For information on the professional baseball career of William H. Bonawitz, we are left with a few local newspaper references, which mainly state that he was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals of the National League in 1949, that he attended a camp in Georgia in 1950, and was supposed to report to St. Paul, Minnesota, or a team in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Beyond that, no information is readily available on his time as a professional baseball player.
William H. Bonawitz was born in Loyalton, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, November 1, 1930, the son of Howard D. Bonawitz and Mary Lovina [Jury] Bonawitz. He died on November 15, 2021, and is buried at Linglestown, Dauphin County. His obituary states that “he pitched for the St. Louis Cardinals farm team from 1949 and 1950.”
At the time of this writing, his Baseball Reference page had no information about him except his name.
The news articles that describe his professional baseball career follow here:
___________________________________________
From the Elizabethville Echo, February 23, 1950:
REPORT TO BASEBALL CAMP NEXT WEEK
Two Lykens Valley youths, both right-handed pitchers, plan to leave March 4 [1950] for Albany, George, to enter spring training in preparation for the 1950 baseball season.
Both young men, Jack Hepler, of Gratz, and William Bonawitz, of Loyalton, signed contracts with the St. Louis Cardinals of the National League last fall.
Bonawitz is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Bonawitz of Loyalton, and is a graduate of the Lykens High School. In addition to playing on the school team, he played in American Legion junior baseball, and also pitched for the Loyalton team of the Twin County League. He will play with the Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, Red Wings, Cardinals farm tear of the Pony League during the coming season.
Hepler, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Hepler Sr., of Gratz, is a graduate of the Hegins Township High School where he played on the school team. He too, played American Legion junior baseball and was a member of the Gratz team of the Twin County League. Hepler, it was stated, will play with Johnson City, Tennessee, team of the Appalachian League during the 1950 season.
_____________________________________
From the Elizabethville Echo, April 27, 1950:
WILL PLAY ON DULUTH TEAM
William H. Bonawitz, son of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Bonawitz, of Loyalton, who last Fall signed a contract with the St. Louis Cardinals of the National League, recently completed spring training at the Cardinal’s camp at Albany, Georgia, where his work on the mound was impressive.
Bonawitz is a graduate of Lykens High School where he played on the school team. He also played in American Legion Junior Baseball and was a pitcher for the Loyalton Twin County League team.
Bonawitz left the Georgia training camp on Tuesday to report to Duluth, Minnesota, a Class C team.
__________________________________________
From the Lykens Standard, March 3, 1950:
WILL REPORT TO BASEBALL CAMP NEXT WEEK
Two valley youths, both right-handed pitchers, will leave March 4 [1950] for Albany, Georgia, to enter spring training in preparation for the 1950 baseball season.
Both young men, Jack Hepler, of Gratz, and William Bonawitz, of Loyalton, signed contracts with the St. Louis Cardinals last fall [1949].
Bonawitz is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Bonawitz, of Loyalton, and is a graduate of Lykens High School. In addition to playing on the school team, he played in American legion junior baseball and also pitched for the Loyalton team of the Twin County league. He will play with the Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, Red Wings, Cardinal farm team of the Pony League, during the coming season.
Hepler, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Hepler Sr., of Gratz, is a graduate of the Hegins Township High School, where he played on the school team. He, too, played American Legion junior baseball and was a member of the Gratz team of the Twin County League. Hepler, it was stated, will play with the Johnson City, Tennessee team of the Appalachian League during the 1950 season.
____________________________________________________
From the Lykens Standard, May 5, 1950:
WILL PLAY ON DULUTH TEAM
William H. Bonawitz, son of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Bonawitz, of Loyalton, who last Fall signed a contract with the St. Louis Cardinals of the National League, recently completed spring training at the Cardinals’ camp at Albany, Georgia, where his work on the mound was impressive.
Bonawitz is a graduate of the Lykens High School where he played on the school team. He also played in American Legion Junior Baseball and was a pitcher for Loyalton Twin County League team.
____________________________________________
Articles from Newspapers.com. Photograph of William H. Bonawitz from his obituary.
For additional information about Jack Hepler who is mentioned in the news articles, see:
Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.