July 1st North of the border is Canada Day. July 1st South of the border is Bobby Bonilla Day and boy wouldn't we like to be Bobby this year and every year for the next little while.
For those unfamiliar with Bobby Bonilla, buckle up because this is a wild story. Bonilla is 57-years-old and last played in the Majors in 2001 for the Cardinals. His career in MLB was quite long, spanning nearly two decades. He was a 6-time All-Star, a 3-time Silver Slugger, and a World Series winner in 1997 with Florida.
Bonilla only spent one season in New York and played just 60 games for the Mets before the team decided to buy out the remaining $5.9 million on his contract. Instead of paying Bonilla the lump sum at the time, the Mets and Bobby made a deal that would see New York pay Bonilla nearly $1.2 million annually for 25 years starting on July 1st, 2011.
You're probably wondering why the Mets would agree to this deal and as legend has it, Mets ownership was apparently invested in a Bernie Madoff account that promised double digit returns, which didn't happen.
Instead, the team is on the hook for over a million each year until Bonilla is 72.
Wherever you are and whatever you're doing, we hope you're enjoying life to the fullest right now Bobby. Happy July 1st!
(H/T: ESPN)
