Zeke Bonura
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Henry John (Zeke) Bonura (September 20, 1908 - March 9, 1987) was a first baseman in Major League Baseball. From 1934 through 1940, he played for the Chicago White Sox (1934-1937), Washington Senators (1938, 1940 [start]), New York Giants (1939) and Chicago Cubs (1940[end]). 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.
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[edit] 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
[edit] Noteworthy
Zeke Bonura's grandson, Anthony Bonura, competed in the javelin throw for the University of Pittsburgh. As a post-graduate, during the 2007 track season, Anthony Bonura threw the javelin over 73 meters; a mark that qualifies him for the 2008 United States Olympic Team Trials.

