Happy Bobby Bonilla Day!

Jun 30, 2025

Former major league baseball star Bobby Bonilla retired with a lifetime batting average of .279, which means he got a hit in 27.9% of his at bats.

Since his retirement, Bonilla is batting 1.000 — financially anyway.

Tomorrow is known in baseball circles as Bobby Bonilla Day, in honor of the memorable deal he signed 25 years ago with the New York Mets.

The Mets released Bonilla before the 2000 season, but still owed him his $5.9 million salary. The Mets owners offered to defer Bonilla’s salary with 8% interest until 2011, guaranteeing him annual payments every July 1 for 25 years.

As a result, Bonilla is getting paid $1.19 million every year until 2035, when he will be 72 years old.

Fortunately, you don’t have to be a six-time All-Star like Bonilla to get guaranteed income. Anyone can secure a steady and protected income stream with an annuity.

Life insurers offer annuities, the only product in the private marketplace that can provide people with guaranteed lifetime income. Last year, U.S. savers purchased a record $432.4 billion in annuities, according to LIMRA.

With more than 11,000 people turning 65 every day, it’s not surprising that many are seeking the financial certainty that annuities provide. There aren’t many sure things when it comes to finances. But Bonilla has one. And with an annuity, every American can feel the same sense of financial certainty.

Retirement Security

Annuity Awareness

David Nielsen

David Nielsen is Senior Director, Strategic Content/IMPACT at the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI). His responsibilities include IMPACT and other ACLI publications, notably News Now & News Now International. A former bank examiner, business analyst and journalist, he joined ACLI in 2013.