July is best known for being the month where America celebrates its freedom on Independence Day.
But in 2011, a new holiday was created.
July 1 marks the annual celebration of Bobby Bonilla Day in Major League Baseball.
Basically, since 2011, the New York Mets have been stuck paying Bobby Bonilla a sum of $1 million-plus, and today marks the 12th anniversary of that.
With that being said, it’s important to remind everybody that the Mets will be stuck doing this until 2035.
ESPN Stats & Info took to Twitter this morning to wish everybody a Happy Bobby Bonilla Day and remind fans of a payment the Mets will not be able to escape for another 13 years.
Happy Bobby Bonilla Day!
59-year old Bobby Bonilla will collect a check for $1,193,248.20 from the New York Mets today, like he has and will every July 1 from 2011-2035. pic.twitter.com/espLFfSUkt
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) July 1, 2022
Happy Bobby Bonilla Day!
This is always a tough day for the Mets and their fans.
But it’s amazing how year after year, long after Bonilla retired and ended his playing career, the Mets are still stuck paying him that amount of money.
Sure, Steve Cohen is super rich and can afford it, but wow.
The Mets have to do this every year.
Bonilla essentially gets a check for not playing at all for the Mets.
How did the Mets get into this you ask?
Well, these are deferred payments from a previous contract he had signed with the Mets, and basically, they are stuck paying him over $1 million each year until 2035 because of this.
Yes, he is still on the Mets payroll.
So, Bobby Bonilla Day is a day where anybody who doesn’t like the Mets to roast them over the fact that they’re stuck giving Bonilla checks every July 1.
Don’t worry, Mets fans.
Only 13 more years of this, then your team will be free.
NEXT: Mets Owner Comments On Bobby Bonilla Day