He was 77.A 12-year big leaguer who is best remembered for being the only pitcher in MLB history to hit two grand slams in a single game, doing so for the Braves on July 3, 1966, at Candlestick Park, Cloninger had been in his role with the Red Sox since 2005.After retiring after the 1972 season, Cloninger got back into pro baseball in 1988, then was bullpen coach for the Yankees from 1992-2001, overseeing a relief unit that contributed to four World Series titles. A power pitcher, Cloninger compiled a career 11397 record with 1,120 strikeouts and a 4.07 ERA in 1,767.mw-parser-output .frac{white-space:nowrap}.mw-parser-output .frac .num,.mw-parser-output .frac .den{font-size:80%;line-height:0;vertical-align:super}.mw-parser-output .frac .den{vertical-align:sub}.mw-parser-output .sr-only{border:0;clip:rect(0,0,0,0);height:1px;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;padding:0;position:absolute;width:1px}23 innings pitched. Tony Cloninger Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More | Baseball-Reference.com We've updated our WAR calculations based on new data updates. The right-hander was 24-11 for Milwaukee in 1965, the club's last season before moving to Atlanta. Many thanks to him. He's also survived by nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. The Boston Red Sox announced his death on Saturday. He hit five of his 11 career home runs that year and batted a respectable .261. Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. Dale Anthony Cloninger Obituary (1960 - 2022) - Echovita Tony 'The Rock Springs Rifle' Cloninger Autograph on a 1962 Topps Baseball Card (#63 | Checklist), Tony Cloninger Miscellaneous Items of Interest. He drove in nine runs that day, in fact, getting three hits as the Braves routed San Francisco 17-3. In the era prior to the draft, Cloninger could have signed with any major league team. When the first Braves season in Atlanta was complete, Tony-C had "thrown" twenty-seven wild pitches, a team record for the Atlanta Braves through today, and the most in franchise history since Kid Nichols (1890-1906), who threw thirty wild pitches in 1890! 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). Here is Tony Lee Cloninger Sr.'s obituary. Tony Cloninger Position: Pitcher Bats: Right Throws: Right 6-0 , 210lb (183cm, 95kg) Born: August 13, 1940 in Lincoln County, NC us More bio, uniform, draft, salary info DENVER, N.C. Former major league pitcher Tony Cloninger, perhaps best known for hitting two grand slams in a game, has died. 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). Tony Cloninger Obituary (1940 - 2018) - Denver, NC - Legacy Tony Cloninger weighed 210 lbs (95 kg) when playing. Lincoln County sports legend to speak at Mundy House Annex During the summers of 1956 and 1957, Cloninger was a pitching and hitting standout for Cherryville Post 100. Tony Cloninger dies - MLB Some high school data is courtesy David McWater. Playing career [ edit] He had worked as a consultant for . Allen A. Cloninger | Bridges Funeral Home It was later that season, with a bat, that Cloninger put himself into the record book. He had worked as a consultant for the Boston Red Sox since 2002 and the team announced his death Saturday. He earned four World Series rings with the Yankees. Do you have a blog? Cloninger finished up as a reliever with St. Louis in 1972. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All images are property the copyright holder and are displayed here for informational purposes only. 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 . July 3, 1966: Braves pitcher Tony Cloninger clouts two grand slams 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 . 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. Hear your loved one's obituary Send flowers Let the family know you are thinking of them age 97 passed away peacefully in her home where she lived for 75 years on Saturday, August 27, 2022. It's also available for football, basketball and hockey. He was 77. DENVER, N.C. Former major league pitcher Tony Cloninger, perhaps best known for hitting two grand slams in a game, has died. 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. Comments. Warlick Funeral Home - Obituaries DENVER, N.C. (AP) Former major league pitcher Tony Cloninger, perhaps best known for hitting two grand slams in a game, has died. 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. Some defensive statistics Copyright Sports Info Solutions, 2010-2023. He's also survived by nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. from the SABR BioProject, More Tony Cloninger Pages at Baseball Reference. Anyone can read what you share. 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. Many historical player head shots courtesy of David Davis. Cloninger would make his professional debut in Midland, Tex., in June 1958 and make his major league debut on June 15, 1961, as a 20-year-old. 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. We present them here for purely educational purposes. When he gets to be, he'll be one of the great ones." At one point, Cloninger, age 61 at the time but not shying away from trouble, grabbed Orioles player Brook Fordyce in a headlock. Leave a sympathy message to the family in the guestbook on this memorial page of Ann H. Cloninger to show support. The son of the late Carl E. and Edna L. Cloninger, he is survived by three sons Tony, Jr. (Karen), Darin (Angie) and Michael (Kim) and one daughter Meredith Sherrill (Ronnie). He was 77. Former pitcher Tony Cloninger, who earned four World . Cloninger finished up as a reliever with St. Louis in 1972. Mr. Tony Lee Cloninger, Sr., age 77, of Denver, passed away on Tuesday, July 24, 2018. 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. He returned to pro ball with the Yankees during their championship run. We are sad to announce that on July 24, 2018 we had to say goodbye to Tony Lee Cloninger Sr. (Denver, North Carolina). Cloninger died Tuesday. Cloninger hit five of his 11 career home runs in 1966. February 1966. 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. Cloninger, threw first pitch for Atlanta Braves, dies - ajc 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. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to East Lincoln Optimist Club, P.O. vs. SFG 4.0 IP, 6 H, 2 SO, 2 BB, 6 ER, L, Last Game: His funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Monday, July 30, 2018 at Denver United Methodist Church with Rev. Nicknamed the "Rock Springs Rifle" by late Gazette sports reporter Dwight Frady when Cloninger was a basketball andbaseball star at Rock Springs and a baseball star for Cherryville American Legion Post 100, Cloninger would eventuallybecome one of the first players that led to the region's ongoing embrace of the Atlanta Braves. Her. DENVER, N.C. (AP) Former major league pitcher Tony Cloninger, perhaps best known for hitting two grand slams in a game, has died. You can send your sympathy in the guestbook provided and share it with the family. Summoned from the bullpen with two more men on base, pitcher Bob Priddy walked Braves third baseman Denis Menke to load the bases to get to Cloninger, who was batting ninth. 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. Denis Menke Bat | Tony Cloninger Two Grand Slams Game | July 3, 1966. 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. Cloninger died Tuesday. Prepare a personalized obituary for someone you loved.. Remembering the 'Rock Springs Rifle' - Gaston Gazette He had worked as a consultant for the Boston Red Sox since 2002 and the team announced his death Saturday. 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. BOSTON -- Major League Baseball mourns the loss of Tony Cloninger, who passed away on Tuesday at the age of 77. 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. 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. The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball. It was because Cloninger, who had just graduated from Denver's old Rock Springs High, was signing for $100,000 with theMilwaukee Braves one of largest signing bonuses to that point in major league baseball history. A Grand Sunday For Braves Pitcher Tony Cloninger - 50 Years Ago Today Copyright 2023 Echovita Inc. All rights reserved. Find the obituary of Ray Eugene Cloninger (1936 - 2021) from Denver, NC. But he narrowed his list of finalists to the Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Braves and San Francisco Giants before signing with the Braves. Cloninger, who went on to have a 12-year major league career, died on Tuesday at age 77. Allen A. Cloninger Obituary - Knoxville News Sentinel Traded to Cincinnati during the 1968 season, he went to the World Series with the Reds in 1970. He also played for the Reds (1968-71) and Cardinals (1972). Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. 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? 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? Cloninger went 113-97 during 12 seasons in the big leagues, mostly with the Braves. He had worked as a consultant for the Boston Red Sox since 2002, and the team announced his death Saturday. Tony Cloninger Back in Baseball, Where He Belongs Ray was born to the late Donald and Emma (Jackson) Cloninger. Tony Cloninger - Wikipedia In the May 22, 1958, edition of The Gaston Gazette, Tony Cloninger was that rare player. Former pitcher Cloninger who hit 2 slams in game dies at 77 Former pitcher, Yankees coach Tony Cloninger dies at 77 - ESPN Subscribe to Stathead Baseball: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Baseball Reference Database. 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. 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. 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. 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 died Tuesday. update=copyright.getFullYear(); 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. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. us, Died: 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. 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. 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. He became Boston's pitching coach in 2002 and took a medical leave in 2003 because of bladder cancer. 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. 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 first grand slam came in the first inning with the Braves already ahead, 3-0, thanks to a home run by Torre, Atlantas catcher. He was NEW YORK Lucie Brock-Broido, a prize-winning poet and educator, has died at age 61. Echovita Inc is a registered trademark. ), First published on July 28, 2018 / 10:59 PM. 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. On April 12, 1966, Cloninger threw the first pitch for the new Atlanta franchise. After two batters were hit by pitches, fights broke out and benches cleared. Do you want even more trivia? Echovita offers a solidarity program that gives back the funds generated to families. July 28, 2018. 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). The Red Sox on Saturday announced that they are sending along condolences for former player and player development consultant Tony Cloninger, who passed away on Tuesday. He played four seasons in Cincinnati and finished up his career as a reliever with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1972. One & Done: Tony Cloninger, a pitcher, belted two grand slams in one He was 77. July 28th, 2018. Mary Cloninger Obituary - Knoxville News Sentinel Authorize the publication of the original written obituary with the accompanying photo. Javascript is required for the selection of a player. He was predeceased by : his siblings, Frank Cloninger and Marie Goodman. Tony Cloninger has not been elected into the Hall of Fame. June 15, 1961 [1] Cloninger became the first player in the National League, and remains the only pitcher, to hit two grand slams in the same game. In a 12-year pitching career, Cloninger had a combined record of 113-97, a 4.07 earned run average and 1,120 strikeouts. 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 became Boston's pitching coach in 2002 and took a medical leave in 2003 because of bladder cancer. 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. 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. Ray was born August 26, 1946 in Bellefontaine to the late Donald Edward and Emma L. (Jackson) Cloninger. July 22, 1972 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. He was a star player for Rock Springs High School in Denver, about 25 miles north of Charlotte, pitching two no-hitters in his senior year, one of them a perfect game. It was later that season, with a bat, that Cloninger put himself into the record book. So many of them.". Bob Lynn and Pastor Mike Devine officiating. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Monday, May 1, 12:21AM. Learn more here. 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. 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. He had worked as a consultant for the Boston Red Sox since 2002 and the team announced his death Saturday. Obituary Allen A. Cloninger, age 79, passed away peacefully into the arms of Jesus on the evening of Friday, September 23rd, 2022. Former Pitcher Cloninger Who Hit 2 Slams In Game Dies At 77 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. Raymond "Ray" L. Cloninger, 76 of Bellefontaine passed away Sunday, January 1, 2023 at the OSU Wexner Medical Center. Born: Family and friends can send flowers and condolences in memory of the loved one. Where what happened yesterday is being preserved today. He drove in nine runs that day, getting three hits as the Braves routed San Francisco 17-3. 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 . Tony Cloninger was born on August 13, 1940. . In 1970 he went to the World Series with Cincinnati and started Game 3 against the Baltimore Orioles. While the major league draft didn't officially begin until 1965, Cloninger in essence was the 2018 version of theDetroit Tigers' No. Braves Throwback Thursday: Tony Cloninger & the greatest hitting day an / CBS Boston. After eight years with the Braves he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds during the 1968 season. 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. Tony Cloninger | Obituary | Beyond the Dash The right-hander was 24-11 for Milwaukee in 1965, the club's last season before moving to Atlanta. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. It just didn't work out too good for me. Waiting for the deal to go through was nerve wracking, he told United Press International. All Rights Reserved by Baseball Almanac, Inc.Hosted by Hosting 4 Less. Tony Lee Cloninger (August 13, 1940 - July 24, 2018) was an American professional baseball player and coach. He was acquired along with Clay Carroll and Woody Woodward by the Reds from the Atlanta Braves for Milt Pappas, Bob Johnson and Ted Davidson on June 11, 1968.[3]. document.write(update); Or write about sports? 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. There is no photo or video of Tony Lee Cloninger Sr..Be the first to share a memory to pay tribute. On April 12, 1966, Cloninger threw the first pitch for the new Atlanta franchise. It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Dale Anthony Cloninger of Conover, North Carolina, who passed away on January 13, 2022, at the age of 61, leaving to mourn family and friends. 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. Sport Magazine. Ann H. Cloninger Obituary (1938 - 2023) | Lincolnton, North Carolina Exceeded rookie limits during 1961 season, View Player Bio 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). 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. It was a nice sum. The right-hander was 24-11 for Milwaukee in 1965, the club's last season before moving to Atlanta. Family and friends must say goodbye to their beloved Ruth Irene Brown Cloninger of Kings Mountain, North Carolina, who passed away at the age of 78, on April 14, 2023. His funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Monday, July 30, 2018 at Denver United Methodist Church. Cloninger was 20 years old when he broke into the big leagues on June 15, 1961, with the Milwaukee Braves. 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. 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. His second grand slam came in the fourth inning on an 0-1 count, an opposite-field line-drive over the right-field fence off pitcher Ray Sadecki. He's not a finesse man yet. After he was signed, he was reluctant to talk about the bonus. Tony Cloninger played for 4 teams; the Milwaukee Braves, Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals. 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. Tony finished the 1966 season with a .234 batting average, five home runs, and a .414 slugging percentage. Ruth Irene Brown Cloninger Obituary - Echovita Cloninger hit five of his 11 career home runs in 1966. Mr. Tony Lee Cloninger, Sr., age 77, of Denver, passed away on Tuesday, July 24, 2018. Cloninger died Tuesday in Denver, North Carolina at the . Local baseball fans will forever remember Cloninger as the opening day starter for the Atlanta Braves in their April 12, 1966 major league debut at old Fulton County Stadium and for hitting two grand slams in the . On April 12, 1966, Cloninger threw the first pitch for the new Atlanta franchise. vs. ATL 0.0 IP, 1 H, 0 SO, 0 BB, 1 ER, L, Rookie Status: Raymond's Obituary . 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,". She was predeceased by : her aunt Pearl Gardner; her sister-in-law Sally Cloninger; and her nephews . [5][6][7], Cloninger died on July 24, 2018, in Denver, North Carolina at the age of 77.[8]. His fastball is in the same class with Bob Gibson's, Bob Veale's, Jim Maloney's, Don Drysdale's, and those fellows. Cloninger drove in nine runs in all that day, getting three hits as the Braves thrashed the Giants, 17-3. Page 13. Five, including Cloninger, had at least three hits.