Completely satisfied Bobby Bonilla Day — in case you’re retired baseball star Bobby Bonilla, that’s. In the event you’re a New York Mets proprietor or govt, perhaps not a lot.
Monday marks the crew’s annual cost to their one-time star, years after he left the sport. It is turn out to be one thing of an ironic fan vacation, one which the crew’s possession has even acknowledged with a bit of fine humor.
Who’s Bobby Bonilla?
Bonilla performed professionally from 1986 to 2001, together with two stints with the Mets — 1992 to 1995, after which once more in 1999.
A two-time All-Star with the membership, he left earlier than the 2000 season, with the crew nonetheless owing him tens of millions of {dollars}. His internet price is difficult to nail down.
What’s Bobby Bonilla Day?
That is the place the ersatz vacation comes into play. The crew struck a deal to defer the tens of millions of {dollars} they owed Bonilla, with funds beginning in 2011.
And, to his profit, persevering with by 2035.
These funds of just below $1.2 million occur on July 1 yearly, ergo the identify Bobby Bonilla Day.
It is that point of 12 months once more — the annual day that the Mets pay $1.19 million to a participant who hasn’t been with the crew in 20 years, due to one of many strangest offers in sports activities historical past. NBC New York’s Bruce Beck reviews.
The deal labored out spectacularly for Bonilla — he was due about $6 million in 2000, however with curiosity, by the point the deal ends, he’ll find yourself having collected almost $30 million.