Cam Bonifay

Cameron Hubert Bonifay

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 180 lb.
• School Georgia Tech

• Born February 12, 1952 in St. Petersburg, FL USA

BR minors page

Biographical Information

Following a brief playing career, Cam Bonifay was a longtime scout and front office executive. He was General Manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates for nearly a decade and currently works in the Cincinnati Reds organization.

Bonifay played baseball and football at Georgia Tech. After graduation, he played one year in the St. Louis Cardinals farm system. He split the 1974 season between the Modesto Reds (.172/~.294/.172, 12 K in 29 AB in 9 games), the St. Petersburg Cardinals (.222/~.222/.259 in 8 games), and the GCL Cardinals (.273/~.385/.424), playing first base at each stop.

Bonifay was a scout for the Cardinals in 1980 and 1981, and the Reds starting in 1983. He became the Scouting Director for the Pirates in 1990 and was assistant GM from 1991 to 1993. He then was General Manager of the Pirates from 1993 to 2001. During his tenure, he was widely criticized for spending too much money on players with poor track records, such as Pat Meares and Derek Bell. However, he was named Executive of the Year in 1997 for almost leading the team to the playoffs with a payroll of just $9 million.

The Tampa Bay Devil Rays hired Bonifay as Director of Player Development in 2001. Under him, the Durham Bulls won the International League title three straight years - 2002, 2003, and 2004. He was fired along with Chuck LaMar when Vince Naimoli sold the Devil Rays in 2005. In 2007, he joined the Cardinals front office, and the following year, he returned to the Reds as a special assistant to GM Walt Jocketty, a job he still holds in 2011.

He is the son of Bob Bonifay, the brother of Brannon Bonifay, the father of Josh Bonifay and Jonathan Bonifay, and the uncle of Ken Bonifay.

Preceded by Ted Simmons

Pittsburgh Pirates General Manager 1993-2001

Succeeded by Dave Littlefield