Total Zone Rating and initial framework for Wins above Replacement calculations provided by Sean Smith. Allen was born in Strawberry Plains on February 14, 1943 to the late Randy and Mary Lee Cloninger. Leave your condolences to the family on this memorial page or send flowers to show you care. 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. He was 77. In a 12-year pitching career, Cloninger had a combined record of 113-97, a 4.07 earned run average and 1,120 strikeouts. A unique and . The Braves sent 52 batters to face Giants pitching. 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. BOSTON -- Major League Baseball mourns the loss of Tony Cloninger, who passed away on Tuesday at the age of 77. (As a batter, he had a career average of .192.). (Age 20-306d, 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 also was an accomplished batter with a .192 batting average, 11 home runs and 67 RBIs. Cloninger hit five of his 11 career home runs in 1966. 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? No cause was given. Tony Cloninger was born in Lincoln County, NC. He became Boston's pitching coach in 2002 and took a medical leave in 2003 because of bladder cancer. 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 was 20 years old when he broke into the big leagues on June 15, 1961, with the Milwaukee Braves. [4] In 2004, Cloninger became a player development consultant for the Red Sox, serving for almost 15 consecutive seasons until his death. Echovita Inc is a registered trademark. 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 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: The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. He was predeceased by : his siblings, Frank Cloninger and Marie Goodman. Richard Walker: 704-869-1841; twitter.com/jrwalk22, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. On April 12, 1966, Cloninger threw the first pitch for the new Atlanta franchise. 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. 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. It was a nice sum. He was 77.Cloninger died Tuesday. 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. 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. Prepare a personalized obituary for someone you loved.. August 13, 1940 - 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. Seattle Mariners unveil City Connect uniforms. 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. Tony 'The Rock Springs Rifle' Cloninger Autograph on a 1962 Topps Baseball Card (#63 | Checklist), Tony Cloninger Miscellaneous Items of Interest. 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. Cloninger died Tuesday. He attended Carter High School and was a loyal supporting member of the Carter community his whole life. Anyone can read what you share. MLB Power Rankings: Who's No. Comments. Try our free interactive obituary template. 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. Fiorentina captain Astori found dead aged 31 before match. Do you want even more trivia? He had worked as a consultant for . Tony Cloninger was born on August 13, 1940. July 22, 1972 update=copyright.getFullYear(); Raymond's Obituary . He had worked as a consultant for the Boston Red Sox since 2002 and the team announced his death Saturday. Part of the Baseball Almanac Family, Denver United Methodist Church Cemetery, Denver, North Carolina. Cloninger died Tuesday. He had worked as a consultant for the Boston Red Sox since 2002, and the team announced his death Saturday. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. Cloninger drove in nine runs in all that day, getting three hits as the Braves thrashed the Giants, 17-3. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? 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). document.write(update); 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 was the losing pitcher of record. August 13, 1940 Five, including Cloninger, had at least three hits. 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. 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. Authorize the publication of the original written obituary with the accompanying photo. Please accept Echovita's sincere condolences. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Find the obituary of Ray Eugene Cloninger (1936 - 2021) from Denver, NC. [5][6][7], Cloninger died on July 24, 2018, in Denver, North Carolina at the age of 77.[8]. 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). We are sad to announce that on April 9, 2023, at the age of 70, Teena Katherine Barnes of Campobello, South Carolina passed away. ( Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. 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. 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]. Tony Lee Cloninger (August 13, 1940 - July 24, 2018) was an American professional baseball player and coach. He earned four World Series rings with the Yankees. 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. Subscribe to Stathead Baseball: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Baseball Reference Database. 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. DENVER, N.C. Former major league pitcher Tony Cloninger, perhaps best known for hitting two grand slams in a game, has died. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. February 1966. Javascript is required for the selection of a player. He was 77. Cloninger returned to pro ball was the longtime bullpen coach for the New York Yankees during their championship run. 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. Learn more here. 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. Tony Lee Cloninger (August 13, 1940 July 24, 2018) was an American professional baseball player and coach. Tony Cloninger has not been elected into the Hall of Fame. Denver United Methodist Church Cemetery, Denver, NC, High School: Rock Springs HS (Denver, NC), Debut: Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Mr. Tony Lee Cloninger, Sr., age 77, of Denver, passed away on Tuesday, July 24, 2018. 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 . 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. 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. We are sad to announce that on July 24, 2018 we had to say goodbye to Tony Lee Cloninger Sr. (Denver, North Carolina). His fastball is in the same class with Bob Gibson's, Bob Veale's, Jim Maloney's, Don Drysdale's, and those fellows. You can send your sympathy in the guestbook provided and share it with the family. 1? 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. Sport Magazine. Cloninger died Tuesday. 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. Where what happened yesterday is being preserved today. 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). He's not a finesse man yet. copyright=new Date(); 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 he was signed, he was reluctant to talk about the bonus. 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. After leaving the majors, Cloninger was a big hitter for a nationally recognized softball team in North Carolina. 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. Cloninger hit his first major-league home run in 1965, his fifth season in the majors. 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. 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. vs. SFG 4.0 IP, 6 H, 2 SO, 2 BB, 6 ER, L, Last Game: 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. It was later that season, with a bat, that Cloninger put himself into the record book. 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. It was later that season, with a bat, that Cloninger put himself into the record book. Find out more. Cloninger died Tuesday in Denver, North Carolina at the . Create an obituary. Bob Lynn and Pastor Mike Devine officiating. 11,854th in major league history) You can send your sympathy in the guestbook provided and share it with the family. Cloninger finished up as a reliever with St. Louis in 1972. 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. He drove in nine runs that day, getting three hits as the Braves routed San Francisco 17-3. It just didn't work out too good for me. When he gets to be, he'll be one of the great ones." The Boston Red Sox announced his death on Saturday. 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. Ray was born to the late Donald and Emma (Jackson) Cloninger. Denis Menke Bat | Tony Cloninger Two Grand Slams Game | July 3, 1966. Make a life-giving gesture. 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. 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. 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. Tony Cloninger had 1,120 strikeouts over his career. Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. July 28, 2018 / 10:59 PM After leaving the majors, Cloninger was a big hitter for a nationally recognized softball team in North Carolina. 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. He drove in nine runs that day, in fact, getting three hits as the Braves routed San Francisco 17-3. The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball. 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. Cloninger returned to pro ball was the longtime bullpen coach for the New York Yankees during their championship run. He also played for the Reds (1968-71) and Cardinals (1972). Waiting for the deal to go through was nerve wracking, he told United Press International. After two batters were hit by pitches, fights broke out and benches cleared. Cloninger was 20 years old when he broke into the big leagues on June 15, 1961, with the Milwaukee Braves. Cloninger, 76, still lives in Lincoln County and is a father of four children who he credits for supporting him throughout his coaching career. He was 77. 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. Milwaukee Braves Manager. He returned to pro ball with the Yankees during their championship run. Full-year historical Major League statistics provided by Pete Palmer and Gary Gillette of Hidden Game Sports. He played four seasons in Cincinnati and finished up his career as a reliever with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1972. Box 39, Denver, N.C. 28037. He had worked as a. He was 77. ), First published on July 28, 2018 / 10:59 PM. He had worked as a consultant for the Boston Red Sox since 2002 and the team announced his death Saturday. "That's his (Tony Cloninger) pitch, the hard one. 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. Regarded as a tough fireball pitcher, Cloninger also was a dangerous power hitter. 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. After eight years with the Braves he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds during the 1968 season. 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. 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. in Lincoln County, NC Or write about sports? Write your message of sympathy today. 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. 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. 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). A unique and lasting tribute for a loved one. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to East Lincoln Optimist Club, PO Box 39, Denver, NC 28037. 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. So many of them.". Cloninger died Tuesday. Cloninger, who went on to have a 12-year major league career, died on Tuesday at age 77. 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. Mr. Tony Lee Cloninger, Sr., age 77, of Denver, passed away on Tuesday, July 24, 2018. 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 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 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. Traded to Cincinnati during the 1968 season, he went to the World Series with the Reds in 1970. In the era prior to the draft, Cloninger could have signed with any major league team. DENVER, N.C. Former major league pitcher Tony Cloninger, perhaps best known for hitting two grand slams in a game, has died. He was 77. 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. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. 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. All rights reserved. He was NEW YORK Lucie Brock-Broido, a prize-winning poet and educator, has died at age 61. She was predeceased by : her aunt Pearl Gardner; her sister-in-law Sally Cloninger; and her nephews . As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Former pitcher Tony Cloninger, who earned four World .