Back to the New York Mets Newsfeed

Happy Bobby Bonilla Day: Why the Mets pay him $1.19 million every July 1

Related Topics: Bobby Bonilla, New York Mets

As former athletes go, Bobby Bonilla continues to have one of the greatest retirement plans ever conceived.

In keeping with tradition -- and contractual obligation -- the sports world comes together every July 1 to acknowledge Bobby Bonilla Day, the day the New York Mets pay the now-62-year-old former All-Star outfielder just a shade over $1 million.

Why the Mets continue to pay Bobby Bonilla

Long before Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani rewrote the book on deferred contract payments, the Mets struck a bizarre deal with Bonilla to pay him $1,193,248.