Millions of Americans are in a celebratory mood as the calendar transitions into a new month. But along with the Fourth of July festivities, baseball fans are familiar with another event known as Bobby Bonilla Day.
Today, and every July 1 through 2035, Bonilla can celebrate as he will amass a check for $1,193,248.20 from the New York Mets.
Happy Bobby Bonilla Day.
**Bonilla hasn’t played for the New York Mets since 1999. But, until 2035, the team still has to pay him yearly increments of $1.19 million. https://t.co/ifEHizQlxC
According to Celebrity Net Worth, the number is actually $1.4 million and here’s why:
“Every year between now and 2028, Bobby will earn $1.4 million every July 1st ($1.2 million +225k from the two contracts). Then from 2028 through 2035 he’ll earn $1.2 million (because the first unusual contract will have run out).”
Who is Bobby Bonilla, and why is he still receiving payments?
The former MLB star and native New Yorker went undrafted out of high school during the 1981 draft. After hard work and continuous dedication to his craft, the Pittsburgh Pirates signed him to a Minor League contract.
Injuries left the young sensation unprotected by the Bucco’s in the Rule 5 Draft, so the Chicago White Sox snagged him and placed him on the 40-man roster in 1986. But he grew frustrated with the organization and was later traded back to the Pirates, where he occupied the outfield with fellow MLB bro Barry Bonds.
Bobby Bonilla turns 52 today. Here are some awesome pictures of him and Barry Bonds: pic.twitter.com/Lv7t3ZzhC3
He returned home to New York in 1991 after inking a five-year, 29-million-dollar deal with the Mets, making him the highest-paid player in the National League. He made two All-Star game appearances in the Big Apple but later got traded to the Baltimore Orioles over disagreements with the franchise.
Bonilla signed a free-agent deal with the Florida Marlins, who won the 1997 World Series and later got traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers during the 1998 season.
The disgruntled outfielder got sent back to the Mets during the 1999 season, where he only played 60 games before his eventual release for altercations with manager Bobby Valentine.
He later joined the Atlanta Braves and the St. Louis Cardinals in his final seasons in the big leagues before retiring ahead of the 2001 season.
At the end of his career, Bonilla amassed 2,010 hits, 1,173 RBI, 287 home runs, six All-Star game appearances, and a championship.
Again, Bonilla last played baseball in 2001.
At the turn of the new decade, the Mets still owed Bonilla $5.9 million, but the front office didn’t want to pay him up front. So his agent worked with the organization, and both sides struck a deal by agreeing to deferred payments of $1.2 million for over 25 years that would start July 1, 2011, which includes an eight percent interest.
Why would the Mets agree to such a lucrative deal?
The Mets ownership had unsatisfied accounts with Bernie Madoff, the financier who ran one of the largest Ponzi schemes in American history that promised double-digit returns for the organization who took a drastic hit financially. So, the Mets were kind of strapped for cash.
Bonilla according to reports has an estimated net worth of $20 million, but thanks in part to the lucrative contract, he and his family are set for life as the 58-year-old will collect payments until his 72nd birthday.
Last week, the New York Mets honored play-by-play announcer Gary Cohen, inducting him into their Hall of Fame. It was well deserved. Cohen, for a long time, has been lauded as one of the best in the business.
Last July, Keith Hernandez’s jersey number was retired by the Mets. Saying Hernandez, an 11-time Gold Glove winner at first base, an MLB record at the position, is the greatest defensive first baseman of all-time is not a hot take. His premier defense, contact hitting skills and strong leadership were essential for a Mets team that would go on to win the 1986 World Series.
However, it got us wondering here at MLBbro… when will they retire the numbers of Dwight “Doc” Gooden and Darryl Strawberry? There is no ‘86 Championship glory without the greatness of these brothas known as “Doctor K” and “Straw.” They also remain the most talented, exciting and impactful players (can put Tom Seaver, Mike Piazza, David Wright and Jose Reyes in that category as well) that the Mets have ever had.
What are the Mets waiting for? Yes, these men have made mistakes off the field, but how long should they be punished? Is it fair to withhold an honor from a player due for off the field transgressions when they’ve mostly hurt themselves? Debatable. I
n a 1985 federal testimony, Hernandez admitted to using cocaine during the 1980 season while a member of the Cardinals. Time passed and he was forgiven. Jerry Koosman was sentenced to jail in 2009 for tax evasion. He was forgiven and the Mets retired his jersey in 2021. Can Gooden and Strawberry receive the same grace or do the Mets have some sort of grudge?
Whatever the answer is, one thing’s for sure. It can’t be their game because on the field, well, they were spectacular. The term “box office” is thrown around a lot these days for different players.
But, Gooden and Strawberry were all that and then some! The energy of the city was just different when Gooden took the mound, especially during his dominant 1985 season. Young fans could compare a Doc outing to the energy behind a Jake deGrom or Shohei Ohtani start. He was REALLY “him;” an absolute must watch. Batters dug in against Doc knowing they didn’t stand a chance. He’d go 24-4 that season with a 1.54 era, racking up a whopping 264 K’s with a devastating fastball and one of the best curveballs the game has ever seen.
Dwight Gooden was 157-85 with a 3.10 ERA, 1,7875 strikeouts in 305 appearances for The Metropolitans. His .649 win percentage is best in Mets franchise history, He’s second to the legendary Tom Seaver in wins, strikeouts and WAR.
Meanwhile, Darryl Strawberry, blessed baseball fans with a tremendous combination of bat speed, foot speed, and natural home run hitting power as well as being a dynamic offensive threat. He bro bombed an MLB leading 39 home runs in 1988. His speed on the base paths made him elite, notably during the ’87 season, when he became the 9th player in MLB history to join the 30-30 club.
Strawberry batted .263 with 1,025 hits, 252 home runs, 733 RBIs, 662 runs and 191 stolen bases in his career as a Met. He was one of the most feared sluggers in the 80’s and is currently STILL sitting atop the Mets all time home run list. Straw still also ranks second in Mets history for RBIs and WAR amongst position players.
The numbers don’t lie. With Keith Hernandez #17 retirement almost one year old at Citi Field, Doc & Darryl should be in the on deck circle for their numbers to be retired next. With the notoriously petty Wilpons out of the way, new owner, Steve Cohen, should ensure no one else wears 16 or 18 in Queens ever again.
The first baseman/outfielder is having the worst season of his major league career. In the 58 games he has suited up for the New York Mets, he has a .194 batting average, with 17 RBI. He is slugging a .276 on-base percentage, and a .284 slugging percentage. He has also not hit one out of the yard so far either.
As the All-Star Break has come to a close and the second half of the season underway, Smith will not be a part of that. It was announced on Thursday that he would start the second half on the 10-day Injured List with an ankle, after rolling it while running the bases last Saturday against the Cubs.
The Mets were not a bad team last season, as they were in first place in the NL East for a good chunk of their campaign, but they ended up self-imploding, and the eventual World Series champion Atlanta Braves took the division over. After making several splashy moves the previous offseason, like with the signing of Max Scherzer and Starling Marte, as well as the team they already had, things were looking bright in Queens.
As the 11th overall pick back in 2015 out of Junipero Serra High School in Gardena, California, Smith has been expected to play a big role with his bat. After a very successful 2020 season, hitting 10 home runs in 50 games, Smith’s production dipped as he ended up having a mediocre 2021 year, batting .244 with 11 home runs, 58 RBI, an on-base percentage of .304, and a slugging percentage .363 in 145 games played.
Many fans just saw this as a down year for Smith and the Mets, as the team went into a downward spiral in the second half. The team is hoping he can reach back to his .316 batting average from 2020. As of now, fans and the team just hope that he can get back to the same production from 2021.
The August 2nd trade deadline is approaching quickly, and as the Mets are very much in playoff contention, they will be buyers. The team just announced Friday that they acquired first baseman/designated hitter Daniel Vogelback, most likely meaning less playing time for Smith.
Smith’s name has already been thrown out there as a potential player the Mets may use as a trade piece. Recent reports have indicated that, according to Robert Murray, teams like the Cubs and the Red Sox are already showing signs of interest in the 27-year-old. Especially with a crowded outfield, and a very crowded first baseman group, all signs are pointing to Smith being the odd man out.
A change in scenery could be exactly what he needs. It can be a chance to let go of old demons, and have a fresh start. However, there is a good chance that he will not get traded, and if that’s the case, then he will really need to figure out what’s going wrong in a hurry. Either way, the next month or two are going to be very interesting to see what ends up happening with Smith.
Happy Bobby Bonilla Day! July 1st is the day that Bonilla collects $1,193,248.20 from the New York Mets annually. This began in 2011 and will last until 2035 when he will be 72. Party up, Bobby!
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