Zeke Bonura
Born: 9/20/1908 in New Orleans, LA, USA
Died: 3/9/1987 in New Orleans, LA, USA
MLB Debut: 1934-04-17 | Final Game: 1940-09-26
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 210 lbs
Full name: Henry John Bonura
Biography
Zeke Bonura was a prominent position player in Major League Baseball during the late 1930s, known for his powerful hitting and consistent performance at the plate. Born in 1908, Bonura made his MLB debut on April 17, 1934, and played until September 26, 1940. Over the course of his career, he appeared in 917 games, accumulating 1,099 hits, 119 home runs, and 704 RBIs, all while maintaining an impressive batting average of .307. His ability to drive in runs and hit for average placed him among the most productive hitters of his era, contributing significantly to the teams he played for.
Bonura's playing style was characterized by his strong left-handed bat and solid defensive skills, which made him a valuable asset to teams during the pre-war era of baseball. He also demonstrated speed on the bases, finishing his career with 19 stolen bases. Throughout his time in the major leagues, he was recognized for his ability to perform under pressure, earning respect from both teammates and opponents. Zeke Bonura's contributions to the game, particularly during a time when power hitting began to emerge as a defining characteristic of baseball, solidified his legacy as one of the noteworthy hitters of his generation.
Negro Leagues Career Statistics
Batting
| PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
Negro Leagues Season-by-Season Batting
| Season | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1942 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 917 | 3582 | 600 | 1099 | 232 | 29 | 119 | 704 | 19 | 404 | 180 | 0.307 | 0.380 | 0.487 | 0.867 | 12719.4 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1934 | CHW | AL | 127 | 510 | 86 | 154 | 35 | 4 | 27 | 110 | 0 | 64 | 31 | 0.302 | 2573.2 |
| 1935 | CHW | AL | 138 | 550 | 107 | 162 | 34 | 4 | 21 | 92 | 4 | 57 | 28 | 0.295 | 1687.8 |
| 1936 | CHW | AL | 148 | 587 | 120 | 194 | 39 | 7 | 12 | 138 | 4 | 94 | 29 | 0.330 | 2909.4 |
| 1937 | CHW | AL | 116 | 447 | 79 | 154 | 41 | 2 | 19 | 100 | 5 | 49 | 24 | 0.345 | 2900.5 |
| 1938 | WSN | AL | 137 | 540 | 72 | 156 | 27 | 3 | 22 | 114 | 2 | 44 | 29 | 0.289 | 1081.0 |
| 1939 | NY1 | NL | 123 | 455 | 75 | 146 | 26 | 6 | 11 | 85 | 1 | 46 | 22 | 0.321 | 1567.0 |
| 1940 | CHC | NL | 49 | 182 | 20 | 48 | 14 | 0 | 4 | 20 | 1 | 10 | 4 | 0.264 | -125.7 |
| 1940 | WSN | AL | 79 | 311 | 41 | 85 | 16 | 3 | 3 | 45 | 2 | 40 | 13 | 0.273 | -125.7 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 900 | 0 | 8808 | 595 | 72 | 815 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1934 | CHA | 1B | 127 | 0 | 1239 | 77 | 5 | 94 |
| 1935 | CHA | 1B | 138 | 0 | 1421 | 83 | 9 | 102 |
| 1936 | CHA | 1B | 146 | 0 | 1500 | 107 | 7 | 150 |
| 1937 | CHA | 1B | 115 | 0 | 1114 | 63 | 13 | 123 |
| 1938 | WS1 | 1B | 129 | 0 | 1209 | 93 | 9 | 132 |
| 1939 | NY1 | 1B | 122 | 0 | 1205 | 90 | 11 | 110 |
| 1940 | CHN | 1B | 44 | 0 | 408 | 40 | 4 | 34 |
| 1940 | WS1 | 1B | 79 | 0 | 712 | 42 | 14 | 70 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 900 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1936 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 19th | 1.0 | 80 | 0 |
| 1935 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 15th | 7.0 | 80 | 0 |