It’s July 1st, do you know where your $1.19 million are?
It’s that time of year again – Bobby Bonilla gets his annual paycheck from the Mets and the entire world laughs at the team for a move that actually saved them money in the (Madoff-fueled) long run. What seems like a massive waste now actually made good fiscal sense at the time, at least as much as can be expected from an ownership group heavily invested in a Ponzi scheme. In cards though, Bonilla is the model of efficiency, managing the rare three-way solo appearance in bat, jersey, and patch cards. And none from his time(s) with the Mets.
Bobby Bonilla was a member of the hated Pirates teams that tormented the Mets in the late ’80s and dominated the NL East in the early ’90s. My one trip to Shea Stadium ended in disappointment when we left in the 8th inning to “beat the traffic” as the Mets were losing to those same Pirates. Not even the best player with the initials “BB” on his team, Bonilla would hit free agency after the 1991 season. To the delight of nobody, the Mets signed Bonilla alongside future Hall-of-Famer Eddie Murray and bleach enthusiast Bret Saberhagen. Combined with the previous offseason’s acquisition of former Cardinals firecracker Vince Coleman, the Mets became one of the most offensive teams in baseball.
Somehow, I have no memories of the Mets from 1991 to 1997. I know the strike took out a few games, but the rest is a mystery. By 1997, the Mets had long since divested themselves from Bonilla via trade and he hit free agency again, just in time for him to sign his first autograph card. As a Marlin. A 1997 World Series champion Florida Marlin. At least he was gone. A new Mets team began taking shape in 1998 around early season acquisition Mike Piazza. There was no place for Bonilla.
So of course they brought him back. And they picked up future Hall-of-Famer and playing card enthusiast Rickey Henderson as the second coming of Eddie Murray along with Orel Hershiser starring as Bret Saberhagen. Second verse, same as the first, pay him off fast before things get any worse.
With Bonilla off the roster and his salary deferred, the Mets went on to (lose) the World Series in 2000. But Bonilla wasn’t done. He ended 2000 with his first, and only, jersey and patch cards in 2001 Private Stock. With swatches from a Braves jersey. Because of course Bonilla had to go to the “14 straight division titles” Atlanta Braves.
We finally saw the last of Bobby Bonilla’s memorabilia in 2001 Topps Traded. There we got his first, and of course only, bat card, now showing him with the Cardinals, giving us a glimpse of hated teams to come.
Bobby Bonilla gets paid today. But only four of his cards are needed for my collection and none of them show him as a Met. Seems like a good deal to me.
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