Bobby Bonilla Net Worth
Bobby Bonilla is a retired American baseball player with a net worth of $20 million. He became famous for playing in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1986 to 2001 for different teams. During his 16-year career, he had a .279 batting average, a .358 on-base percentage, and a .472 slugging percentage.
One of the best moments of his career was winning the World Series in 1997 with the Florida Marlins. In 1990, he led the league in extra-base hits, and in 1991, he led in doubles. Bonilla also played in six MLB All-Star Games and won three Silver Slugger Awards.
Bobby Bonilla Early Life
Bobby Bonilla was born on April 9, 1963, in The Bronx, New York. He played baseball in high school and graduated in the early 1980s. After high school, he wasn’t chosen in the 1981 Major League Baseball draft. So, he went to the New York Institute of Technology to study computer science.
However, after just one semester, the Pittsburgh Pirates noticed him. He then worked his way up through their minor league teams.
Bobby Bonilla Career
During Bonilla’s 15-year baseball career, he made $52 million from seven different teams. In 1992, his contract with the NY Mets made him the highest paid baseball player and one of the highest paid athletes in the world.
He retired in 2001, but his last contract with the Mets gives him almost $1.2 million every year for 25 years, from 2011 to 2035. He also gets $250,000 each year from a deal he made with the Mets in 1994, totaling $1.45 million. Even though he stopped playing in 2001, this contract still makes him one of the top earners on the Mets’ payroll.
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Bobby Bonilla Success
Bobby’s career almost ended in 1985 when he broke his right leg during training. But in 1986, the Chicago White Sox picked him up, and he soon made his major league debut. Later that year, the Pirates saw his potential and got him back.
Bobby started as a third baseman but made many errors, so he was moved to right field. Teaming up with stars like Barry Bonds and Andy Van Slyke, Bobby helped the Pirates become very successful, winning several National League East Division titles.
During this time, Bobby also became one of the league’s best hitters, winning several Silver Slugger Awards and leading in many statistics.
In the early 90s, Bobby became a free agent and signed with the Mets, becoming the highest-paid player in the league with a 5-year, $29 million contract (about $55 million today).
However, his performance didn’t match his high pay, and his stats dropped after joining the Mets. He then played for teams like the Baltimore Orioles, the Florida Marlins, and the Los Angeles Dodgers before returning to the Mets in 1998.
His second time with the Mets was disappointing, and he faced criticism from fans and the media. Eventually, he seemed to stop caring, and it showed when he played cards with Rickey Henderson in the clubhouse while the Mets lost to the Braves in 1999. The Mets still owed him $5.9 million, and they agreed to pay him in annual installments until 2035.
Bobby then spent his last few years with the Atlanta Braves and the St. Louis Cardinals, but he couldn’t play as well as he did earlier in his career. In 2001, he retired from baseball, citing injuries and less playing time.
