Zeke Bonura

Infobox MLB retired
name = Zeke Bonura


width =
caption =
position = First baseman
birthdate = birth date|1902|9|20
deathdate = death date and age|1987|3|9|1902|9|20
bats = Right
throws = Right
debutdate = April 17
debutyear = 1934
debutteam = Chicago White Sox
finaldate = September 26
finalyear = 1940
finalteam = Chicago Cubs
stat1label = Hits
stat1value = 1099
stat2label = Batting average
stat2value = .307
stat3label = Home runs
stat3value = 119
teams =
*Chicago White Sox (by|1934-by|1937)
*Washington Senators (by|1938, by|1940)
*New York Giants (by|1939)
*Chicago Cubs (by|1940)
highlights =
hofdate =
hofvote =
hofmethod =

Henry John (Zeke) Bonura (September 20, 1908 - March 9, 1987) was a first baseman in Major League Baseball. From by|1934 through by|1940, he played for the Chicago White Sox (1934-1937), Washington Senators (1938, 1940), New York Giants (1939) and Chicago Cubs (1940). Bonura batted and threw right-handed. He was born in New Orleans, Louisiana.

In a seven-season career, Bonura posted a .307 batting average with 119 home runs and 704 RBI in 917 games played.

Arguably, Zeke Bonura's most notable athletic accomplishment has nothing to do with the sport of baseball. In June of 1925, "at the age of sixteen", Bonura became the youngest male athlete ever to win an event at the United States AAU Track and Field Championships. Bonura threw the javelin nearly 214-feet to claim the title; a meet record that stood until 1930.

Highlights

*Hit .300 or more in four of his seven major league seasons, with a career-high .345 in 1937, fourth in the American League, behind Charlie Gehringer (.371), Lou Gehrig (.351) and Joe DiMaggio (.346).
*Averaged 17 home runs per season, with a career-high 27 in his 1934 rookie season, setting a White Sox team record. The record was tied by Joe Kuhel in 1940 and surpassed by Gus Zernial in 1950 with 29.
*Is a member of the Italian American Sports Hall of Fame

ee also

*List of athletes on Wheaties boxes

External links

* [http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/B/Bonura_Zeke.stm Baseball Library]
* [http://www.usatf.org/statistics/champions/USAOutdoorTF/men/mJT.asp USATF National Champions]