| Tony Cloninger | |
|---|---|
 Cloninger in 1962. | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born:(1940-08-13)August 13, 1940 Cherryville, North Carolina, U.S. | |
| Died: July 24, 2018(2018-07-24) (aged 77) Denver, North Carolina, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| 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 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Tony Lee Cloninger (August 13, 1940 – July 24, 2018) was an American professionalbaseball player andcoach. He played inMajor League Baseball as a right-handedpitcher from1961 through1972 for theMilwaukee / Atlanta Braves,Cincinnati Reds and theSt. Louis Cardinals.
A power pitcher, Cloninger compiled a career 113–97 record with 1,120strikeouts and a 4.07ERA in 1,7672⁄3innings pitched. He enjoyed his best year for the 1965 Braves, with career highs inwins (24), strikeouts (211), ERA (3.29),complete games (16), innings (279) andgames started (40).
Regarded as a tough fireball pitcher, Cloninger also was an occasional power hitter. He compiled a careerbatting average of .192, with 67RBIs and 11home runs, including five in the 1966 season.
On July 3, 1966, in the Braves' 17–3 win over theGiants atCandlestick Park in San Francisco, Cloninger helped his team's cause with twogrand slams and nine RBIs, both of which still stand as Braves franchise single-game bests.[1] Cloninger became the first player in theNational League, and remains the only pitcher, to hittwo grand slams in the same game. Cloninger used a bat of teammateDenis Menke to hit both home runs, and they stood as the only two grand slams of his major league career.[2]
Cloninger finished his career pitching with Cincinnati and St. Louis. He was acquired along withClay Carroll andWoody Woodward by the Reds from the Atlanta Braves forMilt Pappas,Bob Johnson andTed Davidson on June 11, 1968.[3]
After retiring, Cloninger served as abullpen coach for theNew York Yankees (1992–2001), where he was a member of fiveAmerican League champions and fourWorld Series champion teams.
In 2002, he became thepitching coach for theBoston Red Sox, but was forced to step down in early 2003 when he underwent successful treatment forbladder cancer that had been diagnosed in spring training.[4] In 2004, Cloninger became a player development consultant for the Red Sox, serving for almost 15 consecutive seasons until his death.
As Red Sox pitching coach, Cloninger was ejected from a game in 2002 against theBaltimore Orioles. After two batters were hit by pitches, fights broke out and benches cleared. At one point, Cloninger, age 61 at the time, grabbed Orioles' catcherBrook Fordyce in a headlock.[5][6][7]
Cloninger died on July 24, 2018, inDenver, North Carolina at the age of 77.[8]
| Preceded by | New York Yankeesbullpen coach 1992–2001 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Boston Red Soxpitching coach 2002–2003 | Succeeded by |