Bobby Bonilla Day marks its 15th year with the Mets still owing $1.19 million.

Mets Declare July 1st as Bobby Bonilla Day

The New York Mets might just make July 1st their official holiday, celebrating Bobby Bonilla Day. The 62-year-old former player is set to receive a check for $1.19 million, which is part of one of the most unusual contracts in sports history.

This saga began back in 1991 when Bonilla, who was a six-time All-Star and three-time Silver Slugger, inked a five-year contract worth $29 million with the Mets. At that time, it was one of the richest deals in sports.

Interestingly, Bonilla never really saw the end of that deal. The Mets traded him to the Orioles in 1995, and he soon made his way to the Marlins before returning to the Mets in 1998.

In January 2000, the Mets acquired Bonilla’s contract and decided to postpone his remaining $5.9 million payment. That amount is being distributed over 35 years with an 8% interest rate, meaning payments will continue until 2035.

In addition to the Mets payout, Bonilla is also receiving $500,000 yearly from the Orioles, with that arrangement lasting until 2028.

It’s worth noting that during the time this deal was struck, the Mets, led by then-owner Fred Wilpon, thought they were making profitable investments with Bernie Madoff. Unfortunately, their plans collapsed, leaving them stuck in an awkward situation with Bonilla’s hefty payments.

This back-and-forth has become somewhat of a light-hearted topic among fans. Since billionaire Steve Cohen took over the team in November 2020, he’s added a cheeky twist to the tradition. Cohen jokingly suggested giving Bonilla a giant check and performing a celebratory tour around Citi Field each July 1st.

In 2021, the Mets even promoted fun Airbnb stays within Citi Field, featuring perks like gym access and shower facilities, jokingly dubbed “A private room hosted by Bobby.”

Bonilla has taken all of this in stride. After all, how often does one receive $1.19 million just for waiting in line? He lightheartedly referred to the occasion as akin to a birthday celebration during a 2024 phone call, remarking, “Is it getting so big?”