Alva T. "Ted" Bonda (born 1917 in Cleveland, OH, died October 22, 2005 in Cleveland) was the president of the Cleveland Indians from 1973 to 1978. 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. 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. The two were also principal owners of the Cleveland Stokers professional soccer club and in the Indians. He was named after Alva Bradley, a previous Indians owner who owned the building where Bonda's father worked.Bonda was active in civic affairs, particularly the Cleveland School Board.
As owner of the Cleveland Indians, he hired Frank Robinson in 1974 to be the first black manager in the major leagues.
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After WWII he joined boyhood friend Howard Metzenbaum, who later became a U.S. Senator from Ohio, to build the successful Avis car rental franchise in Cleveland. They also built one of the nation's largest parking lot companies.
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Former owner of the Cleveland Indians baseball team.
$7 Million