Bobby Bonilla
With a wide smile on his face, Bobby Bonilla played baseball with enthusiasm for 16 seasons. Coming of age with the Pirates after the White Sox let him slip away, Bonilla finished second in NL Most Valuable Player voting in 1990, and third the following season. The Pirates won the division title each of those seasons, but Bonilla struggled in the playoffs, driving in just two runs in 13 games. After leaving via free agency, the switch-hitting slugger never had the same personal success, but he made it to the post-season with four teams. In 1997 with the Marlins, playing under Jim Leyland, his former manager in Pittsburgh, Bonilla finally won a World Series ring. Displaying power from both sides of the plate, Bonilla hit 287 homers and batted .279 in a career that included six All-Star selections.
Quotes About Bonilla
"He was a force offensively, he played hard and he was always a great personality for the clubhouse. He was a treat to manage." — Jim Leyland
Played For
Chicago White Sox (1986)
Pittsburgh Pirates (1986-1991)
New York Mets (1992-1995)
Baltimore Orioles (1995-1996)
Florida Marlins (1997-1998)
Los Angeles Dodgers (1998)
New York Mets (1999)
Atlanta Braves (2000)
St. Louis Cardinals (2001)
All-Time Rankings
Bobby Bonilla ranks #41 among the Top 50 all-time at 3B. Rankings ⇒
Where He Played
Third base (957 games), outfield (670 -mostly right field), first base (125), DH (53)
Born
Roberto Martin Antonio Bonilla was born on February 23, 1963, in Bronx, NY.
Batted: Both
Threw: Right
Primary Position: 3B
Primary Team: PIT
College: New York Technical
Major League Debut
April 9, 1986
Nine Other Players Who Debuted in 1986
Rafael Palmeiro
Barry Bonds
Fred McGriff
Barry Larkin
Bobby Bonilla
Ruben Sierra
Mark McGwire
Greg Maddux
David Cone
Related Players
Barry Bonds, Jim Leyland
| Hall of Fame Voting |
| Year |
Election |
Votes |
Pct |
| 2007 |
BBWAA |
2 |
.4% |
|
Post-Season Appearances
1990 National League Championship Series
1991 National League Championship Series
1996 American League Championship Series
1996 American League Divisional Series
1997 National League Divisional Series
1997 World Series
1997 National League Championship Series
1999 National League Divisional Series
1999 National League Championship Series
2000 National League Divisional Series
Post-Season Notes
Bonilla struggled in the post-season, hitting .215 in 46 games, with just ten extra-base hits (five homers), and 19 RBI.
Batting Feats
- July 3, 1987: Switch HR same game...
- April 6, 1988: Switch HR same game...
- April 23, 1993: Switch HR same game...
- June 10, 1993: Switch HR same game...
- May 4, 1994: Switch HR same game...
- May 12, 1995: Switch HR same game...
Hitting Streaks
22 games (1995)
20 games (1995)
All-Star Selections
1988 NL
1989 NL
1990 NL
1991 NL
1993 NL
1995 NL
Best Strength as a Player
Power from either side of the plate.
Largest Weakness as a Player
Defense at third base
Learn More about Bobby Bonilla
Search Amazon.com for Books about Bobby Bonilla ⇒
Search for Bobby Bonilla at Google ⇒
View a map of his hometown at Mapquest ⇒
