| Tony Fernández | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Shortstop | |
| Born:(1962-06-30)June 30, 1962 San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic | |
| Died: February 16, 2020(2020-02-16) (aged 57) Weston, Florida, U.S. | |
Batted: Switch Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 2, 1983, for the Toronto Blue Jays | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| October 7, 2001, for the Toronto Blue Jays | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .288 |
| Hits | 2,276 |
| Home runs | 94 |
| Runs batted in | 844 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Member of the Canadian | |
 Baseball Hall of Fame | |
| Induction | 2008 |
Octavio Antonio Fernández Castro (June 30, 1962 – February 16, 2020), better known asTony Fernández, was a Dominican baseball player who played as ashortstop inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for seven teams from 1983 to 2001, most notably theToronto Blue Jays. A five-timeAll-Star, Fernández was known for his defensive skills, winning four consecutiveGold Glove Awards (1986–1989). Hebatted over .300 four times, led the major leagues with 17triples in 1990, collected 30doubles six times and 20stolen bases seven times. He also ledAmerican League shortstops inassists three times, and inputouts andfielding average twice each. After moving to theNational League in a blockbuster trade following the 1990 season, he returned to the Blue Jays in a mid-season trade in 1993, and played a major role in helping the club repeat asWorld Series champions, batting .333 with nineruns batted in during the series.
Fernández was born inSan Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic. He wasscouted by theToronto Blue Jays' Latin America scoutEpy Guerrero[1] and was signed as anundrafted free agent in 1979.[2]
Promoted to the Blue Jays in 1983,[3] Fernández became the team's full-time shortstop in 1985,[4] and contributed significantly to the team winning its first division title that year. Fernández continued to star for the Jays for several years afterwards. His 213 hits in 1986 were, at the time, a major league single-season record for a shortstop.[2]
Before the 1991 season, Fernández wastraded to theSan Diego Padres in a deal that also sent Jays starFred McGriff to San Diego in exchange forRoberto Alomar andJoe Carter.[4] Fernández played for San Diego for two years. After the 1992 season, the Padres traded him to theNew York Mets forD. J. Dozier,Wally Whitehurst, and aplayer to be named later.[5] After a disappointing start to the 1993 season, the Mets traded him back to the Blue Jays forDarrin Jackson.[4][6] He played well for the remainder of the season and was instrumental in helping the Blue Jays win the1993 World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies. In that World Series, Fernández drove in nineruns,[4] a record for a shortstop.[7]
Before the 1995 season, Fernández signed a two-year contract with theNew York Yankees.[8] It was because of an injury early in the season to Fernández thatDerek Jeter was called up to the major leagues for the first time.[9] Fernández injured his elbow during spring training in 1996,[10] and missed the entire season.[11] When Fernández left the Yankees, he would end up becoming the last Yankees player to wear #6, as it would be worn by managerJoe Torre in 1996 and end up beingretired for him in 2014.
Fernández signed with theCleveland Indians for the 1997 season.[11] Thanks in large part to his own game-winning home run against Baltimore in theAmerican League Championship Series[4]—the only 1–0 game in MLB postseason history with an extra-innings home run—he played in the1997 World Series with the Indians. InGame 7 of the World Series against theFlorida Marlins, Fernández hit a two-run single in the top of the third inning for the Indians' only runs of the game, and was in position to be credited with the Series-winning hit for Cleveland, had they won the game.[12][13] However, in the bottom of the 11th inning, Fernández committed anerror on a potentialdouble play ball while playing at second base, and the eventual World Series-winning run was put on base as a result.[14]
In 1998, he rejoined the Blue Jays, and revitalized his hitting, batting over .300 in two seasons there.[15] In 2000, Fernández played for theSeibu Lions in Japan[16] before returning to the majors the following year. When he returned in 2001, he briefly played for theMilwaukee Brewers but returned to Toronto late in the season,[17] and retired at its conclusion.[18]
A very thin man, Fernández had a tilted, wavering batting stance[19] that made it appear as if he might not be strong enough to hold his bat. From early in his career he carried a scar on his right cheek from a pitched ball. Fernández was a noted fitness fanatic.[20]
Early in his career, Fernández was well known for his exceptional defensive skills at shortstop, and was described by Ivan Maisel in aSports Illustrated article as having "the range of a Texas cattleman".[21] He was especially famous for leaping into the air while simultaneously making an underhanded throw to first base, on balls hit far to his right.[22]
Fernández was awarded four consecutiveGold Glove Awards for his defense, from 1986 to 1989.[23] Fernández was also named to five All-Star teams. He finished his career with a .288 batting average in 2,158 games played, and batted .327 in postseason play. Fernandezhit for the cycle as a New York Yankee on September 3, 1995, against the Oakland Athletics.[24] He set a nine-year record for shortstops with a .992fielding percentage in 1989,[4] while still holding the single-season fielding percentage record forthird basemen with .991 in 1994.[25]
On October 17, 2016, Fernandez was inducted into theOntario Sports Hall of Fame at theSheraton Centre Toronto Hotel, where he thanked the fans inToronto, Ontario and in Canada for embracing him.[26]
Fernández announced in 2017 he had been diagnosed withpolycystic kidney disease.[27] On February 16, 2020, he died at a hospital inWeston, Florida following complications with a stroke,pneumonia, and aninduced coma.[28][29][30][31] His remains were returned home to San Pedro de Macorís and buried in the Municipal Cemetery.
| Achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Hitting for the cycle September 3, 1995 | Succeeded by |
