Hall of Fame.

"I don't even know how to explain it. The world has become so negative," Bonds told MLB.com. "One day, I'll be able to say things the right way. But it's tough when you have so many people out there who don't want to turn the page and want to be angry at you forever. I don't understand why it continues on. What am I doing wrong?

"I can sit here and say, 'You know what? Baseball is great. I love it.' I can sit here and say in a very kind way that I'm sorry about the way things ended. I can sit here and say that I respect the Hall of Fame, which I do. But I don't understand all the controversy we're having about it. For what reason? What's there to be gained by all of this? What's the point?"

In addition to Bonds, two other controversial figures from baseball's so-called "steroids era" are new to the Hall of Fame ballot: pitcher Roger Clemens and slugger Sammy Sosa.

Other candidates who might have a better chance of induction include Craig Biggio, Curt Schilling, Jack Morris and Jeff Bagwell.