Some think Bobby Bonilla Day celebrates his birthday. But those in the baseball world know otherwise.
Bobby Bonilla Day — or July 1 — marks the day the New Yor Mets paying Bonilla $1.19 millionannually.
This year marks the 16th straight year of the payout.
In January 2000, the team decided to buy out his deal and agreed to defer the remaining $5.9 million sum with 8% interest spread across 2011-2035.
This decision followed the 1999 season when Bonilla hit a mere .160 in 60 games.
The Mets have now paid Bonilla, now 63, more than $19 million since 2011.
The total payout will be about $29.83 million through 2035.
Then-owner Fred Wilpon was in charge, but also had to deal with the Mets organization that was in the midst of being scammed by Bernie Madoff.
The Mets banked in the notion they would be getting big returns on their investment with Madoff.
In the end they didn’t and couldn’t pay off the buyout.
This annual windfall has become more of a joke in recent years.
In November 2020, when current owner Steve Cohen bought the Mets, he joked about giving Bonilla an oversized check and driving a car around Citi Field every July 1.
There was also a promotion for fans to book an Airbnb stay at Citi Field under the header: “Private room hosted by Bobby.”
Bonilla has also found the humor in the situation.
“It’s kind of become like my birthday so to speak, right? It’s become that big,” Bonilla told The New York Post in 2024. “I don’t think people know the exact date of my birthday, but they certainly know when this deferred comp comes in, so it’s pretty cool in that respect.”
Bonilla played 14 years between the White Sox, Pirates, Mets, Orioles, Marlins and Dodgers.
Bonilla signed with the Mets for his first stint in 1991 on what was the richest contract in team sports at the time on a five-year, $29 million deal.
He was a six-time All-Star, won a World Series in 1997 and won three Silver Sluggers.