Robert Averill Bonner (born August 12, 1956) is an American former professional baseball player and currently a Baptist missionary. He was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the third round of the

1976 MLB Draft First round selections The following are the first round picks in the 1976 Major League Baseball draft. ''*'' Did not sign Other notable Selections ''*'' Did not sign Background The 1976 Arizona State University team, considered by ma ...

. He played parts of four seasons in Major League Baseball, from 1980 and 1983, all for the Baltimore Orioles, primarily as a shortstop. Beginning on the evening of April 18, 1981, he had 12 at-bats in the longest professional baseball game ever played, 33 innings, between the Pawtucket Red Sox and the Rochester Red Wings. Bonner was called up by the Orioles' in May 1981 to replace an injured

Lenn Sakata Lenn Haruki Sakata (born June 8, 1954) is an American former professional baseball player who played in the Major Leagues primarily as a utility player from 1977 to 1987 and was a member of the Baltimore Orioles 1983 World Series Championship tea ...

. Orioles' general manager Hank Peters and Tom Giordano chose to call him up over

Cal Ripken Jr. Calvin Edwin Ripken Jr. (born August 24, 1960), nicknamed "Iron man (sports streak), The Iron Man", is an American former baseball shortstop and third baseman who played 21 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles (1981� ...

, the choice of Earl Weaver and the Orioles' coaching staff. Weaver remarked in an interview, "Bonner can play and our minor league people know what they're doing. But it seems to me if we need a guy like Ripken, who can hit the ball out of the park, he deserves a chance. Our main need is freakin' runs, and don't let anybody kid you." Bonner hit .296 in 1981, but was sent down after nine games at the end of May and made only one more appearance in 1981, on September 15. After retiring from baseball after the 1984 season, he became a missionary in Zambia, serving there for twenty-six years. Upon returning to the United States, he started International African Missions, an organization focused on getting missionaries and nationals help in all African countries. He is married to Becky. Bonner appeared on Cal Ripken Jr.'s 1982 Topps rookie card along with pitcher

Jeff Schneider Jeffrey Theodore Schneider (born December 6, 1952) is an American former professional baseball player. He appeared in 11 Major League games as a relief pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles in . A switch hitter who threw left-handed, Schneider st ...

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1956 births Living people American expatriates in Zambia Baltimore Orioles players Baptist missionaries from the United States Baptist missionaries in Zambia Baseball players from Texas Charlotte O's players Major League Baseball shortstops People from Uvalde, Texas Rochester Red Wings players Texas A&M Aggies baseball players Texas A&M University alumni Tigres de Aragua players American expatriate baseball players in Venezuela {{US-baseball-shortstop-stub