update=copyright.getFullYear(); 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. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. All Rights Reserved. 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. 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 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. Cloninger died Tuesday. No cause was given. Playing at Candlestick Park, Cloninger became the only pitcher to hit two grand slams in the same game. (Age 31-344d) Page 13. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Tony Cloninger Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More | Baseball-Reference.com We've updated our WAR calculations based on new data updates. He's not a finesse man yet. Anyone can read what you share. 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. He became Boston's pitching coach in 2002 and took a medical leave in 2003 because of bladder cancer. Denver United Methodist Church Cemetery, Denver, NC, High School: Rock Springs HS (Denver, NC), Debut: 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. July 28, 2018 / 10:59 PM In the May 22, 1958, edition of The Gaston Gazette, Tony Cloninger was that rare player. 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's also survived by nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. He drove in nine runs that day, in fact, getting three hits as the Braves routed San Francisco 17-3. Cloninger was 20 years old when he broke into the big leagues on June 15, 1961, with the Milwaukee Braves. He became Boston's pitching coach in 2002 and took a medical leave in 2003 because of bladder cancer. 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. Tony Cloninger was born in Lincoln County, NC. 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. In a 12-year pitching career, Cloninger had a combined record of 113-97, a 4.07 earned run average and 1,120 strikeouts. So many of them.". . Where what happened yesterday is being preserved today. BOSTON -- Major League Baseball mourns the loss of Tony Cloninger, who passed away on Tuesday at the age of 77. Playing career [ edit] All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. [4] In 2004, Cloninger became a player development consultant for the Red Sox, serving for almost 15 consecutive seasons until his death. His funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Monday, July 30, 2018 at Denver United Methodist Church with Rev. He had been a consultant for the team since 2002. All images are property the copyright holder and are displayed here for informational purposes only. While the major league draft didn't officially begin until 1965, Cloninger in essence was the 2018 version of theDetroit Tigers' No. The right-hander was 24-11 for Milwaukee in 1965, the club's last season before moving to Atlanta. (Age 20-306d, Cloninger was inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in 2004 (link), made that quote to them, believed that the game affected his career negatively, but still had good memories as well, "I look back now and think about all the great players who were my teammates Eddie Mathews, Hank Aaron, Warren Spahn, Joe Torre, Pete Rose, Johnny Bench. Playing at Candlestick Park, Cloninger became the only pitcher to hit two grand slams in the same game. The May 16, 1958 game came less than a week after he threw a perfect game in a first round playoff win over Drexel. Cloninger returned to pro ball was the longtime bullpen coach for the New York Yankees during their championship run. His funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Monday, July 30, 2018 at Denver United Methodist Church. The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. Cloninger hit five of his 11 career home runs in 1966. July 24, 2018 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. You can send your sympathy in the guestbook provided and share it with the family. Tony Cloninger, who threw the first pitch in Atlanta Braves history and hit two grand slams in one game later that inaugural season, died. 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 lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to East Lincoln Optimist Club, P.O. 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. He had worked as a consultant for the Boston Red Sox since 2002, and the team announced his death Saturday. Cloninger was the losing pitcher of record. Bob Lynn and Pastor Mike Devine officiating. 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. Ray was born to the late Donald and Emma (Jackson) Cloninger. It was a nice sum. Allen was born in Strawberry Plains on February 14th, 1943, to. He is survived by : his son Tony Cloninger Jr.; his wife Karen of Denver, NC; his daughter Meredith Cloninger Sherrill (Ronnie) of Maiden, NC; his brother Ray Cloninger (Ann) of Denver, NC; his grandchildren, Erich Cloninger, Andrea Wilson, Jayme Cloninger, Ryan Cloninger, Adam Cloninger, Taylor Cloninger, Trent Cloninger, Brittani Sherrill Franklin and Byron Sherrill; his great grandchildren, Norah Cloninger, Lennon Cloninger, Drake Wilson and Mia Franklin; and also, Darin Cloninger (Angie) of Jacksonville, NC and Michael Cloninger (Kimberly) of Denver, NC. 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. July 24, 2018 Many historical player head shots courtesy of David Davis. Copyright 2023 Echovita Inc. All rights reserved. Raymond "Ray" L. Cloninger, 76 of Bellefontaine passed away Sunday, January 1, 2023 at the OSU Wexner Medical Center. us, Died: 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). 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. from the SABR BioProject, More Tony Cloninger Pages at Baseball Reference. He also was an accomplished batter with a .192 batting average, 11 home runs and 67 RBIs. A unique and lasting tribute for a loved one. 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 . Comments. 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. Tony finished the 1966 season with a .234 batting average, five home runs, and a .414 slugging percentage. At one point, Cloninger, age 61 at the time but not shying away from trouble, grabbed Orioles player Brook Fordyce in a headlock. 1? 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. Tony Cloninger was born on Tuesday, August 13, 1940, in Lincoln County, North Carolina. Regarded as a tough fireball pitcher, Cloninger also was a dangerous power hitter. Sport Magazine. Cloninger also had a 22-strikeout game earlier in the 1957 season in a 10-1 victory at Shelby's old Sumter Street ballpark. 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. 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 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. 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 the era prior to the draft, Cloninger could have signed with any major league team. Traded to Cincinnati during the 1968 season, he went to the World Series with the Reds in 1970. Leave a sympathy message to the family in the guestbook on this memorial page of Ann H. Cloninger to show support. When he gets to be, he'll be one of the great ones." 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. Cloninger returned to pro ball was the longtime bullpen coach for the New York Yankees during their championship run. Tony Cloninger weighed 210 lbs (95 kg) when playing. 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. 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. 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. 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 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. He drove in nine runs that day, getting three hits as the Braves routed San Francisco 17-3. You can send your sympathy in the guestbook provided and share it with the family. On April 12, 1966, Cloninger threw the first pitch for the new Atlanta franchise. Cloninger has a daughter, Meredith Sherrill, and three sons Tony Jr., Darin and Michael. Allen A. Cloninger - age 79, passed away peacefully into the arms of Jesus on the evening of Friday, September 23, 2022. July 28, 2018. 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 finished up as a reliever with St. Louis in 1972. 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. [5][6][7], Cloninger died on July 24, 2018, in Denver, North Carolina at the age of 77.[8]. 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. Traded to Cincinnati during the 1968 season, he went to the World Series with the Reds in 1970. '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. 11,854th in major league history) Tony Lee Cloninger (August 13, 1940 July 24, 2018) was an American professional baseball player and coach. It was later that season, with a bat, that Cloninger put himself into the record book. (77 years old). 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. On April 12, 1966, Cloninger threw the first pitch for the new Atlanta franchise. As Red Sox pitching coach, Cloninger was ejected from a game in 2002 against the Baltimore Orioles. 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. ( Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. 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. Cloninger hit five of his 11 career home runs in 1966. Full-year historical Major League statistics provided by Pete Palmer and Gary Gillette of Hidden Game Sports. He was 77. Born: He returned to pro ball with the Yankees during their championship run. Tony Cloninger played for 4 teams; the Milwaukee Braves, Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals. It's also available for football, basketball and hockey. Make a life-giving gesture. After leaving the majors, Cloninger was a big hitter for a nationally recognized softball team in North Carolina. 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,". (Photo by Otto Greule Jr./Getty Images). The Associated Press contributed to this report. 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? 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. 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. We present them here for purely educational purposes. He compiled a career batting average of .192, with 67 RBIs and 11 home runs, including five in the 1966 season. 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 He was 77.Cloninger died Tuesday. Or write about sports? 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. All Rights Reserved by Baseball Almanac, Inc.Hosted by Hosting 4 Less. Receive obituaries from the city or cities of your choice. Tony Cloninger had 1,120 strikeouts over his career. Cloninger hit his first major-league home run in 1965, his fifth season in the majors. He had worked as a consultant for the Boston Red Sox since 2002 and the team announced his death Saturday. 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. In 2002, he became the pitching coach for the Boston Red Sox, but was forced to step down in early 2003 when he underwent successful treatment for bladder cancer that had been diagnosed in spring training. Cloninger went 113-97 during 12 seasons in the big leagues, mostly with the Braves. Cloninger died Tuesday. Cloninger died . 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 77. 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. 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. Tony Cloninger has not been elected into the Hall of Fame. 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. Cloninger drove in nine runs in all that day, getting three hits as the Braves thrashed the Giants, 17-3. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Ray was born August 26, 1946 in Bellefontaine to the late Donald Edward and Emma L. (Jackson) Cloninger. "That's his (Tony Cloninger) pitch, the hard one. Exceeded rookie limits during 1961 season, View Player Bio Part of the Baseball Almanac Family, Denver United Methodist Church Cemetery, Denver, North Carolina. Cloninger, who went on to have a 12-year major league career, died on Tuesday at age 77. 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. 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. 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). Cloninger finished up as a reliever with St. Louis in 1972. Family and friends are welcome to leave their condolences on this memorial page and share them with the family. Denis Menke Bat | Tony Cloninger Two Grand Slams Game | July 3, 1966.