It’s the thing sports fans love about the date July 1, and it’s every year, without fail: Something called Bobby Bonilla Day, a “holiday” of sorts celebrated everywhere by baseball fans, who share all the memes and jokes to talk about how the New York Mets pay someone who hasn’t been on the field since 2001 over a million dollars every year for years and years (but there’s another team who pays him! You’ll see in a minute).
So if you’re here, you might be wondering: What the heck is Bobby Bonilla Day? And why is it a meme that everyone shares and laughs about? Let’s break it all down for you as you wonder what the heck is going on every July 1.
What is Bobby Bonilla Day?
It’s the annual celebration of the former MLB outfielder getting a deferred payment — money “deferred” from his contract long after his playing career ended — of over $1 million from the New York Mets, even though he also gets $500,000 from the Baltimore Orioles long after he retired.
When does Bobby Bonilla Day end?
The Mets will stop paying him in 2035 and the Orioles payments will stop in 2028.
When is the last Bobby Bonilla Day?
See above! This will all end in 2035, which — wild to say it — is only nine years away as of publishing this!
Are there other players getting deferred money like Bobby Bonilla?
Yes! We have a list of active MLB players getting deferred money.
Check out some Bobby Bonilla Day memes
Happy to help you:
From my family to yours, I’d like to wish you all a Happy Bobby Bonilla Day to all who celebrate. pic.twitter.com/cNAHaTRi18
— JT (@Jaberuski) July 1, 2026
Deferred salaries are nothing new to sports, but none are as famous, or notorious, as Bobby Bonilla’s deferred payments from the New York Mets.
In 2000, the Mets owed Bonilla $5.9 million. Rather than paying him, the Mets agreed to defer it for 10 years at 8% interest, with 25… pic.twitter.com/MKFbMiUARe
— MLBbro.com (@MLBbrodotcom) July 1, 2026
Happy Bobby Bonilla Day, folks! 🎉
Bobby Bonilla is cashing another ~$1.2 million check from the New York Mets today, and he’ll keep doing it every July 1st through 2035.
The man turned a deferred contract into a legendary annual payday long after hanging up the cleats. Smart… pic.twitter.com/M1oEMlBppi
— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) July 1, 2026
Bobby Bonilla seeing the calendar says “July 1”
— Greg Spencer (@gspence1) July 1, 2026
Enjoy Bobby Bonilla Day!
This article originally appeared on For The Win: What is Bobby Bonilla Day? The annual ‘holiday’ with memes, explained
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