New York Mets: Steve Cohen has brilliant idea for Bobby Bonilla Day

Bobby Bonilla Day has become an unofficial holiday for baseball fans everywhere. New York Mets owner Steve Cohen wants to make it an event.

July 1 has become an unofficial holiday for baseball fans. On that day every year through 2035, the New York Mets will pay Bobby Bonilla approximately $1.2 million due to deferrals in his contract. It is a time of embarrassment for the organization, a nice payday for Bonilla, and a time of humor for baseball fans everywhere.

New Mets owner Steve Cohen wants to make that day far more. He has an idea to turn Bobby Bonilla Day into a spectacle at Citi Field, celebrating the former outfielder in the best way possible.

In fact, such an idea could be better for the long term than trying to buy out Bonilla’s deferred payments. As one commenter suggested, they could have shirts printed up saying “Bobby Bonilla got a million dollars today and all I got was this shirt.” Even Cohen loved the idea, saying it was “a winner.”

This could be a perfect day at the ballpark. The Mets could create different commemorative bobbleheads of Bonilla holding that giant check. The check itself could be presented by Mr. Met or a Mets legend. That victory lap around the field could be a potential giveaway with a random fan winning the car. There is plenty of potential for this day.

And in that potential, the Mets could take what has become a running joke and turn it into a positive. Based on the reaction, fans would head to the ballpark to see Bonilla receive that check. The shirts and bobblehead could add even more money to the coffers, making that $1.2 million more than worthwhile.

All that was needed to turn this day into a truly special occasion was an owner that was willing to go the extra mile. The New York Mets have that now in Cohen, a baseball fan who is determined to not only build a winner, but to improve the ballpark experience for the fanbase.

Making Bobby Bonilla Day a special event could only be the beginning. Steve Cohen is showing a willingness to think outside the box, and his first idea is utterly brilliant.