Zeke Is Not Forgotten

“Remember the farmer who stood in front of the hippo’s cage for twenty minutes and then said ‘There ain’t no such animal?’ He should see Zeke.” So wrote columnist Bill Henry upon seeing rookie Zeke Bonura at White Sox camp in Los Angeles in 1934. “Zeke has legs like Jim Londo’s (wrestler of the era) chest, weighs 220 pounds on the hoof and scampers around first base with astounding agility.”

Born Henry John Bonura in New Orleans in 1908, his nickname comes from the phrase “What a physique!” His parents, Enrico and Rosa Bonura, were among numerous turn of the century Sicilian immigrants who created a new life for themselves in New Orleans. His father was a prosperous fruit wholesaler, a fact that Zeke used in his legendary yearly contract holdouts, saying that he’d just go home and work for his dad’s business if the team didn’t meet his demands. He was known as the “Banana King” and “Banana Nose” for both his family business and his quite large Sicilian proboscis. Attending St. Stanislaus College Prep School in Bay St. Louis, MS, Bonura captained the football, baseball, basketball, and track and field teams. He was scouted by Notre Dame’s Knute Rockne. In 1925, at 16, he tossed the javelin 213 feet and 10 ½ inches to defeat Olympic gold medal winner Johnny Myra in the A.A.U. javelin championship, and he remains the youngest ever to win an A.A.U. track and field event. Bonura played baseball, basketball, and football at Loyola University in New Orleans.

He began his professional baseball career with his hometown New Orleans Pelicans of the Southern League (1929-31), later moving to the Dallas Steers of the Texas League, where he won the MVP in 1933. As a 25 year old rookie for the White Sox in 1934, Zeke belted 27 HR, most ever by an Italian-American until Joe Dimaggio came along and most ever for a Chisox rook until 1983 when Ron Kittle slugged 35. (There’s a bar bet for you!) In 1936, Zeke set the Sox franchise RBI record with 138, a mark that lasted for 64 years up until Frank Thomas drove in 143 in 2000.

Many sources disparage Bonura’s fielding as a first baseman, claiming that he was legendary for intentionally letting all but the easiest balls go by. One source even refers to him giving the “Mussolini salute” to groundballs, perhaps telling more about the anti-Italian-American sentiment of the time than about Bonura. Despite all of this, Zeke led the AL in fielding percentage three times during an era where Lou Gehrig was among his peers. Perhaps, there is some vindication for the Banana King, who is rated as a B+ fielding first baseman by Bill James in Win Shares!

Bonura, unfortunately, is no longer a well known name, and it might surprise many baseball history buffs to know that his park-adjusted OPS+ of 121 (bbref) ranks him squarely in the company of Tony Perez (122), Gil Hodges (120), Mark Grace (119), Pete Rose (118), and Andres Galarraga (118) and a shade behind Hall of Famers Jim Bottomley (125) and George Sisler (124).

On August 26, 1935, quite astonishingly, Zeke stole home with two outs in the bottom of the 15th inning to beat the Yankees. Apparently, he had mistaken a sign for “run on any hit ball” to mean “steal home.” His interest in Sox owner J. Louis Comiskey’s daughter, set in motion his trade to Washington for Joe Kuhel in 1938. With the Senators, Zeke would become a fan favorite of FDR’s Vice President, John Garner.

Bonura served in the Armed Forces from 1941-45, effectively ending his major league career. Master Sergeant Bonura received the Legion of Merit Award from General Eisenhower for his contributions to staff morale in Algeria, where he organized 1,000 baseball teams.

Upon leaving the armed forces, Bonura played several seasons in the low minors and managed in the minor leagues. In 1953, he managed a youngster named Roger Maris, capturing the Northern League pennant for Fargo-Moorhead.

Zeke never married. In retirement, he was renowned for raising pedigreed beagles. He died in New Orleans on March 9, 1987 and is buried in a typical New Orleans above ground tomb in Metairie Cemetery.