Jack Bonadies
{{Short description|American football player (1892–1965)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Jack Bonadies
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| number = 28
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1892|12|2}}
| birth_place = Corleto Perticara, Italy
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1965|10|13|1892|12|2}}
| death_place = Hartford, Connecticut
| height_ft =
| height_in =
| weight_lbs = 208
| high_school =
| college = None
| pastteams =
- Hartford Blues ({{NFL Year|1926}})
- All-Hartford ({{circa}} 1927–1929)
| highlights =
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 5
| pfr = BonaJa20
}}
John A. Bonadies, sometimes called Giovanni A. Bonadies (December 2, 1892 – October 13, 1965) was an Italian professional American football guard and tackle who played one season in the National Football League (NFL) for the Hartford Blues. Born in Corleto Perticara, his family moved to United States when he was young. At the age of 34 in 1926, Bonadies was called to play professional football with the Blues. He appeared in five games, all as a backup.
Early life and education
Jack Bonadies was born on December 2, 1892, in Corleto Perticara, "a village in the hills surrounded by vineyards, olive groves and woods."{{Cite book|title=First and Ten: Pro Football Players Born in Italy|author=Fausto Batella|date=19 July 2017 |publisher=CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform |isbn=978-1548882495}} His family moved to New Rochelle, New York when he was young and later to Hartford, Connecticut. His high school is unknown. He did not attend a college.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BonaJa20.htm|title=Jack Bonadies Stats|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com}} Due to his weight of 208 pounds (sometimes listed 210), Bonadies was called "the Italian Giant" and would play either the tackle or guard position in semi-professional games.
Professional career
File:Hartford Blues football team in 1926.png
In 1926, at the age of 34, Bonadies was signed by the Hartford Blues of the National Football League (NFL) to play professional football. He made his debut in week one of the season, against the New York Giants, as "a substitute for Donlan".{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34022017/hartford-courant/|newspaper=Hartford Courant|via=Newspapers.com|date=September 27, 1926|title=New York Giants' Well Balanced Eleven Uses Aerial Attack to Trim Blues}} {{Open access}} The Blues ended the game losing 0–21, in front of 6,500 fans at East Hartford Velodrome.{{Cite web|url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/1926nflhar.html|website=Pro Football Archives|title=1926 Hartford Blues (NFL)}} Bonadies did not appear in recaps for the following game, an October 2 loss to the Frankford Yellow Jackets, but was mentioned in their game the following day.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87570427/pittsburgh-daily-post/|newspaper=Pittsburgh Daily Post|via=Newspapers.com|date=October 4, 1926|title=Yellow Jackets Cop}} {{Open access}} In the third game of the season, Bonadies was sent as a replacement for Grat O'Connell late in the game as the Blues were shut out again by the Yellow Jackets, this time by the score of 0–10. The following game was a 0–6 loss versus the Brooklyn Lions.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87572908/times-union/|newspaper=Times Union|via=Newspapers.com|date=October 11, 1926|title=Forward Pass in Final Period Gives Lions 6 to 0 Win Over Hartford Blues|author=Cotter, Clay}} {{Open access}} In the loss he was on the bench the entire game, and did not see any playing time.
After a Hartford player was suspended prior to their next game against the Lions again, Bonadies was expected to start the game to replace him. An article in the Hartford Courant said, "It is probable that the Italian giant, Jack Bonadies, will start against Brooklyn at guard ... Bonadies, a local product, has been coming along fast and threatens to oust a regular before the season is half over. He is a big, powerful boy and eager for work. He is a looming figure at every practice session."{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87570609/hartford-courant/|newspaper=Hartford Courant|via=Newspapers.com|date=October 21, 1926|title=Storms Will Not Prevent Future Contests Of Blues}} {{Open access}} He ended up being backup again against the Lions, but did enter the game early as a substitute for Ralph Nichols, before Nichols rejoined the game.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87570741/times-union/|newspaper=Times Union|via=Newspapers.com|date=October 25, 1926|title=Brooklyn Lions Bow To Hartford}} {{Open access}} Hartford won the game 16–6, in their first victory of the season. the Blues suffered another defeat in the next week, losing 2–7 versus the Kansas City Cowboys.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87576114/hartford-courant/|newspaper=Hartford Courant|via=Newspapers.com|date=November 1, 1926|title=Blues Bow To Kansas City Cowboys, Slippery Ball Leads To Winning Score}} {{Open access}} Bonadies did not see any playing time against the Cowboys, spending the entire game on the bench. The Blues recorded their second win of the season against the Canton Bulldogs on November 7, before suffering another loss the following week against the Buffalo Rangers. Bonadies left the team after illness made his play decline on November 18, following a total of five games played in.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87570159/hartford-courant/|newspaper=Hartford Courant|via=Newspapers.com|date=November 19, 1926|title=Bonadies Leaves Camp of Blues}} {{Open access}}
He returned to football in the following year, spending the next few seasons playing for a team called "All-Hartford".{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87570855/obituary-for-john-a-bonadies-aged-72/|newspaper=Hartford Courant|via=Newspapers.com|date=October 14, 1926|title=John A. Bonadies (obituary)}} {{Open access}}
Later life and death
He lived in the Hartford-area for the final 50 years of his life. He was owner of a restaurant there, called "John's Restaurant", retiring in the early 1960s.
With his wife, Frances, Bonadies had two sons and three daughters. He died on October 13, 1965, in Hartford, at the age of 72.
References
{{Reflist}}
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Category:Italian emigrants to the United States
Category:Hartford Blues players