In its new series "Hidden Classics," MLB is digging into its archives and dusting off big games you might have forgotten about from your favorite stars of yesteryear. Stay tuned to MLB.com/HiddenClassics and MLB's YouTube channel for more Hidden Classic games.

You get one chance to make a first impression. In Barry Bonds' case, he only had one chance to make any impression at world-famous Yankee Stadium.

And if you were in the right-field seats on June 8, 2002, that impression is definitely still fresh in your mind.

Across 22 seasons, more than 3,000 games and an American/National League record 762 home runs, Bonds played just three contests in the Bronx. Luckily for baseball fans, his only visit came right in the heart of his statistical prime. Bonds had just broken the single-season homer record in 2001; now he was assembling another ludicrous campaign and would ultimately lead San Francisco to the NL pennant.

The Friday night series opener between the Giants and defending AL champion Yankees saw Bonds hit a mere two singles ¨C ho-hum, by his standards. But on a sunny Saturday afternoon, featured in this week¡¯s edition of MLB¡¯s ¡°Hidden Classics¡± series, Bonds put on the show the baseball world was hoping to see.

¡°Hidden Classics¡± dives into MLB¡¯s massive archive and dusts off big games from the big stars you remember. And if you¡¯re a fan of a certain age, you may recall what happened when Bonds stepped in for his first at-bat against Yankees lefty Ted Lilly.

¡°Bobby Bonilla came into the locker room (before the game),¡± Bonds later told Sports Illustrated, ¡°and I didn¡¯t know if he was kidding or not at the time, but he said, ¡®Hey, (Ted) Lilly said he¡¯s going to challenge you.' I said, 'If he does that, Bobby, I promise you I¡¯m going to hit that ball out of the stadium.'¡±

Promise kept ¨C in almost every regard. Fittingly, in ¡°The House That Ruth Built,¡± Bonds called his shot and clubbed Lilly¡¯s fastball, in Giants broadcaster Jon Miller¡¯s words, clear to New Jersey.

Perhaps you¡¯ve replayed that homer dozens of times on YouTube, but plenty more happened in this game. The loaded Yankees lineup of Derek Jeter, Bernie Williams, Jason Giambi and Jorge Posada battled back, setting up a huge treat for fans: A ninth-inning, tie-game showdown between Bonds and baseball¡¯s all-time saves leader, Mariano Rivera.

Find out who won that battle by watching the condensed game above in the video player, or over on MLB¡¯s YouTube channel.

And for previous editions of ¡°Hidden Classics,¡± check out:

• Ken Griffey Jr. and the Mariners¡¯ final game at Seattle¡¯s Kingdome
• Albert Pujols¡¯ 5-for-5, three-homer game at Wrigley Field
• A vintage Pedro Martinez-Roger Clemens pitchers¡¯ duel at Yankee Stadium
• Kirby Puckett¡¯s superhuman 6-for-6, 2-homer game (with a homer robbery on defense!)