Zeke Bonura

It was probably 2018, when Daniel Palka blazed through the South Side during his only full season in the majors. Palka could hit balls very far and did it often enough that the TV broadcasts started to show an updated list of most homeruns by a White Sox rookie. Somehow, Clare caught a game I missed and saw a name she was sure nobody born before 19XX had ever heard of. The quiz ensued, and I responded, “You mean Zeke Bonura?” For the next two or three years, every game seemed to have a graphic with Bonura’s name on it. And who was Zeke Bonura? A first baseman who spent the first four years of his seven-year career on the South Side; and, just like Daniel Palka, Bonura could hit the ball far. But he could also hit for average, which would explain his .317 BA and .396 OPB for the Sox. In addition, he averaged 110 RBIs during his time on the South Side. Why they traded him at age 28 is beyond me. Not long ago, I saw a Willard Mullin-like cartoon of Bonura—“The Bull of the Sockyards”—for sale on eBay. Zeke is shown driving a car with teammates on the roof, with the notation he was voted most popular player in Chicago and awarded a car “for driving home so many mates”; on the auction block for holding out each spring; and throwing some leather at first base despite being “heavy-legged.” The cartoon I had to have, and I do. I framed it for display in the basement. Before I took it downstairs, Michele sent a picture to Clare to let her know this is both a Palka and Bonura household.

Hop to It

What George McCaskey lacks in football savvy he make up for in gall. Speaking to the Tribune’s Colleen Kane on Friday, McCaskey gave an update on the search for a new stadium, to be built largely with funds not coming from the McCaskey family. “We want to go where the best deal is possible, where it’s most feasible—financially, politically, geographically.” I’m tempted to point out a good place for the heirs of Halas to go, but manners prevent me from being so blunt. At the same time McCaskey was trying to shake the money tree, henchman Kevin Warren was pushing for the General Assembly to get cracking so the Bears could start a-buildin’ next year. Yeah, hop to it. But McCaskey and Warren might want to tell NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to shut up. One of the selling points for a new stadium is that it will allow the Bears to get a Super Bowl. But then Goodell said the other day he could seed the Super Bowl being played outside the U.S. If that were to happen, wouldn’t that lessen the odds for Chicago getting one, let alone two, for its publicly subsidized plaything?

He Said What?

The Dodgers shut out the Padres 2-0 last night to advance to the NLCS. Kiké Hernandez and Teoscar Hernandez homered to account for both LA runs. After the game, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports asked what made this Dodgers’ team different from others. Before answering, Hernandez asked if they were live. When Rosenthal said, Yes, they were, Hernandez responded, “The fact that we don’t give a f***.” Go, Mets.

Proof's in the Pudding

Did I say something about Dylan Cease needing to prove himself if he wants to get paid big bucks once he hits free agency after 2025? Well… Cease went 1.2 innings in game four of the NLDS against the Dodgers, giving up three runs (all earned) on four hits and a walk while striking out one in a 8-0 LA win. Yes, Cease was starting on three days’ rest, and, for what it’s worth, he went 3.1 innings on Saturday, which doesn’t seem like a lot. On the other hand, Cease needed 82 pitches to get there. Any way you look at it, not a staff-ace performance. I hate sounding like a shill for management, but, if I’m the one shelling out the dough, I want performance in return. This doesn’t apply only to Cease, who’s still making a relatively modest $8 million this season. Look at the Phillies. Signing Kyle Schwarber; Bryce Harper; Trea Turner; and Nick Castellanos hasn’t translated into any World Series rings. In fact, it’ll be the Mets moving on to the NLCS after beating Philadelphia in four. Long story short—no matter the payroll or the hype surrounding a team or whatever Mickey Mouse told reporters in his postgame comments, wins and losses are what count, most of all in the postseason.

Crunch Time

This is interesting. The Padres are giving the ball to Dylan Cease tonight in the hopes of eliminating the Dodgers after last night’s 6-5 win gave San Diego a 2-1 lead in the NLDS. Interesting because Cease started game one just four days ago and couldn’t get out of the fourth inning, despite having two- and three-run leads to work with. At the risk of repeating myself, anyone wanting to be paid like the staff ace needs to pitch like one. The Padres are at home, and, if last night was any indication, the crowd will be nothing short of electric. It's all on you, Dylan.

Harry Chappas

I’m at that point in life where no visit to baseball-reference.com is complete without glancing at the “In Memoriam” listing of names. That’s where I found Harry Chappas’. His was not a happy story. A 5’7” shortstop, Chappas had stints with the White Sox from 1978 to 1980, between the ages of 20-22. These were bad Sox teams, with owner Bill Veeck looking for ways to recapture the excitement generated by the “South Side Hitmen” of 1977. Which led Veeck to push the notion that Chappas was a mere 5’3”, a king-sized Eddie Gaedel, if you will. After his career ended, Chappas told Sports Illustrated, “I began to realize that Bill Veeck just wanted me to be a gimmick to put people in the seats.” [SI, 9-29-1997] In which case, so did Sox announcer Harry Caray. I can’t remember a player who suffered more from Caray’s “love-em to hate-em” routine. That was Harry Caray, those were the late ‘70s White Sox. Chappas batted .245 with 45 hits, 26 runs scored and twelve RBIs over the course of his career. He appears to have had a hard life after baseball and died last month at age 66. Not all memories turn golden with the passage of time.

Rumors

Let’s see. One online rumor I read has Buck Showalter pushing to be the next manager of the Sad Sox. If so, no. Showalter might’ve worked in place of Tony LaRussa, definitely as a replacement for Ozzie Guillen, but, now, at 68 Showalter’s too old. According to Jon Heyman in the New York Post of 10-3-24, Rick Hahn wanted to hire A.J. Hinch to replace Rick Renteria but was vetoed by…wait for it, Jerry Reinsdorf, who insisted on LaRussa. If so, Hahn must wake up every morning cursing cruel fate. Hiring Hinch probably would’ve saved his job, and it would’ve kept Jake Burger on the South Side and… There are all sorts of names being mentioned for the Sox job; none of them move me one way or the other. I’d offer it to Guillen, provided he knew what he was getting into. Otherwise, let the “process” play itself out.