Bobby Bonilla: Difference between revisions

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|bats=Switch
|bats=Switch
|throws=Right
|throws=Right
|birth_date={{birth date and age|1963|2|23}}
|birth_date={{birth date|1963|2|23}}
|birth_place=[[Bronx, New York]]
|birth_place=[[Bronx, New York]]
|death_date={{death date and age|2014|4|7|1963|2|23}}
|death place=[[Kansas City, Kansas]]
|debutdate=April 9
|debutdate=April 9
|debutyear=1986
|debutyear=1986
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Overall, Bobby Bonilla was a six-time [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]], and had career statistics of 2,010 hits, 287 [[home run]]s, 1,173 [[run batted in|runs batted in]], and a career .279 [[batting average]].
Overall, Bobby Bonilla was a six-time [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]], and had career statistics of 2,010 hits, 287 [[home run]]s, 1,173 [[run batted in|runs batted in]], and a career .279 [[batting average]].

==Death==
Bonilla was killed at a zoo when someone noticed he was ran over by a cow.


==See also==
==See also==

Revision as of 02:17, 8 April 2014

Bobby Bonilla
Third baseman / Right fielder
Born: (1963-02-23)February 23, 1963
Bronx, New York
Died: April 7, 2014(2014-04-07) (aged 51)
Batted: Switch
Threw: Right
debut
April 9, 1986, for the Chicago White Sox
Last appearance
October 7, 2001, for the St. Louis Cardinals
Career statistics
Batting average.279
Home runs287
Runs batted in1,173
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Roberto Martin Antonio "Bobby" Bonilla[1] (/boʊˈniːjə/, born February 23, 1963 in The Bronx, New York) is a former player in Major League Baseball of Afro-Puerto Rican descent[1] who played from 1986 to 2001. Bobby is the highest paid player per year in the history of baseball and the four major professional sports (baseball, basketball, football, and hockey) in the United States. He earned a record $42,250,000 for a one year contract of which he did not even play a game for the Mets.

Playing career

Bonilla was signed out of high school by Pittsburgh Pirates scout Syd Thrift. His rise through the Pirates' farm system came to a halt during spring training in 1985 when he broke his right leg in a collision with teammate Bip Roberts. The White Sox then acquired him through the Rule 5 draft. Bonilla made his major league debut with the White Sox. Syd Thrift, then the Pirates' General Manager, reacquired the unhappy Bonilla in exchange for pitcher José DeLeón. Bonilla also played from 1984 to 1988 with the Mayagüez Indians of the Puerto Rican Winter League.[2]

Pittsburgh Pirates

Bonilla became the Pirates' starting third baseman in 1987, but after committing 67 errors over his next two seasons, manager Jim Leyland moved him to right field. There he formed a formidable combination alongside stars Barry Bonds and Andy Van Slyke and helped propel the Pittsburgh Pirates to two of their three straight NL East titles from 1990 to 1992.

New York Mets

In 1992, he was signed as a free agent by the New York Mets to a (then) very lucrative 5 year, $29 million contract ($63 million today[3]). But without his fellow Pirate stars around him, his offensive production dropped. His stay in New York was also marred by a number of incidents, such as threatening sportswriter Bob Klapisch that he would "show him the Bronx" in response to his book on the 1992 Mets, The Worst Team Money Could Buy: The Collapse Of The New York Mets (ISBN 978-0803278226).[4] On another occasion, he called the press box during a game to complain about an error that he was charged with.[5]

Orioles/Marlins/Dodgers

Finally, in 1995, Bonilla was traded by the Mets with a player to be named later to the Baltimore Orioles for Damon Buford and Alex Ochoa.

After helping the Orioles to the American League Championship Series in 1996, he was once again granted free agency and signed with the Florida Marlins. Reunited with his old manager, Jim Leyland, he helped the Marlins win the 1997 World Series. He spent the 1998 season with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Back to the Mets

In 1999, the New York Mets reacquired Bonilla from the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for Mel Rojas. Again, his level of play did not measure up to expectations and he had numerous clashes with manager Bobby Valentine over lack of playing time. His tenure in New York culminated in an infamous incident during Game Six of the 1999 NLCS where the Mets were eliminated by the Braves in an eleven inning game while Bonilla reportedly sat in the clubhouse playing cards with teammate Rickey Henderson.[6]

After a subpar season in 1999, the Mets released Bonilla, but still owed him $5.9 million. The team had to get him off their book in order to sign another player, so they worked out a deal: If Bonilla would defer payment for a decade, they would pay him an annuity worth far more than the $5.9 million. Bonilla accepted the offer, resulting in an annual paycheck of $1.19 million starting in 2011 and ending in 2035. This annuity was invested with Bernie Madoff by Fred Wilpon and was a subject of inquiry during the Madoff investment scandal.[7]

Atlanta Braves

The New York Mets placed Bonilla on unconditional waivers in 2000. He spent the 2000 season playing for the Atlanta Braves. The Mets agreed to pay out the remainder of Bonilla's contract by deferring the $5.9 million that he was due. The Mets will pay him 25 equal payments of $1,193,248.20 every July 1 from 2011 until 2035, assuming an annual interest rate of 8% during the period 2001–2035.[8] In addition to this 25 payments of $500,000 from the Mets started in 2004. Bringing his one contract year of 2000 total earnings to $42,250,000. This makes Bobby the highest paid player of all time.

St. Louis Cardinals

In 2001, he was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals, but was released due to an injury and the success of his replacement, Albert Pujols. He played his final game on October 7, 2001.

Overall, Bobby Bonilla was a six-time All-Star, and had career statistics of 2,010 hits, 287 home runs, 1,173 runs batted in, and a career .279 batting average.

Death

Bonilla was killed at a zoo when someone noticed he was ran over by a cow.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Levin, Eric; Mary Huzinec (1988-07-18). "Save That Ball, Boys—The Way Bobby Bonilla's Going, It'll Be Valuable". People. Retrieved 2012-11-24.
  2. ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=c-4Xt5C5OywC&pg=PA154&lpg=PA154&dq=%22Bobby+Bonilla%22+mayaguez&source=bl&ots=ab-I65zYP7&sig=6yS7p7mXQWpaRuE9-PTPL3znBE0&hl=en&sa=X&ei=rAw4T9aeGMqQiAKOtbylCg&sqi=2&ved=0CDEQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=%22Bobby%20Bonilla%22%20mayaguez&f=false The Santurce Crabbers: Sixty Seasons of Puerto Rican Winter League Baseball By Thomas E. Van Hyning, Herman Franks P154
  3. ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  4. ^ Klapisch, Bob (2002-02-26). "1992 taught Mets a chemistry lesson".
  5. ^ Edes, Gordon (2007-05-25). "It's a trial of hits and errors". The Boston Globe.
  6. ^ "Henderson, Bonilla show up Valentine in Game 6". Sports Illustrated. 22 October 1999. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
  7. ^ http://deadspin.com/5886867/how-bernie-madoffs-money-ran-the-mets
  8. ^ Shapiro, Mark (2000-01-04). "Mets Say Goodbye To Bonilla, Eat $29 Million". Chicago Tribune.

External links


Preceded by National League Player of the Month
April & May 1988
April 1990 		Succeeded by

Template:Persondata

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