Bobby Bonilla Day 2025: Why the Mets Still Pay a Retired Star $1.19M Every July 1

A Payday That Lives in Infamy: Welcome to Bobby Bonilla Day 202

Every July 1, baseball fans across the United States fire up social media with memes, jokes, and a collective cheer for a man who hasn’t swung a bat in a Major League Baseball (MLB) game since 2001. That man is Bobby Bonilla, and the occasion is the now-iconic Bobby Bonilla Day. On this day, the New York Mets wire a check for $1,193,248.20 to the retired outfielder, a tradition that began in 2011 and will continue through 2035. But why does a team pay a player millions for a season he never played? And when will the last Bobby Bonilla Day finally arrive? Let’s dive into the fascinating story behind this quirky MLB holiday, its financial roots, its cultural impact, and the memes that make it a fan favorite.

What Is Bobby Bonilla Day?

Bobby Bonilla Day, celebrated every July 1, marks the annual deferred payment of $1,193,248.20 from the New York Mets to former player Bobby Bonilla. This payout stems from a unique contract buyout negotiated in 2000, when the Mets owed Bonilla $5.9 million for the 2000 season. Instead of paying the sum upfront, the Mets, under then-owner Fred Wilpon, agreed to defer the payment with an 8% interest rate, spreading it across 25 years from 2011 to 2035. The result? A total payout of nearly $30 million for Bonilla, who last played for the Mets in 1999 and retired from MLB in 2001.

The deal has become a legendary anecdote in sports history, often cited as one of the most peculiar financial decisions in baseball. Bonilla, now 62, will be 72 when he receives his final Mets check in 2035. But the Mets aren’t alone in this practice—Bonilla also receives $500,000 annually from the Baltimore Orioles through 2028, thanks to a separate deferred contract. “It’s bigger than my birthday,” Bonilla told USA TODAY Sports in 2023, reflecting on the flood of texts and attention he gets each July 1. “Everybody just seems to love that day and have fun with it. It’s become a pretty big thing.”

The Origins of the Bobby Bonilla Day Contract

To understand Bobby Bonilla Day, we need to rewind to the late 1990s. Bobby Bonilla, a six-time All-Star and three-time Silver Slugger, was a star outfielder known for his powerful hitting. He played for the Mets from 1992 to 1995 and again in 1999 after stints with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Baltimore Orioles, and Florida Marlins, where he won a World Series in 1997. However, his second tenure with the Mets was less than stellar. In 1999, at age 36, Bonilla batted a mere .160 with 4 home runs and 18 RBIs in 60 games, clashing with manager Bobby Valentine and drawing boos from fans.

When the Mets decided to release Bonilla before the 2000 season, they still owed him $5.9 million. Enter Dennis Gilbert, Bonilla’s agent and a former insurance agent turned superagent, who proposed a deferred payment plan. The Mets would delay paying the $5.9 million for a decade, then make annual payments with 8% interest from 2011 to 2035. At the time, this seemed like a win-win. The Mets, under Wilpon’s ownership, were heavily invested in Bernie Madoff’s Ponzi scheme, which promised returns of 10-15% annually. By deferring Bonilla’s payment, the Mets Brasileiro Mets hoped to profit from Madoff’s “returns” while Bonilla secured a lucrative long-term payout.

Unfortunately, Madoff’s scheme collapsed in 2008, revealing massive financial losses for the Wilpons and others. The Mets were left with a $29.8 million obligation to Bonilla, far exceeding the original $5.9 million. “The Mets’ owner assumed that if he deferred Bonilla’s salary for ten years at 8% year-over-year, the 10% returns he was pocketing from Madoff would cover what the Mets owed Bonilla,” explains a fan site dedicated to Bobby Bonilla Day. “You know the rest: The most notorious Ponzi scheme in history.”

When Does Bobby Bonilla Day End?

The final Bobby Bonilla Day payment from the Mets is scheduled for July 1, 2035, when Bonilla will be 72 years old. As of 2025, that leaves 10 more years of payments, totaling approximately $11.9 million remaining. The Orioles’ deferred payments, which amount to $500,000 annually, will end earlier in 2028. These dates mark the conclusion of one of baseball’s most famous financial sagas, but the cultural phenomenon of Bobby Bonilla Day is likely to endure in baseball lore.

How Many More Bobby Bonilla Days Are Left?

With payments running through 2035, there are exactly 10 Bobby Bonilla Days remaining after July 1, 2025. Each year, the Mets will continue to pay $1,193,248.20, a figure that often surpasses the salaries of current MLB players due to baseball’s entry-level salary structure. For comparison, the minimum MLB salary in 2025 is approximately $760,000, meaning Bonilla’s annual check outpaces many young stars. The Orioles’ payments, ending inARK 2028, have three years left, totaling $1.5 million.

The Cultural Impact of Bobby Bonilla Day

Bobby Bonilla Day has transcended its financial origins to become a beloved, ironic holiday among baseball fans. Social media platforms like X light up every July 1 with “Happy Bobby Bonilla Day” memes, featuring everything from giant check graphics to humorous jabs at the Mets’ financial misstep. A popular meme shared by @FanDuel on July 1, 2025, declared, “IT’S BOBBY BONILLA DAY For the 15th consecutive year, the New York Mets will pay 62-year-old Bobby Bonilla an installment of $1.2 MILLION Only 10 more years to go!”

The memes often poke fun at the Mets’ predicament, but they also celebrate Bonilla’s financial savvy. “A lot of people still think this was a contract the Mets signed, when actually they traded for it,” notes a Reddit user on r/baseball, highlighting common misconceptions about the deal. The deal has also sparked discussions about the value of deferred payments. If Bonilla had taken the $5.9 million in 2000 and invested it at a 5% annual return, it could have grown to over $34 million by 2035, suggesting the deal wasn’t as lopsided as it seems.

For Mets fans, the day is a mix of humor and frustration. The Wilpons’ Madoff debacle amplified the deal’s notoriety, especially during the early 2010s when the Mets faced financial struggles. However, since Steve Cohen purchased the team in 2020, the narrative has shifted. Cohen has embraced the holiday, suggesting annual celebrations at Citi Field, complete with novelty oversized checks. “We’re happy that new Mets owner Steve Cohen seems to be coming around to our idea,” says the Bobby Bonilla Day fan site, proposing events like Bonilla throwing out the first pitch.

The Broader Context of Deferred Payments in MLB

Deferred payment contracts are not unique to Bonilla. Several MLB players have similar arrangements, though none have captured the public’s imagination quite like Bobby Bonilla Day. For example, the Baltimore Orioles pay Chris Davis $9.16 million in 2025, with payments continuing through 2037. The Boston Red Sox pay Manny Ramirez $2 million annually through 2026, and Max Scherzer will receive payments from the Washington Nationals through 2028. Even Shohei Ohtani’s $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers includes $680 million deferred from 2034 to 2043, dwarfing Bonilla’s deal in scale.

These arrangements highlight the strategic use of deferred payments to manage team finances and competitive balance tax burdens. Bonilla’s deal, however, stands out due to its long duration and the Madoff connection. “There’ll be plenty of other deferred contracts,” said Dennis Gilbert in 2023, “but for a guy to be paid that long into his life, into his 70s, I don’t think we’ll ever see that again.”

The Impact on Baseball and Society

Bobby Bonilla Day has become a cultural touchstone in baseball, symbolizing both financial ingenuity and cautionary tales about speculative investments. For fans, it’s a lighthearted way to engage with the sport’s history, fostering a sense of community through shared memes and jokes. The day also underscores the importance of financial literacy, as Bonilla’s deal demonstrates the power of compound interest and long-term planning. “Bobby Bonilla & Dennis Gilbert teach generations of young Mets fans the value of a dollar,” notes the Bobby Bonilla Day fan site.

For the Mets, the deal was a financial miscalculation tied to Madoff’s fraud, but it also had a silver lining. By deferring Bonilla’s payment, the Mets signed pitcher Mike Hampton, who led them to the 2000 World Series and indirectly helped them draft David Wright in 2001. Thus, while the deal is often mocked, it contributed to one of the Mets’ most successful eras.

The phenomenon also reflects society’s fascination with unconventional financial stories. Bonilla’s annual windfall, especially in contrast to the Mets’ Madoff losses, resonates as a tale of triumph for the player and a lesson in due diligence for team owners. It’s a reminder that even in the high-stakes world of professional sports, financial decisions can have decades-long consequences.

Happy Bobby Bonilla Day Memes: A Social Media Sensation

The “Happy Bobby Bonilla Day” meme has become a staple of baseball culture, with fans and media outlets sharing creative posts each July 1. From images of Bonilla smiling with a giant check to quips about his “retirement plan,” these memes amplify the holiday’s reach. A 2025 post by @MLBONFOX featured a classic meme with the caption, “Bobby Bonilla on every July 1st until 2035,” garnering thousands of likes. The humor often targets the Mets’ misfortune, but Bonilla himself embraces the attention, saying, “It’s become a pretty big thing.”

These memes not only entertain but also drive engagement on social platforms, boosting the visibility of Bobby Bonilla Day. They’ve turned a financial footnote into a viral celebration, ensuring that Bonilla’s legacy endures beyond his playing career.

Conclusion: The Legacy of Bobby Bonilla Day

As we mark Bobby Bonilla Day 2025, the story remains a captivating blend of sports, finance, and pop culture. With 10 more payments left until the last Bobby Bonilla Day in 2035, fans will continue to celebrate this quirky tradition with memes, jokes, and a nod to Bonilla’s financial foresight. The Mets, now under Steve Cohen’s ownership, have embraced the holiday as a chance to connect with fans, potentially turning a past embarrassment into a marketing opportunity.

For baseball enthusiasts, Bobby Bonilla Day is a reminder to stay informed about the business side of sports. Fans can follow the Mets’ official website or social media for updates on potential celebrations at Citi Field, while keeping an eye on platforms like X for the latest memes and commentary. As Bonilla himself said, “Everybody just seems to love that day and have fun with it.” So, here’s to Bobby Bonilla Day—a peculiar, endearing, and unforgettable part of baseball history.