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'''Bobby Bonilla''' is a former Major League Baseball player, having played 16 seasons with nine different teams.

'''Bobby Bonilla''' is a former Major League Baseball player, having played 16 seasons with nine different teams.

In his final season with the [[St. Louis Cardinals]], he was injured prior to the beginning of the season, leading to the often-reported (but untrue) story that his injury led to [[Albert Pujols]] making the Cardinals' roster (the beginning of what will most likely be a Hall of Fame career); in reality Pujols had already played well enough to make the roster.

In his final season with the [[St. Louis Cardinals]], he was injured prior to the beginning of the season, leading to the often reported (but untrue) story that his injury led to [[Albert Pujols]] making the Cardinals' roster (the beginning of what will most likely be a Hall of Fame career); in reality, Pujols had already played well enough to make the roster.

Bonilla, however, is more noted for the deferred contract agreement he made with the [[New York Mets]] after the 1999 season, when he was released but still owed $5.9 million (all baseball contracts are fully guaranteed even if a player is released): he and his agent agreed to defer payment at 8% interest, with a first payment of around $1.19 million due on July 1, 2011 and annually on that date thereafter until 2035, resulting in total payments of $29.8 million for not playing with the team.  The Mets owners agreed to the high interest rate as they were supposedly making more than that on investments; however, the investments were made with Ponzi scheme fraudster [[Bernie Madoff]].  As such, July 1 is humorously referred to by sports fans as "Bobby Bonilla Day".

Bonilla, however, is more noted for the deferred contract agreement he made with the [[New York Mets]] after the 1999 season, when he was released but still owed $5.9 million (all baseball contracts are fully guaranteed even if a player is released): he and his agent agreed to defer payment at 8% interest, with a first payment of around $1.19 million due on July 1, 2011 and annually on that date thereafter until 2035, resulting in total payments of $29.8 million for not playing with the team.  The Mets owners agreed to the high interest rate as they were supposedly making more than that on investments; however, the investments were made with Ponzi scheme fraudster [[Bernie Madoff]].  As such, July 1 is humorously referred to by sports fans as "Bobby Bonilla Day".