Some of the San Diego Padres even came out early to catch a glimpse — with manager Bud Black, a former teammate of the San Francisco slugger, perched on the front of the dugout rail.

Bonds discussed hitting with teammate Dave Roberts outside the cage between rounds, and hollered to greet Black, too.

After missing 10 games because of a sprained big right toe that is worse than initially thought, Bonds was in the starting lineup and batting in his regular cleanup spot today. But he isn't scheduled to play this weekend in Los Angeles.

"This will be the only game I play in, yes," Bonds said.

So, this was it. The end of a history-making era for the 43-year-old home run king, seven-time NL MVP and 14-time All-Star — in the very city where he used to bounce around the clubhouse as his late father, Bobby, and godfather, Hall of Famer Willie Mays, got ready for games.

Manager Bruce Bochy took notice when he wrote Bonds into the lineup for the last time, a special piece of paper set to go into safe keeping in the Giants' archives. Bochy knows Bonds might not ever play again, too, despite the slugger insisting he wants to suit up next year somewhere.

"When you write his name into the lineup for the final time, you realize what you're doing," Bochy said. "I know it's a possibility (he's done). Talking to him, he wants to play some more. He might change his mind and we could be seeing this tremendous talent play for the last time."

About a dozen fans waited outside the player parking lot for a final chance at the slugger's autograph. Inside the ballpark, a large logo reading "BONDS 25" was painted on the field in black over Bonds' left field spot.

A series of video clips were scheduled to be shown during the game as a tribute to No. 25. Bonds was told last Thursday by owner Peter Magowan, who also watched closely as Bonds took his cuts, he would not be re-signed for a 16th season with the Giants.

"I think there's a lot of sadness," executive vice president Larry Baer said today. "When you step back from the sadness, you challenge yourself to think of any other run — 15 years in one city. ... It's a very simple two words, but thank you. The 15 years run deep for all of us. He's had a lot of fun, we've had a lot of fun. He's had success. We've had success."

Last night, fans called for Bonds with their familiar chant of "Barry! Barry!" He never was available to pinch hit because of the tender toe, and Bonds had an MRI exam on it today. The toe is not broken.

"It's still swollen. I'm serious. It's still sore," Bonds said in a brief back-and-forth with the media at his locker. "It is not broken. That's good. ... No more interviews. This turned into an interview, God forbid."

Bonds was visited by Baer in the clubhouse and the slugger also shook hands with fans near the San Francisco dugout before he hit.

Bochy said his star player might only get one at-bat, and probably no more than three — all depending on his toe.

Bonds broke Hank Aaron's record with his 756th home run in this very ballpark on Aug. 7. And everyone seemed to think it was nice this is where Bonds would play his final game for an organization he joined in 1993 after spending his first seven big league seasons in Pittsburgh.

"I don't think he'd get cheered in L.A. when he came off the field in his last game," said teammate Rich Aurilia, who along with Bonds fell short against the wild-card Angels in the 2002 World Series. "I think it's fitting. I'm sure the fans will send him off in a great way."

The large banners commemorating Bonds' home run record still hang from the light posts on either side of the main center-field scoreboard.

Baer said even if Bonds plays next season in the American League, the club might consider signing him briefly so he could retire as a Giant.

Mays had to leave the Giants late in his career before retiring with the New York Mets. The Say Hey Kid was in the clubhouse for Bonds' farewell in the waterfront ballpark where he helped bring in 3 million fans in all eight years of its existence.