Cam Bonifay
Encyclopedia
Cameron Hubert Bonifay is a former major league baseball
executive and scout, best known as general manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates
from 1993 to 2001.
Bonifay's father was a minor league general manager for several teams in the farm systems of the Detroit Tigers
and Cincinnati Reds
. His own career in sports began as a football
placekicker and third baseman at Georgia Tech in the early 1970s. While at Georgia Tech, Bonifay set and tied many records in football as well as baseball as well as being named an All-American Honorable Mention in baseball. Bonifay was not drafted but signed on as an undrafted free agent with the St. Louis Cardinals
and played two years of Minor League Baseball. Bonifay stopped playing after he was plagued with knee problems.
Bonifay went back to Georgia Tech and became an Assistant Coach under Jim Morris beginning in 1985. In 1989, Bonifay was inducted into the Georgia Tech Sports Hall of Fame for his achievements in baseball. Bonifay is still the youngest person ever inducted into the Georgia Tech Sports Hall of Fame. In late 1987, Bonifay became a scout with the Cincinnati Reds
starting his stint working in several major league baseball
front offices.
In 1993, he became General Manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates and in 1997, he was named General Manager of the year. Bonifay is most remembered by Pirates fans for giving out large contracts to washed up players. Perhaps his most infamous moment came in 2000, when he signed catcher Jason Kendall
to a 6 year $60 million contract, a move that would have severe financial ramifications on the Pirates in later years. http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/news/041127kendall.html Bonifay was also heavily criticized for the two-year, $10-million contract given to Derek "Operation Shutdown" Bell in 2001.
Bonifay was responsible for a few good trades such as trading Ricardo Rincon for Brian Giles
before the 1999 season. During his tenure as GM with the Pirates, Bonifay never compiled a winning season, however in 1997 the team remained competitive until the final week of the season and finished in 2nd place with a 79-83 record on just a $9 million payroll. At the beginning of the 1997 season, most analysts picked the Pirates to finish last with over 100 losses.
After he was fired in 2001 by Pirates owner Kevin McClatchy
, Bonifay signed with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays as their director of player development and scouting. He was released from that position in the offseason of 2005 when the Rays were sold into new ownership. Bonifay signed on with the St. Louis Cardinals
as a pro scout for two years starting in the 2007 season. Now, Bonifay works for the Cincinnati Reds
as a Special Assistant to the General Manager.
His sons Johnathan and Josh both played baseball in college. Johnathan played for Wake Forest
and Josh played for UNC Wilmington. Josh played seven years in Minor League Baseball
for the Pittsburgh Pirates
and the Houston Astros
. Josh is now a hitting coach coach for the Pittsburgh Pirates
minor league system.
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...
executive and scout, best known as general manager of 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...
from 1993 to 2001.
Bonifay's father was a minor league general manager for several teams in the farm systems of the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
and Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
. His own career in sports began as a football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
placekicker and third baseman at Georgia Tech in the early 1970s. While at Georgia Tech, Bonifay set and tied many records in football as well as baseball as well as being named an All-American Honorable Mention in baseball. Bonifay was not drafted but signed on as an undrafted free agent with the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
and played two years of Minor League Baseball. Bonifay stopped playing after he was plagued with knee problems.
Bonifay went back to Georgia Tech and became an Assistant Coach under Jim Morris beginning in 1985. In 1989, Bonifay was inducted into the Georgia Tech Sports Hall of Fame for his achievements in baseball. Bonifay is still the youngest person ever inducted into the Georgia Tech Sports Hall of Fame. In late 1987, Bonifay became a scout with the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
starting his stint working in several major league 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...
front offices.
In 1993, he became General Manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates and in 1997, he was named General Manager of the year. Bonifay is most remembered by Pirates fans for giving out large contracts to washed up players. Perhaps his most infamous moment came in 2000, when he signed catcher Jason Kendall
Jason Kendall
Jason Daniel Kendall is an American professional baseball catcher who is a free agent. He is the son of former catcher Fred Kendall, who played in the majors from 1969–1980.-High school:...
to a 6 year $60 million contract, a move that would have severe financial ramifications on the Pirates in later years. http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/news/041127kendall.html Bonifay was also heavily criticized for the two-year, $10-million contract given to Derek "Operation Shutdown" Bell in 2001.
Bonifay was responsible for a few good trades such as trading Ricardo Rincon for Brian Giles
Brian Giles
Brian Stephen Giles is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. During his career he played for the Cleveland Indians, Pittsburgh Pirates and San Diego Padres...
before the 1999 season. During his tenure as GM with the Pirates, Bonifay never compiled a winning season, however in 1997 the team remained competitive until the final week of the season and finished in 2nd place with a 79-83 record on just a $9 million payroll. At the beginning of the 1997 season, most analysts picked the Pirates to finish last with over 100 losses.
After he was fired in 2001 by Pirates owner Kevin McClatchy
Kevin McClatchy
Kevin S. McClatchy is the former owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team. He led a group of investors that purchased the team in 1996, and served as the team's CEO and lead owner until 2007, when Bob Nutting took over as lead owner, and McClatchy and Nutting hired Frank Coonelly to become...
, Bonifay signed with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays as their director of player development and scouting. He was released from that position in the offseason of 2005 when the Rays were sold into new ownership. Bonifay signed on with the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
as a pro scout for two years starting in the 2007 season. Now, Bonifay works for the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
as a Special Assistant to the General Manager.
His sons Johnathan and Josh both played baseball in college. Johnathan played for Wake Forest
Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University is a private, coeducational university in the U.S. state of North Carolina, founded in 1834. The university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, North Carolina, the state capital. The Reynolda Campus, the university's main campus, is...
and Josh played for UNC Wilmington. Josh played seven years in Minor League Baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
for 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...
and the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
. Josh is now a hitting coach coach for 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...
minor league system.