Zeke Bonura
From BR Bullpen
Henry John Bonura
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 0", Weight 210 lb.
- School Loyola University New Orleans
- Debut April 17, 1934
- Final Game September 26, 1940
- Born September 20, 1908 in New Orleans, LA USA
- Died March 9, 1987 in New Orleans, LA USA
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[edit] Biographical Information
First baseman Zeke Bonura hit for average and power during his seven year big league career but was known to lack effort as a fielder.
Bonura excelled at several sports during his younger years. As a teen, he was the 1925 National AAU Champion in the javelin throw, defeating 1924 Olympic gold medalist Johnny Myra, and set an American record (213 feet, 10 1/2 inches), which stayed on the books until 1930. He went on to attend Loyola University New Orleans, where he was on the baseball, football, basketball, and track teams. In the minors, he was the 1933 Texas League MVP while playing for the Dallas Steers.
The Chicago White Sox purchased Bonura's contract following the 1933 season, and he responded by hitting .302 with 110 RBIs and a then team-record 27 homers (which also stood as the Sox rookie record until Ron Kittle broke it in 1983). In 1936, he drove in 138 runs, also a White Sox record until Albert Belle broke it in 1998.
Over four seasons in Chicago, Bonura hit .315 and smashed 79 home runs. However, he was a liability in the field. Despite leading AL first basemen in fielding two times, he had little range and a reputation for a lack of effort: he often would simply wave his glove at ground balls as they came past, what became known as "the Bonura salute". He also angered Sox management with annual salary holdouts during Spring Training. Prior to the 1938 season, he was traded to the Washington Senators for Joe Kuhel, one of the best fielding first basemen of the era.
With the Senators in 1938, Bonura hit 22 homers and had 114 RBIs before being traded to the New York Giants after the season. After being sent to New York, Bonura was quoted as saying "Now I won't be able to sign my letters Senator Henry J. Bonura, Democrat, Louisiana."
Bonura played one year with the Giants, hitting .321, but his power numbers fell off. He split the next year between the Senators and the Chicago Cubs, with whom he ended his big league career.
Bonura missed 1942 to 1945 due to military service. He later managed in the minors for several years.
[edit] Notable Achievements
- 20 Home Runs Seasons: 3 (1934-1935 & 1938)
- 100 RBI Seasons: 4 (1934 & 1936-1938)
- 100 Runs Scored Seasons: 2 (1935-1936)
[edit] Year-by-Year Managerial Record
| Year | Team | League | Record | Finish | Organization | Playoffs | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | Minneapolis Millers | American Association | -- | New York Giants | -- | replaced by Rosy Ryan | |
| 1947 | Stamford Bombers | Colonial League | 67-61 | 3rd | none | League Champs | |
| 1948 | Stamford Pioneers | Colonial League | 54-78 | 6th | none | ||
| 1949 | Kingston Ponies | Border League | -- | none | -- | replaced by Harold Leach | |
| 1951 | Midland Indians | Longhorn League | 5th | none | replaced Harold Webb | ||
| 1952 | Midland Indians | Longhorn League | -- | none | -- | replaced by Jay Haney July 28 | |
| 1953 | Fargo-Moorhead Twins | Northern League | -- | Cleveland Indians | -- | replaced by Santo Luberto | |
| 1954 | Hagerstown Packets | Piedmont League | 5th | Washington Senators | replaced Paul Campbell July 12 |
