Dusty Rhodes, the hero of the Giants’ last World Series championship — a mere 55 years ago, died Wednesday at 82. What, besides having played for the Giants, did Rhodes have in common with Bonds?

Barry Lamar Bonds and James Lamar Rhodes shared the same middle name.

Besides the superstars of the day — Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle, Duke Snider, Ted Williams, Stan Musial and a few others — Dusty Rhodes was the first baseball player to enter my consciousness.

I was all of 6 years old and had just returned from school to my family’s apartment in Queens, N.Y., on Wednesday, Sept. 29, 1954. As I opened the door, I heard my dad whoopin’ and hollerin’ with unrestrained joy. Willie Mays had just made his iconic over-the-shoulder catch some 470 feet from home plate in the eighth inning of Game 1 of the World Series.

No, my Dad wasn’t unemployed. He was working nights as a building maintenance man, a shift that gave him the opportunity to see the World Series day games on TV.

In the 10th inning, with the score tied 2-2, the Giants sent up a pinch hitter, the wonderfully named Dusty Rhodes. I had never heard of him. In a few minutes, I would never forget him.

Facing future Hall of Famer Bob Lemon, Dusty hit a game-ending three-run homer. He hit it down the right-field line at the Polo Grounds, about 260 feet from home plate.

I was only 6, but the lesson was learned and has stayed in my mind all these years. Baseball, like life, isn’t fair. Cleveland’s Vic Wertz had hit a ball 470 and it was caught for an out. Rhodes hit a ball 260 feet and it won a World Series game and forever made his reputation.

Rhodes had quite a World Series in 1954. Four hits in six at-bats, two homers, seven RBIs. It was the year before the World Series MVP award was established. But anyone who saw that Series knew who the most valuable player was — James Lamar “Dusty” Rhodes.