Alva Theodore Bonda (1917 - October 22, 2005) was the president of the Cleveland Indians from 1973 to 1978. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio, which also served as his death place. He was a partner in Nick Mileti's ownership group who assumed control of the team in 1973, though Mileti wasn't completely bought out until 1975.[1] While with the Indians in 1974 he hired Frank Robinson to be the first African-American baseball manager.
Bonda was a partner with Howard Metzenbaum in Metzenbaum's airport parking company, APCOA Parking. Bonda was also chairman of Avis Car Rental at one time and served on the Cleveland School Board.[2] The Bonda and Metzenbaum were also principal owners of the Cleveland Stokers professional soccer club and in the Indians. Bonda was named after Alva Bradley, a previous Indians owner who owned the building where Bonda's father worked. Bonda was active in civic affairs. He's credited with keeping the franchise in Cleveland at a time when both the franchise and the city were in poor shape.
Political Views
editBonda was a liberal Democrat. He dedicated a lot of his wealth to philanthropic endeavors.
References
edit- ^ Torry, Jack (1996). "Chapter 6, You're Committing Suicide". Endless Summers: The Fall and Rise of the Cleveland Indians. Diamond Communications, Inc. pp. 104–125. ISBN 978-0-912083-98-8.
- ^ "Cleveland Business Hall of Fame: Bonda, Alva T." clevelandmagazine.com. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
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