Tony Cloninger
| Tony Cloninger | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Cloninger in 1962. | |||
| Pitcher | |||
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Born: August 13, 1940 Cherryville, North Carolina | |||
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Died: July 24, 2018 (aged 77) Denver, North Carolina | |||
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| MLB debut | |||
| June 15, 1961, for the Milwaukee Braves | |||
| Last MLB appearance | |||
| July 22, 1972, for the St. Louis Cardinals | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 113–97 | ||
| Earned run average | 4.07 | ||
| Strikeouts | 1,120 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Tony Lee Cloninger (August 13, 1940 – July 24, 2018) was an American baseball player who played in Major League Baseball as a starting pitcher for the Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves (1961–68), the Cincinnati Reds (1968–71), and the St. Louis Cardinals (1972). He batted and threw right-handed.
Playing career
A power pitcher, Cloninger compiled a career 113–97 record with 1,120 strikeouts and a 4.07 ERA in 1,7672⁄3 innings pitched. He enjoyed his best year for the 1965 Braves, with career highs in wins (24), strikeouts (211), ERA (3.29), complete games (16), innings (279) and games started (40).
Regarded as a tough fireball pitcher, Cloninger also was a dangerous power hitter. He compiled a career batting average of .192, with 67 RBIs and 11 home runs, including five in the 1966 season.
On July 3, 1966, in the Braves' 17–3 win over the Giants at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, Cloninger helped his team's cause with two grand slams and nine RBIs; as of 2018, this stands as the Braves' franchise record for RBI in a game.[1] Cloninger became the first player in the National League, and the only pitcher to date, to hit two grand slams in the same game.
Cloninger used a bat of teammate Denis Menke to hit both of these big home runs.
Cloninger finished his career pitching with Cincinnati and St. Louis.
Coaching career
After retiring, Cloninger served as a bullpen coach for the New York Yankees (1992–2001), where he was a member of five American League champions and four World Series champion teams, and pitching coach for the Boston Red Sox (2002 through early 2003). He was forced to step down from the latter post when he underwent successful treatment for bladder cancer, which had been diagnosed in spring training.[2] In 2004, Cloninger became a player development consultant for the Red Sox, serving for almost 15 consecutive seasons until his death.
Death
Cloninger died on July 24, 2018, in Denver, North Carolina at the age of 77.[3]
See also
References
- ↑ "Battery's history-making slams boost Giants".
- ↑ Whisnant, Gabe, '"Cloninger Reflects on Tenure with Steinbrenner's Yankees", The Shelby Star, July 16, 2010Archived July 21, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ Walker, Richard (July 26, 2018). "Local athletic icon Tony Cloninger dies at 77". GastonGazette.com. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or Baseball-Reference, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
| Preceded by Marc Hill |
New York Yankees bullpen coach 1992–2001 |
Succeeded by Tom Nieto |
| Preceded by Ralph Treuel |
Boston Red Sox pitching coach 2002–2003 |
Succeeded by Dave Wallace |