Bonds told MSNBC in an interview that aired today that he is prepared to be a no-show if inducted into the Hall; players are not eligible for election until five years after their retirement.

"I won't be part of it," he said. "I won't be there. You can call me, but I won't be there."

Fashion designer Mark Ecko bought Bonds' 756th career home run ball for more than $750,000 and set up a Web site for fans to vote on its fate. Ecko announced Sept. 27 that fans voted to brand the ball with a permanent asterisk and send it to the Hall of Fame.

The Hall was prepared to accept the defaced ball, which Bonds isn't taking lightly.

"I don't think you can put an asterisk in the game of baseball and I don't think that the Hall of Fame can accept an asterisk in their Hall of Fame," Bonds said. "You cannot give people the freedom, the right, to alter history. You can't do it. There's no such thing as an asterisk in baseball."

Bonds said he reserved the right to change his mind, though.

"Maybe I'll reconsider," he said. "But ... their position will be the determination of what my decision will be at that time."

Because of his connection to baseball's steroids era, Bonds' induction is no sure bet. Mark McGwire, whose single-season home run record Bonds shattered in 2001, was named on just 23.5 percent of ballots in his first year of eligibility; 75 percent is required for enshrinement.

Bonds, 43, has filed for free agency and appeared to leave open the possibility of returning to the Giants during an Oct. 24 speaking appearance. But Giants General Manager Brian Sabean responded bluntly when asked today if there was any chance the club would bring back Bonds.

"No," Sabean said.

Bonds' free agency figures to be affected by baseball's internal investigation into past steroid use. Former Sen. George Mitchell's report is due to be released before the end of the year.

Bonds told MSNBC he was not concerned about Mitchell's report.