Barry Bonnell
Encyclopedia
Robert Barry Bonnell is a former outfielder
in Major League Baseball
.
He was a star athlete at Milford High School
near Cincinnati, Ohio
, where he played both varsity baseball
and basketball
on championship teams. Following high school graduation in 1971, he attended the Ohio State University
on a full athletic scholarship where he played both baseball and basketball. He married his high school sweetheart and left college during his senior year to play Major League Baseball. He was the first pick in the 1975 Major League Baseball Draft
by the Philadelphia Phillies
.
During his 10-year major league career, Bonnell played for the Atlanta Braves
of the National League
, and for the Toronto Blue Jays
and Seattle Mariners
of the American League
. His major league debut with the Braves was in a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates
on May 4, . While with the Braves, Bonnell, a devout Mormon, introduced Dale Murphy
to the faith.
His best year was , when he hit
.318 (10 HR
, 54 RBI
and 10 SB
) for the Blue Jays. Known by his peers as a "money hitter" Bonnell hit four grand slams during his career and led his teams in game winning hits nearly every year he played. With a strong and accurate throwing arm, Bonnell was respected by baserunners in both leagues.
In , when he went to Seattle, he contracted "Valley Fever" during spring training. The flu-like symptoms associated with Valley Fever caused a respiratory infection that developed into pneumonia. Bonnell struggled to play with the affliction, however, it took a year to recover and he served his remaining two years as a bit player.
As an accomplished aviator with a lifelong passion for flying, Bonnell pursued a career in aviation after exiting Major League Baseball during the All-Star Break in 1986
. He attended Flight Safety International's "Airline Transition Program" and was hired as a first officer by Northwest Airlink's Express Air One. Bonnell flew the twin engine turboprop SAAB 340-B for a year but decided that with the events of the day, notably, the failure of Eastern Airlines and, for the second time, the failure of Braniff Airlines, that there were too many high time furloughed pilots flooding the system for him to have a reasonable opportunity to advance to a job flying jets for a major airline.
Bonnell left flying to enter the business world where he worked in the Home Medical Equipment field for ten years. After that he became an importer, supplying a variety of items to large brick and mortar retail chains.
Bonnell is now actively pursuing a career as a writer, working on his personal memoirs and various other projects.
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
.
He was a star athlete at Milford High School
Milford High School (Ohio)
Milford High School is a public high school in Milford, Ohio. It is the only high school in the Milford Exempted Village School District and the largest of the district's 8 school buildings.-Band Program:...
near Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
, where he played both varsity baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
and basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
on championship teams. Following high school graduation in 1971, he attended the Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
on a full athletic scholarship where he played both baseball and basketball. He married his high school sweetheart and left college during his senior year to play Major League Baseball. He was the first pick in the 1975 Major League Baseball Draft
1975 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1975 Major League Baseball draft..Many baseball draft experts consider the 1975 draft to be the weakest in MLB history.- External links :*- References :...
by the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
.
During his 10-year major league career, Bonnell played for the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
of the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
, and for the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
and Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
of the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
. His major league debut with the Braves was in a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
on May 4, . While with the Braves, Bonnell, a devout Mormon, introduced Dale Murphy
Dale Murphy
Dale Bryan Murphy is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and first baseman. During an 18-year baseball career, 1976–1993, he played for three different teams, but is noted for his time with the Atlanta Braves...
to the faith.
His best year was , when he hit
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.318 (10 HR
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
, 54 RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
and 10 SB
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
) for the Blue Jays. Known by his peers as a "money hitter" Bonnell hit four grand slams during his career and led his teams in game winning hits nearly every year he played. With a strong and accurate throwing arm, Bonnell was respected by baserunners in both leagues.
In , when he went to Seattle, he contracted "Valley Fever" during spring training. The flu-like symptoms associated with Valley Fever caused a respiratory infection that developed into pneumonia. Bonnell struggled to play with the affliction, however, it took a year to recover and he served his remaining two years as a bit player.
As an accomplished aviator with a lifelong passion for flying, Bonnell pursued a career in aviation after exiting Major League Baseball during the All-Star Break in 1986
1986 in sports
1986 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup –** Men's overall season champion: Marc Girardelli, Luxembourg** Women's overall season champion: Maria Walliser, Switzerland-American football:...
. He attended Flight Safety International's "Airline Transition Program" and was hired as a first officer by Northwest Airlink's Express Air One. Bonnell flew the twin engine turboprop SAAB 340-B for a year but decided that with the events of the day, notably, the failure of Eastern Airlines and, for the second time, the failure of Braniff Airlines, that there were too many high time furloughed pilots flooding the system for him to have a reasonable opportunity to advance to a job flying jets for a major airline.
Bonnell left flying to enter the business world where he worked in the Home Medical Equipment field for ten years. After that he became an importer, supplying a variety of items to large brick and mortar retail chains.
Bonnell is now actively pursuing a career as a writer, working on his personal memoirs and various other projects.