Bill Bonham – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

William Gordon Bonham made his mark during a solid nine-year run in Major League Baseball, pitching for the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds between 1971 and 1980. A right-handed pitcher from California, Bonham saw both highs and lows in the majors, going from losing 20 games in a season to helping a top-tier team chase a division title.

Bonham wrapped up his career after the 1980 season with the Cincinnati Reds. He started out as an undrafted free agent for just $2,000, and by the end, he’d racked up 75 wins across 307 big league games.

He had some memorable moments, like helping the Reds win the 1979 National League West Division, but he also battled through tough seasons that really tested his grit.

If you look at Bill Bonham’s story, you’ll see what professional baseball is really like for plenty of players who build good careers without ever becoming household names. His journey took him from UCLA’s College World Series team, through arm injuries and team changes, all the way to nearly a decade in baseball’s toughest league.

Early Life and Amateur Career

Bonham grew up in Southern California, honing his baseball skills throughout high school and college. He actually got drafted three times by major league teams but kept choosing school, eventually starring for UCLA’s 1969 College World Series squad.

Family Background and Upbringing

William Gordon Bonham was born October 1, 1948, in Glendale, California. He grew up in Pacoima, up in the northern San Fernando Valley.

With the Valley’s great weather, Bonham could play baseball almost all year. That really helped him sharpen his pitching skills as a kid.

Pacoima had a reputation for producing some solid athletes. Growing up there definitely shaped Bonham’s athletic development.

High School Baseball at Francis Polytechnic

Bonham went to Francis Poly High School in Sun Valley, California. In his senior year, he earned second team All-East Valley League honors for his pitching.

His high school performances got pro scouts interested. The California Angels picked him in the 31st round of the June 1966 amateur draft.

But Bonham didn’t sign with the Angels. He wanted to keep going with school, so he headed to junior college instead of jumping to pro ball right away.

Time at Los Angeles Valley College

After high school, Bonham enrolled at Los Angeles Valley College. The Angels drafted him again in the fourth round of the secondary phase of the January 1967 draft, before his freshman year started.

Again, Bonham turned down the Angels and pitched two seasons for Los Angeles Valley. His sophomore year in 1968 included some eye-catching performances.

Notable 1968 Performances:

• March 16: He struck out the first nine hitters and finished with a school-record 20 strikeouts in a 3-2 win over Santa Monica.
• April 10: Threw a no-hitter with 18 strikeouts in a 1-0 victory over L.A. Pierce, and he even scored the winning run.

In 67⅓ innings that season, Bonham set a team record with 88 strikeouts. The Baltimore Orioles drafted him in the 31st round in June 1968, but he turned them down too and transferred to UCLA.

UCLA Bruins and 1969 College World Series

Bonham joined the UCLA Bruins after transferring. In 1969, he helped the team reach their first-ever College World Series.

The Bruins went 42-10-1 that regular season. The roster included Chris Chambliss, who later became a successful major leaguer.

UCLA entered the 1969 College World Series riding a 13-game win streak. Even with such a strong regular season, the Bruins didn’t win a game in the tournament.

During his senior year, Bonham took home the team’s pitcher award. He won four games with a 2.60 ERA and struck out 110 batters in 82⅔ innings.

After going undrafted in June, Bonham signed with the Chicago Cubs as a free agent. They gave him a $2,000 bonus to kick off his pro career.

Professional Career Beginnings

Bonham’s jump from college to the majors started when he signed with the Cubs in 1970. He impressed Cubs management during spring training and made his big league debut in April 1971, only months after his first pro season.

Signing with Chicago Cubs

Bonham finished his senior year at UCLA in 1970 and faced a pretty uncertain future. Despite his strong play, he didn’t get picked in the June draft. Some teams thought he had attitude issues, which hurt his chances.

The Cubs decided to take a shot on the 6-foot-3 righty. They signed him for a modest $2,000 bonus, and honestly, that move worked out for both sides.

Reflecting on his college days, Bonham once said, “I really didn’t have a great record with UCLA. Too, I think a lot of clubs thought I had a bad attitude.” The Cubs saw past that and gave him a real opportunity.

Minor League Development

Bonham started his pro career with Huron, South Dakota in the Class-A Northern League. Even with little experience, he showed promise right away.

In 18 games for Huron, he went 3-3 with six saves. His 3.00 ERA showed good control, and he struck out 69 batters in just 39 innings.

That performance caught the Cubs’ attention. Scouts and coaches noticed his strikeout ability and poise on the mound.

The Cubs invited him to spring training as a non-roster player for 1971. That came only months after his pro debut.

Spring Training and MLB Debut

Bonham made the most of his spring training shot in 1971. Manager Leo Durocher quickly saw his potential and how calm he was under pressure.

On March 21, Bonham tossed four scoreless innings against the Milwaukee Brewers. That pretty much locked up his spot on the Cubs’ Opening Day roster. Durocher even said, “He’s going back to Chicago, unless a train runs over him, God forbid, bit my tongue.”

Bonham made his MLB debut on April 7, 1971, in the Cubs’ second game of the season against the St. Louis Cardinals. He entered in the fourth inning with the Cubs down 6-0 and two runners on.

His debut didn’t go smoothly. He walked the first two hitters and gave up a two-run single. After another walk, the Cubs pulled him from the game. Still, he’d reached the majors—a big milestone.

Major League Career Highlights

Bonham built a reputation as a reliable workhorse from 1971 to 1980. His career included memorable moments with the Cubs, where he became an Opening Day starter and logged over 200 innings in three seasons, then a successful run with the Reds that ended with a National League West title.

Chicago Cubs Tenure

Bonham made his big league debut on April 7, 1971, with the Cubs at age 22. He quickly worked his way into the Cubs’ starting rotation during the 1970s.

His standout season came in 1974, when he started on Opening Day. Bonham threw a four-hit shutout on April 9, beating the Phillies 2-0 at Wrigley Field.

Even with some great outings, 1974 was tough. Bonham finished 11-22, becoming one of five 20-game losers in MLB that year. He still pitched 242⅔ innings with a 3.86 ERA, showing a ton of durability.

From 1973 to 1977, Bonham racked up triple-digit strikeouts five years in a row. He topped 200 innings in three seasons, earning a rep as an innings-eater. Around the league, people respected him as a dependable arm in the Cubs’ rotation.

Cincinnati Reds and NL West Title

After the 1977 season, Bonham asked for a trade and landed with the Cincinnati Reds in October. That fresh start worked out for him.

In 1978, Bonham had his best year in the majors. He started hot, winning his first seven decisions before his first loss on June 12. Even with elbow problems that sidelined him for a month, he finished 11-5 with a 3.53 ERA.

The next year, 1979, brought his biggest team success. As the Reds’ number two starter behind Tom Seaver, Bonham helped them win the 1979 National League West. He went 9-7 with a 3.79 ERA in 29 starts, giving the Reds’ rotation some much-needed steadiness.

That division title was the high point of Bonham’s career. His role in the rotation really mattered for the Reds in a tough NL West.

Notable Records and Milestones

Bonham set a few unique marks during his career. In 1975, he gave up seven straight hits to start a game—a major league record—but still ended up with a career-high 13 wins that year.

His career numbers were steady over 10 seasons:

• 75 wins, 83 losses
• 4.01 career ERA
• 300 games (214 starts)
• 11 saves
• 4 shutouts in 27 complete games

Bonham’s durability really stood out. He often pitched deep into games and gave his teams valuable innings. That ability to keep going, even with heavy workloads, made him a key part of every rotation he joined.

Retirement in 1980

Bonham’s last season came in 1980. He managed only four games for the Reds, with arm problems limiting what he could do.

His final MLB appearance was July 26, 1980, against the Mets. He pitched five innings, allowed six hits and one run, and struck out three in what turned out to be his last win.

At 31, recurring elbow and shoulder injuries forced Bonham to step away from baseball. He finished after parts of 10 seasons in the majors, closing out a career that started with a $2,000 bonus as an undrafted free agent from UCLA.

Pitching Performance and Statistics

Bonham’s 10-year MLB career gave him a 75-83 record and a 4.01 ERA over 1,487.1 innings. He struck out 985 and walked 636 batters, with some clear differences between his Cubs and Reds years.

Win–Loss Record and ERA

Bonham ended up with a 75-83 record and a 4.01 ERA in 300 games. His .475 winning percentage shows he faced some tough stretches, especially in Chicago.

His roughest season came in 1974, when he went 11-22 with a 3.86 ERA for the Cubs. Even so, he pitched 242.2 innings and made 36 starts that year.

He posted his best ERA in 1973 at 3.02 with a 7-5 record. In his final season, 1980, he went 2-1 with a 4.74 ERA in just four games.

Bonham improved after moving to Cincinnati in 1978. With the Reds, he put up a 22-13 record (.629 winning percentage), compared to 53-70 (.431) with the Cubs.

Strikeouts and Walks

Bonham finished with 985 strikeouts and 636 walks for a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 1.55. He averaged 6.0 strikeouts per nine innings.

His best strikeout year was 1974, with 191 Ks in 242.2 innings. That same year, though, he walked 109 batters, showing he sometimes struggled with control.

With the Reds, Bonham cut his walk rate a lot. He averaged 3.1 walks per nine innings in Cincinnati, compared to 4.1 with Chicago.

Throughout his career, he issued 57 intentional walks. In 1980, he showed great control, walking just five in 19 innings.

Complete Games, Shutouts, and Saves

Bonham finished 27 games and notched 4 shutouts during his career. He picked up 11 saves, mostly during his early years in Chicago.

In 1974, he hit his peak for complete games with 10, tossing 2 shutouts that same year. He followed up in 1975 with 3 more complete games and 2 additional shutouts.

He found most of his save opportunities between 1972 and 1973 when he bounced between starting and relieving. Bonham tallied 4 saves in 1972 and 6 more in 1973.

When he moved to Cincinnati, Bonham pitched only as a starter. Over three seasons with the Reds, he completed just 3 games.

Career Advanced Metrics

Bonham racked up 18.0 WAR (Wins Above Replacement) over his 10-year career. His best single-season WAR—4.3—came in 1973 with the Cubs.

He carried a 1.444 WHIP (Walks + Hits per Inning Pitched) throughout his time in the majors. Bonham allowed 9.1 hits per nine innings and faced 6,484 batters in total.

His advanced stats stayed pretty steady, with an ERA+ of 97, which put him just a bit below league average. Bonham threw 68 wild pitches during his career.

He started 214 games out of 300 total appearances. His FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) landed at 3.50, which actually suggests he pitched a bit better than his 4.01 ERA would have you believe.

Challenges, Setbacks, and Noteworthy Moments

Bill Bonham’s career never really got easy. He led the National League in losses in 1974 and dealt with arm injuries that eventually ended his time on the mound. Still, he managed to strike out four batters in a single inning—a rare feat—and his career was full of both exciting starts and tough endings.

Leading the League in Losses

The 1974 season hit Bonham the hardest. He tied for the National League lead with 22 losses, ending up with an 11-22 record, even though his ERA sat at a decent 3.86.

Bonham pitched 242⅔ innings that year and completed 10 games. He lost a lot of close ones—two 1-0 games, a 2-0, and a couple of 2-1 losses.

The Cubs had a rough time, too, finishing 66-96 after a 77-84 season the year before. Bonham looked back on that year, saying, “When I pitched badly I lost, and when I pitched good, I lost some of those games, too.”

He admitted the mental part wore him down. “It’s an unsuccessful thing to lose that many games and it makes you feel like a failure,” he said. “When you lose 22, you’ve got something wrong.”

Four Strikeouts in an Inning Feat

On July 31, 1974, Bonham pulled off a rare baseball trick by striking out four batters in a single inning—the second inning of that game. Only 49 pitchers in major league history have done that.

This happens when a batter reaches first on a passed ball or wild pitch after striking out, so the pitcher needs to get another out. Bonham managed it.

He did this during his rough 1974 season. Despite everything, Bonham showed off his strikeout stuff, finishing third in the National League that year with 7.07 strikeouts per nine innings.

Highs and Lows with the Cubs

Bonham’s time in Chicago was all over the place. He had a rough start but flashed potential in 1978 after a trade to Cincinnati, winning his first seven decisions before finally losing on June 12.

He started Opening Day for the Cubs in 1974, which felt like a big step. On April 9, he pitched his first career shutout—a four-hitter in a 2-0 win over Philadelphia at Wrigley.

But keeping that momentum just never happened. Between June 23 and July 18, 1974, Bonham went 5-1 in seven starts, turning a 4-10 record into 9-11. Then, the wheels came off—he won just two more games and lost 11 the rest of the way.

By 1977, Bonham asked for a trade, hoping “a change of scenery might help him turn around a career that has been a disappointment to him.” He left the Cubs with a 53-70 record over six seasons.

Arm Injuries and Final Season

Elbow problems started to haunt Bonham during his good 1978 season with Cincinnati. After a 3-0 start, his elbow started acting up, and he missed four weeks.

“This soreness is different,” he said about the injury, which was worse than any arm trouble he’d had before. Bonham admitted it scared him: “I knew I hurt the elbow really bad. And, at the time, I was afraid I wouldn’t pitch again.”

On September 27, 1978, Dr. Frank Jobe operated on Bonham’s right elbow, removing loose bodies and bone spurs, and moved his ulnar nerve. Even after surgery, the arm pain stuck around.

In his last season in 1980, Bonham still felt forearm stiffness. Manager John McNamara said they had to “handle Bonham with kid gloves” because he was still recovering.

Eventually, those recurring arm issues forced Bonham to retire after 1980. He wrapped up his career with 75 wins and 83 losses across 10 seasons.

Legacy, Recognition, and Personal Life

Bill Bonham made his mark on baseball by sticking it out through tough years and leaning on his faith to get through the rough patches. After he left the game, he kept a low profile, but baseball historians still track his career stats.

Impact on Teams and Teammates

Bonham made his biggest impact with the Chicago Cubs from 1971 to 1977. Even though he led the league in losses with 22 in 1974, he kept taking the ball every fifth day. His old UCLA teammate Chris Chambliss saw Bonham’s college success before they both reached the majors.

Manager Leo Durocher believed in him early. After a good spring in 1971, Durocher said, “He’s going back to Chicago, unless a train runs over him.”

The Cubs leaned on Bonham as a workhorse. In 1974, he threw a career-high 242⅔ innings, even as the team struggled. Five of his 10 complete games that year were decided by two runs or less, so he kept the Cubs in games, even if they didn’t win.

When Bonham joined the Cincinnati Reds in 1978, he found a bit of a second wind. He went 11-5 with a 3.53 ERA and helped the team through a transition. Bonham talked a lot about his faith, especially after coming back from injury: “I am a Christian. God gave me the ability to pitch.”

Post-Retirement Life

After he retired in 1980, William Gordon Bonham stepped out of the spotlight. Unlike a lot of former players, Bonham didn’t go into coaching or broadcasting after his ten-year MLB run.

He ended his career with the Reds, his elbow problems finally catching up with him. Dr. Frank Jobe’s surgery in 1978 let Bonham pitch a little longer, but the pain just wouldn’t go away.

Bonham’s life after baseball is mostly a mystery. He chose privacy, which stands out compared to his college teammate Chris Chambliss, who stayed in the public eye.

Bonham’s strong Christian faith, which he leaned on during tough times in his career, probably kept guiding him after baseball. He often spoke about how his beliefs helped him deal with injuries and setbacks.

References and Baseball Research

Baseball Reference and other statistical databases keep Bonham’s full career records available. His final MLB stats list 75 wins, 83 losses, and a 4.01 ERA over 10 seasons with the Cubs and Reds.

The Society for American Baseball Research took the time to document Bonham’s career in detail. Their records even mention his college days at UCLA, where he struck out 110 batters in just 82⅔ innings during his senior year.

Baseball historians have pointed out some unique moments in Bonham’s career. On July 31, 1974, he tied a Major League record by striking out four batters in one inning.

Only 49 pitchers in all of baseball history have ever pulled that off. That’s a pretty exclusive club.

Researchers found that Bonham was one of five pitchers who lost 20 games in 1974. The others were Randy Jones, Steve Rogers, Mickey Lolich, and Clyde Wright.

Even with all those losses, Bonham’s 7.07 strikeouts per nine innings ranked third in the National League that year. Not bad, honestly.

Modern analysts still look at Bonham’s career using advanced stats and historical context. They’re always finding new ways to look at his time with the Cubs and Reds.