By now, the Mets might as well declare July 1 an official holiday. 

It’s Bobby Bonilla Day, and the 62-year-old will be receiving a fresh check of $1.19 million from the Mets as part of one of the most bizarre contracts in sports history. 

While Bonilla first signed with the Mets in 1991 on what was the richest contract in team sports at the time, five years and $29 million, it was his contract during his second stint with the Mets that led to this annual head-scratcher.

Bonilla, a six-time All-Star and three-time Silver Slugger whom the Mets traded to the Orioles in 1995, signed a four-year, $23.3 million contract with the Marlins before the 1997 season.

He was traded to the Dodgers in 1998 in the Mike Piazza deal, and after that season he was traded back to the Mets with two years and $11.65 million remaining on his contract.

After hitting just .160 across 60 games for the Mets in 1999, the Mets bought out Bonilla’s deal in January 2000, with the team agreeing to defer the remaining $5.9 million sum with 8 percent interest, spread across the span of 2011-35. 

Bonilla also receives $500,000 annually from the Orioles, with payments to continue through 2028.

Mets ownership, led by then-owner Fred Wilpon, was in the midst of getting scammed by Bernie Madoff when the team struck its deal with Bonilla. 

Wilpon and the Mets believed they’d be getting huge returns on their investment with Madoff, which would enable them to pay off the buyout. 

That did not work out, and the Mets instead found themself in the embarrassing predicament of owing Bonilla the huge annual payday. 

The situation has become a source of camaraderie for fans in recent years — especially now that billionaire Steve Cohen is in charge of the team. 

When he first bought the team in November 2020, Cohen joked on X about handing Bonilla an oversized check and driving a car around Citi Field each July 1.

In 2021, the Mets listed a promotion for fans to book an Airbnb stay at Citi Field that included use of the team gym and shower, and throwing out the ceremonial first pitch, under the header: “Private room hosted by Bobby.”

Bonilla, too, has embraced the wacky nature of the situation. Of course, that’s easy for him to do with $1.19 million hitting his account every July. 

“It’s kind of become like my birthday so to speak, right? It’s become that big,” Bonilla told The Post by phone in 2024. “I don’t think people know the exact date of my birthday, but they certainly know when this deferred comp comes in, so it’s pretty cool in that respect.”