So many of them.". 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. His funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Monday, July 30, 2018 at Denver United Methodist Church with Rev. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. 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). After eight years with the Braves he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds during the 1968 season. After retiring, Cloninger served as a bullpen coach for the New York Yankees (19922001), where he was a member of five American League champions and four World Series champion teams. He had worked as a consultant for the Boston Red Sox since 2002, and the team announced his death Saturday. In the era prior to the draft, Cloninger could have signed with any major league team. He was 77. July 28, 2018 / 10:59 PM 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, 76, still lives in Lincoln County and is a father of four children who he credits for supporting him throughout his coaching career. Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. Cloninger went 113-97 during 12 seasons in the big leagues, mostly with the Braves. Cloninger also had a 22-strikeout game earlier in the 1957 season in a 10-1 victory at Shelby's old Sumter Street ballpark. Here is Tony Lee Cloninger Sr.'s obituary. Playing at Candlestick Park, Cloninger became the only pitcher to hit two grand slams in the same game. Tony Cloninger weighed 210 lbs (95 kg) when playing. (77 years old). Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Monday, May 1, 12:21AM. It was later that season, with a bat, that Cloninger put himself into the record book. / CBS Boston. 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, who went on to have a 12-year major league career, died on Tuesday at age 77. Five, including Cloninger, had at least three hits. Ray was born to the late Donald and Emma (Jackson) Cloninger. Cloninger was the losing pitcher of record. All rights reserved. Would you like to offer Tony Lee Cloninger Sr.s loved ones a condolence message? 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. 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. Family and friends can send flowers and condolences in memory of the loved one. Full-year historical Major League statistics provided by Pete Palmer and Gary Gillette of Hidden Game Sports. MLB Power Rankings: Who's No. 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. 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. His biographical data, year-by-year hitting stats, fielding stats, pitching stats (where applicable), career totals, uniform numbers, salary data and miscellaneous items-of-interest are presented by Baseball Almanac on this comprehensive Tony Cloninger baseball stats page. It just didn't work out too good for me. 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. They said I could say that., Tony Cloninger, Pitcher Remembered for His Bat, Dies at 77, https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/31/obituaries/tony-cloninger-pitcher-remembered-for-his-bat-dies-at-77.html. 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. The May 16, 1958 game came less than a week after he threw a perfect game in a first round playoff win over Drexel. Allen was born in Strawberry Plains on February 14th, 1943, to. IRON STATION Rarely in newspaper history does a sports story on a high school athlete rate Page One coverage. 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. You can send your sympathy in the guestbook provided and share it with the family. Copyright 1999- Tell their story, and publish it online for free. He had worked as a consultant for the Boston Red Sox since 2002 and the team announced his death Saturday. 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. 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. August 13, 1940 Comments. Cloninger died Tuesday. Anyone can read what you share. 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. February 1966. 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, 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. Denver United Methodist Church Cemetery, Denver, NC, High School: Rock Springs HS (Denver, NC), Debut: Tony Cloninger had 1,120 strikeouts over his career. Prepare a personalized obituary for someone you loved.. August 13, 1940 - Box 39, Denver, N.C. 28037. Try our free interactive obituary template. 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. 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 images are property the copyright holder and are displayed here for informational purposes only. in Lincoln County, NC inDenver,NC, Buried: 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. Join our linker program. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. On April 12, 1966, Cloninger threw the first pitch for the new Atlanta franchise. 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. 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. 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. (As a batter, he had a career average of .192.). us, Died: 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. 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. 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. You can send your sympathy in the guestbook provided and share it with the family. In the May 22, 1958, edition of The Gaston Gazette, Tony Cloninger was that rare player. Cloninger died Tuesday. The Braves sent 52 batters to face Giants pitching. (Age 20-306d, DENVER, N.C. - Former major league pitcher Tony Cloninger, perhaps best known for hitting two grand slams in a game, has died. DENVER, N.C. (AP) Former major league pitcher Tony Cloninger, perhaps best known for hitting two grand slams in a game, has died. Cloninger entered the record books on July 3, 1966, playing for the Atlanta Braves in a Sunday afternoon road game against the San Francisco Giants at Candlestick Park. Cloninger returned to pro ball was the longtime bullpen coach for the New York Yankees during their championship run. Cloninger hit five of his 11 career home runs in 1966. Cloninger drove in nine runs in all that day, getting three hits as the Braves thrashed the Giants, 17-3. Cloninger finished up as a reliever with St. Louis in 1972. We present them here for purely educational purposes. He's not a finesse man yet. from the SABR BioProject, More Tony Cloninger Pages at Baseball Reference. vs. ATL 0.0 IP, 1 H, 0 SO, 0 BB, 1 ER, L, Rookie Status: 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 . Data Provided By The Braves dont tell me how much they give, he said. 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). All Rights Reserved by Baseball Almanac, Inc.Hosted by Hosting 4 Less. He was NEW YORK Lucie Brock-Broido, a prize-winning poet and educator, has died at age 61. Family and friends are welcome to leave their condolences on this memorial page and share them with the family. Create an obituary. Richard Walker: 704-869-1841; twitter.com/jrwalk22, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Cloninger hit five of his 11 career home runs in 1966. Many thanks to him. 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 . Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. Find out more. He became Boston's pitching coach in 2002 and took a medical leave in 2003 because of bladder cancer. June 15, 1961 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. Ray was born August 26, 1946 in Bellefontaine to the late Donald Edward and Emma L. (Jackson) Cloninger. 1966 Atlanta Braves Opening Day Game | The Danville Register | 12 April 1966Baseball Almanac Research Library, On April 12, 1966, at Atlanta Stadium, the Atlanta Braves played their first game in team history after the move from Milwaukee. After leaving the majors, Cloninger was a big hitter for a nationally recognized softball team in North Carolina. It was later that season, with a bat, that Cloninger put himself into the record book. Mr. Tony Lee Cloninger, Sr., age 77, of Denver, passed away on Tuesday, July 24, 2018. [4] In 2004, Cloninger became a player development consultant for the Red Sox, serving for almost 15 consecutive seasons until his death. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. When he gets to be, he'll be one of the great ones." 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Leave your condolences to the family on this memorial page or send flowers to show you care. 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? 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. DENVER, N.C. Former major league pitcher Tony Cloninger, perhaps best known for hitting two grand slams in a game, has died. Tony 'The Rock Springs Rifle' Cloninger Autograph on a 1962 Topps Baseball Card (#63 | Checklist), Tony Cloninger Miscellaneous Items of Interest. Many historical player head shots courtesy of David Davis. A unique and . He went on to have a 113-97 record with 13 shutouts and six saves and 4.07 ERA in 352 appearances (247 starts) over his 12-year career. 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. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. He had worked as a. 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 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 "That's his (Tony Cloninger) pitch, the hard one. He became Boston's pitching coach in 2002 and took a medical leave in 2003 because of bladder cancer. July 24, 2018 Cloninger was 20 years old when he broke into the big leagues on June 15, 1961, with the Milwaukee Braves. DENVER, N.C. Former major league pitcher Tony Cloninger, perhaps best known for hitting two grand slams in a game, has died. A unique and lasting tribute for a loved one. Please accept Echovita's sincere condolences. He had worked as a consultant for . There is no photo or video of Tony Lee Cloninger Sr..Be the first to share a memory to pay tribute. . He was 77.Cloninger died Tuesday. Her. During the summers of 1956 and 1957, Cloninger was a pitching and hitting standout for Cherryville Post 100. BOSTON -- Major League Baseball mourns the loss of Tony Cloninger, who passed away on Tuesday at the age of 77. Leave a sympathy message to the family in the guestbook on this memorial page of Ann H. Cloninger to show support. He also played for the Reds (1968-71) and Cardinals (1972). 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. 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. 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." Cloninger returned to pro ball was the longtime bullpen coach for the New York Yankees during their championship run. Write your message of sympathy today. 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 . 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. Funeral homes; Help and advice. He drove in nine runs that day, in fact, getting three hits as the Braves routed San Francisco 17-3. Prepare a personalized obituary for someone you loved.. Pitching coach Tony Cloninger of the Boston Red Sox walks off the field during the MLB game against the Seattle Mariners on Aug. 13, 2002 at Safeco Field in Seattle, Washington. As Red Sox pitching coach, Cloninger was ejected from a game in 2002 against the Baltimore Orioles. 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 compiled a career batting average of .192, with 67 RBIs and 11 home runs, including five in the 1966 season. vs. SFG 4.0 IP, 6 H, 2 SO, 2 BB, 6 ER, L, Last Game: Mr. Tony Lee Cloninger, Sr., age 77, of Denver, passed away on Tuesday, July 24, 2018. 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. Tony Cloninger was born on Tuesday, August 13, 1940, in Lincoln County, North Carolina. document.write(update); Tony finished the 1966 season with a .234 batting average, five home runs, and a .414 slugging percentage. DENVER, N.C. -- Former major league pitcher Tony Cloninger, perhaps best known for hitting two grand slams in a game, has died. 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. 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. 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. He returned to pro ball with the Yankees during their championship run. 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. 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. 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). Burial will follow in the church cemetery. 1? Cloninger hit five of his 11 career home runs in 1966. (Age 31-344d) Regarded as a tough fireball pitcher, Cloninger also was a dangerous power hitter. 1 overall pick Casey Mize out of Auburn in June and Mize's signing bonus was $7.5 million. Copyright 2023 Echovita Inc. All rights reserved. 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. 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 became Boston's pitching coach in 2002 and took a medical leave in 2003 because of bladder cancer. Playing at Candlestick Park, Cloninger became the only pitcher to hit two grand slams in the same game. 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 had been a consultant for the team since 2002. Echovita Inc is a registered trademark. The Boston Red Sox announced his death on Saturday. July 28th, 2018. He was 77. Receive obituaries from the city or cities of your choice. Or maybe better, since he carved a niche in baseball history that can. Do you want even more trivia? [2], Cloninger finished his career pitching with Cincinnati and St. Louis. While the major league draft didn't officially begin until 1965, Cloninger in essence was the 2018 version of theDetroit Tigers' No. 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. Some high school data is courtesy David McWater. Obituary Allen A. Cloninger, age 79, passed away peacefully into the arms of Jesus on the evening of Friday, September 23rd, 2022. Cloninger died Tuesday. Cloninger died . He was predeceased by : his siblings, Frank Cloninger and Marie Goodman. Born: Mr. Tony Lee Cloninger, Sr., age 77, of Denver, passed away on Tuesday, July 24, 2018. His funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Monday, July 30, 2018 at Denver United Methodist Church. Where what happened yesterday is being preserved today. He attended Carter High School and was a loyal supporting member of the Carter community his whole life. 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. Tony Lee Cloninger was born on Aug. 13, 1940, in Cherryville, N.C., to Carl and Edna Cloninger. He had worked as a consultant for the Boston Red Sox since 2002 and the team announced his death Saturday. He was 77. Do you have a blog? Allen A. Cloninger - age 79, passed away peacefully into the arms of Jesus on the evening of Friday, September 23, 2022. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Playing career [ edit] His funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Monday, July 30, 2018 at Denver United Methodist Church with Rev. Tony Cloninger Baseball Stats by Baseball Almanac Tony Cloninger Stats Tony Cloninger was born on Tuesday, August 13, 1940, in Lincoln County, North Carolina. 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 . Did you know that the National Baseball Hall of Fame has a Denis Menke bat (pictured below) from the historic game because Tony borrowed his bat that day? As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. He's also survived by nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. 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.After attending Rock Springs High School in Denver, N.C., Cloninger signed with the Milwaukee Braves as an amateur free agent in 1958.