Mets embrace ‘Bobby Bonilla Day’
The Mets and Bobby Bonilla are embracing the annual “Bobby Bonilla Day” viral holiday by putting Bonilla back to work.
For one night anyway. As part of a promotion between Airbnb and the Mets, fans will have the opportunity to book a onenight stay at Citi Field for $250 which includes a VIP suite to two games for up to four people, the opportunity to throw out an opening pitch, Mets gear, unlimited hot dogs and drinks and the chance to spend the night at the stadium.
“As a born and raised New Yorker and a longtime player in the city, there is a special place in my heart for Mets fans and it’s wonderful to see the faithful back in some green seats in Queens,” Bonilla said in a press release. “This year, I’m joining in on the fun, trying on a new glove as an Airbnb host and hopefully giving a few folks the night of their lives at Citi Field.”
The lucky fan will throw out the first pitch at the July 28 night game against the Atlanta. Booking opens on
July 8 at 12 p.m., according to the Airbnb listing.
The winning fans will also get access to the Mets gym for a workout and shower before laying down to sleep in a suite.
The sleeping fans will wake up as 42,000 fans are being let in for the July 29 game against Atlanta at 12:10 p.m.. That game is included in the package.
“Bobby Bonilla Day” trends every year on July 1, the day the Mets have to pay Bonilla $1.9 Million until 2035 as part of a $5.9 Million deferred salary arrangement.
The former Greenwich resident, Bonilla, now 58, will be 72 when the last payment is made and has not played for the Mets since 1999, last playing in the majors in 2001 for St. Louis.
Fans of the Mets and people who love to poke fun at the Mets have embraced “Bobby Bonilla Day” over the years.
In 2000, the Mets agreed to buy out the remaining $5.9 million on Bonilla's contract.
Rather than paying Bonilla the $5.9 million at the time, the Mets ownership agreed to make annual payments of nearly $1.9 million for 25 years starting July 1, 2011.
The Mets made a similar deal with Brett Saberhagen who receives $250,000 a year from the Mets for 25 years starting in 2004.
The Mets are not alone in paying retired players, the Red Sox are paying Manny Ramírez $24.2 million through 2026; Ken Griffey Jr. gets $3.59 million from the Reds every year through 2024 as part of the deferral in his nine-year, $116 million deal signed in 2000 and Todd Helton get $1.3 million from the Rockies every year through 2023 from a $13 million deferral when he signed a two-year extension in 2010.