Tips for navigating the funeral service and beyond, Consulting a professional can streamline your journey through grief, Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, J.P. Richardson "The Big Bopper" and Roger Peterson, Making the holiday season bearable during grief. Cloninger returned to the Red Sox organization after his recovery, working as a senior pitching advisor in 2004 before spending the next 14 seasons (2005-18) as a player development consultant.Cloninger is survived by his four children, Tony Jr., Darin, Michael, and Meredith, as well as nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. You can send your sympathy in the guestbook provided and share it with the family. Raymond "Ray" L. Cloninger, 76 of Bellefontaine passed away Sunday, January 1, 2023 at the OSU Wexner Medical Center. We present them here for purely educational purposes. (77 years old). Exactly 24 years ago as he sat there Thursday afternoon wrapped in a New York Yankees warmup jacket, Cloninger had pitched the opener for the Braves in the first-ever regular-season game in . copyright=new Date(); Then, after his major league career ended, Cloninger was a standout recreation softball player for the legendaryHoward's Furniture team in Denver before eventually returning to the major leagues as a pitching coach. Cloninger's baseball talents were so well-known in the spring of 1958 that in the 16-team major leagues, 24 scouts attended his final high school game in which he struck out eight in a four-hit 4-0 loss to Bessemer City at Lincolnton's old Love Field. Or maybe better, since he carved a niche in baseball history that can. After two batters were hit by pitches, fights broke out and benches cleared. Some high school data is courtesy David McWater. Former pitcher Tony Cloninger, who earned four World Series rings as a coach with the Yankees from 1992 to 2001, has died at the age of 77. Leave your condolences to the family on this memorial page or send flowers to show you care. Cloninger hit his first major-league home run in 1965, his fifth season in the majors. He drove in nine runs that day, in fact, getting three hits as the Braves routed San Francisco 17-3. It was later that season, with a bat, that Cloninger put himself into the record book. He's not a finesse man yet. vs. SFG 4.0 IP, 6 H, 2 SO, 2 BB, 6 ER, L, Last Game: Do you want even more trivia? Sport Magazine. 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Ex-pitcher, Yankees coach Cloninger dies at 77, Harper may return Tue., 160 days post-TJ surgery, Rangers ace deGrom 'frustrated' to land on IL, Twins will shut P Mahle down for at least 4 weeks, Cards broadcaster, 2-time champ Shannon dies, Giants' Yastrzemski (hamstring) likely IL-bound, Yankees to evaluate Judge's hip strain Monday, What the longest game in MLB history says about baseball today, Mexico City's uphill climb toward landing an MLB franchise. It was later that season, with a bat, that Cloninger put himself into the record book. Echovita Inc is a registered trademark. Family and friends can send flowers and condolences in memory of the loved one. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. He joined the Red Sox in 2002 as pitching coach, but in June 2003 he was forced to take a medical leave of absence to undergo treatment for bladder cancer, which had been diagnosed in March. DENVER, N.C. Former major league pitcher Tony Cloninger, perhaps best known for hitting two grand slams in a game, has died. Visitation will be held on Sunday from 4 to 7 p.m. at Denver United Methodist Church, Highway 16 North, with funeralservices on Monday at 11 a.m. at Denver United Methodist Church. Ranking MLB's radical City Connect uniforms: Which one's No. He went on to toss all 13 innings in a 3-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates, serving up a home run to Willie Stargell to break the tie. All Rights Reserved by Baseball Almanac, Inc.Hosted by Hosting 4 Less. He was 77. August 13, 1940 Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Monday, May 1, 12:21AM. update=copyright.getFullYear(); in Lincoln County, NC July 28, 2018. Echovita offers a solidarity program that gives back the funds generated to families. Ray was born to the late Donald and Emma (Jackson) Cloninger. Regarded as a tough fireball pitcher, Cloninger also was a dangerous power hitter. He was 77. from the SABR BioProject, More Tony Cloninger Pages at Baseball Reference. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. During the summers of 1956 and 1957, Cloninger was a pitching and hitting standout for Cherryville Post 100. It was a nice sum. July 28th, 2018. He had worked as a consultant for the Boston Red Sox since 2002 and the team announced his death Saturday. He's also survived by nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Blogs; Online will; Shop. Cloninger enjoyed his best season on the mound in 1965, when he won 24 games and posted a 3.29 ERA in the club's final season in Milwaukee. Traded to Cincinnati during the 1968 season, he went to the World Series with the Reds in 1970. He also was an accomplished batter with a .192 batting average, 11 home runs and 67 RBIs. Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. Tony 'The Rock Springs Rifle' Cloninger Autograph on a 1962 Topps Baseball Card (#63 | Checklist), Tony Cloninger Miscellaneous Items of Interest. The son of the late Carl E. andEdna L. Cloninger, he is survived by three sons Tony, Jr. (Karen), Darin (Angie) and Michael (Kim) and one daughterMeredith Sherrill (Ronnie). Playing career [ edit] 1 one month into the season? No cause was given. Cloninger was the losing pitcher of record. Cloninger was 20 years old when he broke into the big leagues on June 15, 1961, with the Milwaukee Braves. In this July 3, 1966, file photo, Atlanta Braves right-hander Tony Cloninger hoists an armload of bats after pitching the Braves to a 17-3 victory over the San Francisco Giants in which . In the May 22, 1958, edition of The Gaston Gazette, Tony Cloninger was that rare player. Funeral homes; Help and advice. Tony Cloninger, who assured himself a page in the rich lore of Major League Baseball when he became the only pitcher to hit two grand slams in a game, died on July 24 in Denver, N.C., where he. But he recovered and returned to the Red Sox as a senior pitching adviser in 2004, then stayed on as a player development consultant for 14 more seasons. Playing at Candlestick Park, Cloninger became the only pitcher to hit two grand slams in the same game. In the era prior to the draft, Cloninger could have signed with any major league team. (Age 20-306d, Cloninger died Tuesday. On April 12, 1966, Cloninger threw the first pitch for the new Atlanta franchise. Would you like to offer Tony Lee Cloninger Sr.s loved ones a condolence message? The Boston Red Sox announced his death on Saturday. Born in 1940 in Cherryville, Cloninger led Rock Springs to back-to-back Catawba-Lincoln baseball titles in 1957 and1958 with a combined pitching record of 13-4 and to the school's first-ever appearance in the state's eight-team basketball championship tournament in 1958. Cloninger Hits 2 Grand Slam Home Runs - July 3, 1966 Sunday, July 3, 2016 B.B Branton Bases loaded, three runs in, two out, and Atlanta Braves 24-year-old pitcher Tony Cloninger, facing San. While the major league draft didn't officially begin until 1965, Cloninger in essence was the 2018 version of theDetroit Tigers' No. var pfHeaderImgUrl = '';var pfHeaderTagline = '';var pfdisableClickToDel = 0;var pfHideImages = 0;var pfImageDisplayStyle = 'right';var pfDisablePDF = 0;var pfDisableEmail = 0;var pfDisablePrint = 0;var pfCustomCSS = 'https://www.baseball-almanac.com/css/print.css';var pfBtVersion='2';(function(){var js,pf;pf=document.createElement('script');pf.type='text/javascript';pf.src='//cdn.printfriendly.com/printfriendly.js';document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(pf)})(); Did you know that Tony Cloninger, on July 3, 1966, became the first pitcher in Major League history to hit two grand slams in the same game? DENVER, N.C. (AP) Former major league pitcher Tony Cloninger, perhaps best known for hitting two grand slams in a game, has died. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. Pitching at what was then called Atlanta Stadium, he started on Opening Day and tossed all 13 innings in a 3-2 loss to Pittsburgh -- a home run by Willie Stargell broke the tie. But he was pulled in the sixth inning, before Orioles pitcher Dave McNally connected off reliever Wayne Granger to become the first pitcher to hit a grand slam in a World Series. He drove in nine runs that day, in fact, getting three hits as the Braves routed San Francisco 17-3. Light a candle Illuminate their memory Ann H. Cloninger Obituary We are sad to announce that on April 10, 2023 we had to say goodbye to Ann H. Cloninger (Lincolnton, North Carolina). - Bragan, Bobby. All images are property the copyright holder and are displayed here for informational purposes only. DENVER, N.C. Former major-league pitcher Tony Cloninger, perhaps best known for hitting two grand slams in a game at Candlestick Park in 1966, has died at 77. He's also survived by nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. The right-hander was 24-11 for Milwaukee in 1965, the club's last season before moving to Atlanta. The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball. Cloninger went 113-97 during 12 seasons in the big leagues, mostly with the Braves. Leave a sympathy message to the family in the guestbook on this memorial page of Ann H. Cloninger to show support. Tony Cloninger, who assured himself a page in the rich lore of Major League Baseball when he became the only pitcher to hit two grand slams in a game, died on July 24 in Denver, N.C., where he had been a high school standout. Cloninger started and took the loss at Baltimore in Game 3 he was pulled in the sixth, and later that inning Dave McNally connected off reliever Wayne Granger to become the first pitcher to hit a grand slam in the World Series. He attended Carter High School and was a loyal supporting member of the Carter community his whole life. Former pitcher Tony Cloninger, who earned four World . He became Boston's pitching coach in 2002 and took a medical leave in 2003 because of bladder cancer. Prepare a personalized obituary for someone you loved.. August 13, 1940 - Mr. Tony Lee Cloninger, Sr., age 77, of Denver, passed away on Tuesday, July 24, 2018. He was 77. us, Died: (As a batter, he had a career average of .192.). We are sad to announce that on July 24, 2018 we had to say goodbye to Tony Lee Cloninger Sr. (Denver, North Carolina). Richard Walker: 704-869-1841; twitter.com/jrwalk22, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. After leaving the Yankees, Cloninger was Bostons pitching coach for a year before he was forced to take a medical leave in 2003 because of bladder cancer. After leaving the majors, Cloninger was a big hitter for a nationally recognized softball team in North Carolina. The year after Tony won twenty-four games, the Braves moved from Milwaukee to Atlanta leaving Tony the single season record holder for most wins in a year by Milwaukee Braves pitcher. American baseball player and coach (19402018), List of Major League Baseball single-game grand slam leaders, List of Major League Baseball pitchers who have thrown an immaculate inning, "Pappas Traded in Big Deal for Atlanta Pitcher,". He was 77. The Braves sent 52 batters to face Giants pitching. The May 16, 1958 game came less than a week after he threw a perfect game in a first round playoff win over Drexel. Fill in some information about your loved one, and we'll generate some text that you can use as a starting point for your online memorial. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. 'Believe in the power of cheese': How a group of rookies helped give the Brewers the best vibes in baseball, Supplemental Privacy Policy for Singapore. Allen was born in Strawberry Plains on February 14, 1943 to the late Randy and Mary Lee Cloninger. ( Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. ), First published on July 28, 2018 / 10:59 PM. Cloninger recovered and returned to the Red Sox, first as a senior pitching adviser in 2004 and then spending the next 14 seasons as a player development consultant. He earned four World Series rings with the Yankees. Many thanks to him. A farming family blessed with considerable baseball genes - an older brother passed on a potential professional career, and two of Tony's sons . Comments. July 22, 1972 Learn more here. A 12-year Major League veteran pitcher and member of the Red Sox organization from 2002-18, Cloninger spent more than 40 years in professional baseball, including the past 14 as a player development consultant for Boston.After attending Rock Springs High School in Denver, N.C., Cloninger signed with the Milwaukee Braves as an amateur free agent in 1958. When he gets to be, he'll be one of the great ones." Anyone can read what you share. Tony Cloninger is the only pitcher in the game's history who can claim a single game with two grand slams -- a feat also accomplished by 12 position players over the years -- and to hear the . ATLANTA Former U.S. Sen. Zell Miller, a lifelong Democrat and the father of Georgia's lottery-funded HOPE scholarship while serving as governor, died Friday. Mr. Tony Lee Cloninger, Sr., age 77, of Denver, passed away on Tuesday, July 24, 2018. Scores from any date in Major League history, Minor, Foreign, College, & Black Baseball, Frequently Asked Questions about MLB and Baseball, Subscribe to Stathead Baseball: Get your first month FREE. Write your message of sympathy today. Cloninger was 20 years old when he broke into the big leagues on June 15, 1961, with the Milwaukee Braves. Prepare a personalized obituary for someone you loved.. Obituary Allen A. Cloninger, age 79, passed away peacefully into the arms of Jesus on the evening of Friday, September 23rd, 2022. (Age 31-344d) After eight years with the Braves he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds during the 1968 season. Tony Cloninger hoisted an armload of bats in 1966 after pitching the Atlanta Braves to a 17-3 victory over the San Francisco Giants and entering the record books as the only pitcher ever to hit two grand slams in a game. Cloninger was a high school star in the North Carolina community of Denver, then went 113-97 during 12 seasons in the big leagues, mostly with the Braves. Box 39, Denver, N.C. 28037. He played in Major League Baseball as a right-handed pitcher from 1961 through 1972 for the Milwaukee / Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds and the St. Louis Cardinals. Cloninger died Tuesday. Pitching at what was then called Atlanta Stadium, he started on opening day and tossed all 13 innings in a 3-2 loss to Pittsburgh a home run by Willie Stargell broke the tie. Did you know Cloninger is also the only pitcher ever to accomplish the feat in baseball history through today, the first player from the National League ever to hit two slams in one game, and Tony tied the Major League mark for most RBIs in a game by a pitcher - all in that same game? Cloninger, 76, still lives in Lincoln County and is a father of four children who he credits for supporting him throughout his coaching career. So many of them.". DENVER, N.C. Former major league pitcher Tony Cloninger, perhaps best known for hitting two grand slams in a game, has died. [2], Cloninger finished his career pitching with Cincinnati and St. Louis. His 15-year professional career included 12 seasons in the Major Leagues, as he went 113-97 with a 4.07 ERA in 352 appearances (247 starts) for the Braves (1961-68), Cincinnati Reds (1968-71) and St. Louis Cardinals (1972). He compiled a career batting average of .192, with 67 RBIs and 11 home runs, including five in the 1966 season. Cloninger, who went on to have a 12-year major league career, died on Tuesday at age 77. He had worked as a consultant for the Boston Red Sox since 2002 and the team announced his death Saturday. MLB Power Rankings: Who's No. Please accept Echovita's sincere condolences. Tony finished the 1966 season with a .234 batting average, five home runs, and a .414 slugging percentage. Tony Lee Cloninger was the fourth child born to Carl E. Cloninger and his wife, Edna (ne Lynch) on August 13, 1940, in the rolling terrain of Lincoln County, North Carolina, northwest of Charlotte. Cloninger returned to pro ball was the longtime bullpen coach for the New York Yankees during their championship run. Cloninger also had a 22-strikeout game earlier in the 1957 season in a 10-1 victory at Shelby's old Sumter Street ballpark. Tony Cloninger Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More | Baseball-Reference.com We've updated our WAR calculations based on new data updates. He went 24-11 with a 3.29 ERA in 1965 and was 14-11 with a 4.12 ERA in 1966 while also hitting .261 with five home runs and 23 RBIs. On July 3, 1966, in the Braves' 173 win over the Giants at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, Cloninger helped his team's cause with two grand slams and nine RBIs, both of which still stand as Braves franchise single-game bests. He is survived by three sons, Tony Jr., Darin and Michael; a daughter, Meredith Cloninger Sherrill; a brother, Ray; nine grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Exceeded rookie limits during 1961 season, View Player Bio Cloninger, a right-handed batter, worked Priddy to a full count before stunning the crowd by hammering the ball over the center field fence 410 feet away almost the same spot where Torres blast had gone out. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. [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 the Baltimore Orioles. The Associated Press contributed to this report. He was 77. Mr. Tony Lee Cloninger, Sr., age 77, of Denver, passed away on Tuesday, July 24, 2018. Cloninger also holds the Braves' record for RBIs in a single game by a pitcher game, with nine.Cloninger is survived by his four children, as well as nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. DENVER, N.C. (AP) Former major league pitcher Tony Cloninger, perhaps best known for hitting two grand slams in a game, has died. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. A unique and . Tony Lee Cloninger was born on Aug. 13, 1940, in Cherryville, N.C., to Carl and Edna Cloninger. Family and friends are welcome to leave their condolences on this memorial page and share them with the family. Denver United Methodist Church Cemetery, Denver, NC, High School: Rock Springs HS (Denver, NC), Debut: Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. Do you have a sports website? Some defensive statistics Copyright Sports Info Solutions, 2010-2023. He played four seasons in Cincinnati and finished up his career as a reliever with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1972. Traded to Cincinnati during the 1968 season, he went to the World Series with the Reds in 1970. For nine seasons beginning in 1992, Cloninger was a New York Yankees coach, eight as the bullpen coach and one as the pitching coach under manager Joe Torre. Bob Lynn and Pastor Mike Devine officiating. He had a 16-5 pitching record with 308 strikeouts in 171 innings in those two seasons, which ended with playoff defeats to Shelby. Cloninger hit five of his 11 career home runs in 1966. On April 12, 1966, Cloninger threw the first pitch for the new Atlanta franchise. [5][6][7], Cloninger died on July 24, 2018, in Denver, North Carolina at the age of 77.[8]. Cloninger, who went on to have a 12-year major league career, died on Tuesday at age 77. Do you have a blog? Much of the play-by-play, game results, and transaction information both shown and used to create certain data sets was obtained free of charge from and is copyrighted by RetroSheet. Traded to Cincinnati during the 1968 season, he went to the World Series with the Reds in 1970. Even after going 13 innings on opening day, I still think I would have been all right if I hadn't had to come back on four day's rest against the Mets." Here is Tony Lee Cloninger Sr.'s obituary. She was predeceased by : her aunt Pearl Gardner; her sister-in-law Sally Cloninger; and her nephews . Allen A. Cloninger - age 79, passed away peacefully into the arms of Jesus on the evening of Friday, September 23, 2022. In that stretch, Cloninger went 113-97 with a 4.07 ERA over 1,767 2/3 innings across 352 outings, including 247 starts. All rights reserved. Find the obituary of Ray Eugene Cloninger (1936 - 2021) from Denver, NC. In 1970 he went to the World Series with Cincinnati and started Game 3 against the Baltimore Orioles. His funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Monday, July 30, 2018 at Denver United Methodist Church with Rev. Cloninger was a high school star in the North Carolina community of Denver, then went 113-97 during 12 seasons in the big leagues, mostly with the Braves. His funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Monday, July 30, 2018 at Denver United Methodist Church with Rev. Subscribe to Stathead Baseball: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Baseball Reference Database. On April 12, 1966, Cloninger threw the first pitch for the new Atlanta franchise. Cloninger used a bat of teammate Denis Menke's to hit both of those big home runs, and they stood as the only two grand slams of his major league career. A 12-year Major League veteran pitcher and member of the Red Sox organization from 2002-18, Cloninger spent more than 40 years in professional baseball, including the past 14 as a player development consultant for Boston. Try our free interactive obituary template. It was later that season, with a bat, that Cloninger put himself into the record book. "That's his (Tony Cloninger) pitch, the hard one. 11,854th in major league history) In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to East Lincoln Optimist Club, PO Box 39, Denver, NC 28037. Signed out of a North Carolina high school for $100,000 as a 17-year-old in 1958, the big right-hander reached the majors with Milwaukee in June of 1961. The 1966 season was not his best for the Braves as a pitcher he wound up with a record of 14-11, coming off a career-high 24-11 season the year before but it was his best at the plate. It was the first year the Braves played in Atlanta, having decamped from Milwaukee. It just didn't work out too good for me. Javascript is required for the selection of a player. Five, including Cloninger, had at least three hits. Denis Menke Bat | Tony Cloninger Two Grand Slams Game | July 3, 1966. All Rights Reserved. Authorize the publication of the original written obituary with the accompanying photo. inDenver,NC, Buried: The Braves dont tell me how much they give, he said. But he narrowed his list of finalists to the Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Braves and San Francisco Giants before signing with the Braves. Milwaukee Braves Manager. His best seasons came in 1965 as the Braves were in their final year in Milwaukee and in 1966 in the Braves firstseason in Atlanta. He went 24-11 with a 3.29 ERA in 1965 and was 14-11 with a 4.12 ERA in 1966 while also hitting .261with five home runs and 23 RBIs. Cloninger started and took the loss at Baltimore in Game 3 -- he was pulled in the sixth, and later that inning Dave McNally connected off reliever Wayne Granger to become the first pitcher to hit a grand slam in the World Series. Tony Lee Cloninger (August 13, 1940 July 24, 2018) was an American professional baseball player and coach. Ruth Irene Brown Cloninger Obituary It is always difficult saying goodbye to someone we love and cherish. DENVER, N.C. Former major league pitcher Tony Cloninger, perhaps best known for hitting two grand slams in a game, has died. He earned four World Series rings in New York but was let go after the Yankees lost a seven-game World Series to the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2001. He is the only pitcher in MLB history to hit two grand slams in a single game, a feat he accomplished on July 3, 1966, against the San Francisco Giants at Candlestick Park.Cloninger retired as a player after the 1972 season but returned to baseball in 1988. July 28, 2018 / 10:59 PM We are sad to announce that on April 9, 2023, at the age of 70, Teena Katherine Barnes of Campobello, South Carolina passed away. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. A unique and lasting tribute for a loved one. July 24, 2018 After he was signed, he was reluctant to talk about the bonus. There is no photo or video of Tony Lee Cloninger Sr..Be the first to share a memory to pay tribute. His next career as a standout athlete came on the softball diamond as he played for national power Howard's Furnitureof Denver that was owned by softball Hall of Famer Richard Howard and coached by softball Hall of Famer Bobby Lutz, Sr. He was NEW YORK Lucie Brock-Broido, a prize-winning poet and educator, has died at age 61. Ray was born August 26, 1946 in Bellefontaine to the late Donald Edward and Emma L. (Jackson) Cloninger. He joined the Red Sox the following year as pitching coach, and remained with the team until his passing, leaving for a period as he recovered from treatment for bladder cancer during the early part of his tenure.Cloninger spent most of his big league career with the Braves, from 1961-68, and was with the club when it moved from Milwaukee to Atlanta. Tony Cloninger was born on Tuesday, August 13, 1940, in Lincoln County, North Carolina. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The Milwaukee Braves (1953-1965) had three different pitchers who were twenty-game winners; Warren Spahn (23-7 in 1953, 21-12 in 1954, 20-11 in 1956, 21-11 in 1957, 22-11 in 1958, 21-15 in 1959, 21-10 in 1960, 21-13 in 1961 and 23-7 in 1963), Lew Burdette (20-10 in 1958 & 21-15 in 1959) and Tony Cloninger (24-11 in 1965). Publisher Alfred A. Knopf announced Wednesday that Brock-Broido died Tuesday at EDMONTON A Edmonton homeless man whose spontaneous piano performance was viewed on theinternetby millions ofpeople has died. Mr. Tony Lee Cloninger, Sr., age 77, of Denver, passed away on Tuesday, July 24, 2018. Win Expectancy, Run Expectancy, and Leverage Index calculations provided by Tom Tango of InsideTheBook.com, and co-author of The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball. Cloninger was also associated with the Yankees for nine seasons beginning in 1992, eight as the bullpen coach and one as the pitching coach under Manager Joe Torre. Those performances made him, at 17, a top prospect in 1958, when the Braves signed him to a contract with a $100,000 bonus an exorbitant sum at the time soon after he graduated. Tony Cloninger was the sole pitcher during that historic 13-inning Opening Day game, lost it 3-2, and said, "I was excited about going to Atlanta, about being able to pitch not too far from my North Carolina home. Tony Cloninger has not been elected into the Hall of Fame. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr./Getty Images). He became Boston's pitching coach in 2002 and took a medical leave in 2003 because of bladder cancer. Among Cloninger's teammates were softball Hall of Famers like Don Arndt, Roger Brown, Gene Fisher, Stave Harvey and RickScherr, local standouts like Butch Adams, Buck Buchanan, Dave Carroll and Johnny Colvard and eventual college basketballcoach Bobby Lutz, Jr. Cloninger later returned to baseball as a New York Yankees bullpen coach (1992-2001) with World Series titles in 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2000 and as Boston Red Sox (2002-03) pitching coach. Tony Cloninger played for 4 teams; the Milwaukee Braves, Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals. Make a life-giving gesture. He returned to pro ball with the Yankees during their championship run. He served as a bullpen coach for the New York Yankees from 1992-2001, helping the club win five pennants and four World Series titles. Create an obituary. The importance of saying "I love you" during COVID-19, Effective ways of dealing with the grieving process, Solutions to show your sympathy safely during the Covid-19 pandemic. BOSTON -- Major League Baseball mourns the loss of Tony Cloninger, who passed away on Tuesday at the age of 77. Local baseball fans will forever remember Cloninger as the opening day starter for the Atlanta Braves in their April12, 1966, major league debut at old Fulton County Stadium and for hitting two grand slams in the same game (still a major league record) later that season at San Francisco's Candlestick Park on July 3, 1966. Born: Tony Cloninger was born on August 13, 1940. Warlick Funeral Home is serving the family. A 6-foot-tall, 210-pound right-hander, Cloninger threw the first pitch for the new Atlanta franchise, starting on opening day in what was then called Atlanta Stadium. The right-hander was 24-11 for Milwaukee in 1965, the club's last season before moving to Atlanta. Whisnant, Gabe, '"Cloninger Reflects on Tenure with Steinbrenner's Yankees", "O's, Red Sox clear benches, but not the air", "Local athletic icon Tony Cloninger dies at 77", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tony_Cloninger&oldid=1133842279, Louisville Colonels (minor league) players, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, July 22,1972,for theSt. Louis Cardinals, Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 15 January 2023, at 20:00.
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