Bobby Bonilla's favorite day is, without a doubt, July 1. That's because each year, until 2035, he can expect to receive a paycheck of a clean $1,193,248.20 from the New York Mets – despite last playing for them in 1999.

So, how did the Mets get here?

In the fall of 1991, Bonilla was the biggest free agent on the market after wrapping up four straight All-Star seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates and earning two MVP finalist honors in both 1990 and 1991 – the latter in which he led the National League with 44 doubles.