SAN FRANCISCO  – Barry Bonds is publicly referring to himself as a convicted felon these days, and he’s quick to point out that conviction was never for steroid use.

He appealed his obstruction of justice conviction from April 2011 on one count of giving an evasive answer to a 2003 grand jury investigating illegal steroids distribution.

“I went through the system. And that’s what it is,’‘ Bonds said Monday, attending the Diamondbacks-Giants while doing charity work through Big Brothers and Sisters of the Bay Area. “And that’s what I got. I went through the system. I’m in an appeal process right now. I was never convicted of steroids.’‘

The slugger said he met recently with Giants president and CEO Larry Baer about working for the club in some capacity, and Bonds has a personal services contract the Giants have said could go into effect once his legal proceedings were in the past.