tony cloninger obituary
Tony Lee Cloninger (August 13, 1940 - July 24, 2018) was an American professional baseball player and coach. There is no photo or video of Tony Lee Cloninger Sr..Be the first to share a memory to pay tribute. In the era prior to the draft, Cloninger could have signed with any major league team. 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. You can send your sympathy in the guestbook provided and share it with the family. in Lincoln County, NC We are sad to announce that on July 24, 2018 we had to say goodbye to Tony Lee Cloninger Sr. (Denver, North Carolina). On April 12, 1966, Cloninger threw the first pitch for the new Atlanta franchise. All rights reserved. Full-year historical Major League statistics provided by Pete Palmer and Gary Gillette of Hidden Game Sports. He had worked as a consultant for the Boston Red Sox since 2002 and the team announced his death Saturday. 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). Cloninger died Tuesday. His funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Monday, July 30, 2018 at Denver United Methodist Church. DENVER, N.C. -- Former major league pitcher Tony Cloninger, perhaps best known for hitting two grand slams in a game, has died. 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 in New York but was let go after the Yankees lost a seven-game World Series to the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2001. 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. "That's his (Tony Cloninger) pitch, the hard 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 . 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. 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 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. (As a batter, he had a career average of .192.). Page 13. (Age 20-306d, Denis Menke Bat | Tony Cloninger Two Grand Slams Game | July 3, 1966. But he narrowed his list of finalists to the Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Braves and San Francisco Giants before signing with the Braves. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Cloninger died Tuesday. The Boston Red Sox announced his death on Saturday. 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. / CBS Boston. To ease my mind, he said, he went raccoon hunting with his brother. Tony Lee Cloninger (August 13, 1940 July 24, 2018) was an American professional baseball player and coach. Cloninger was 20 years old when he broke into the big leagues on June 15, 1961, with the Milwaukee Braves. Tony finished the 1966 season with a .234 batting average, five home runs, and a .414 slugging percentage. 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). Regarded as a tough fireball pitcher, Cloninger also was a dangerous power hitter. 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. 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. (77 years old). His next career as a standout athlete came on the softball diamond as he played for national power Howard's Furnitureof Denver that was owned by softball Hall of Famer Richard Howard and coached by softball Hall of Famer Bobby Lutz, Sr. He was 77. February 1966. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. July 24, 2018 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? He was 77.Cloninger died Tuesday. On April 12, 1966, Cloninger threw the first pitch for the new Atlanta franchise. He had worked as a consultant for the Boston Red Sox since 2002 and the team announced his death Saturday. You can send your sympathy in the guestbook provided and share it with the family. 11,854th in major league history) He was 77. 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. Cloninger hit five of his 11 career home runs in 1966. ( Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. [5][6][7], Cloninger died on July 24, 2018, in Denver, North Carolina at the age of 77.[8]. 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,". Tony Cloninger, who assured himself a page in the rich lore of Major League Baseball when he became the only pitcher to hit two grand slams in a game, died on July 24 in Denver, N.C., where he had been a high school standout. Cloninger 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. Milwaukee Braves Manager. Ranking MLB's radical City Connect uniforms: Which one's No. Some defensive statistics Copyright Sports Info Solutions, 2010-2023. His fastball is in the same class with Bob Gibson's, Bob Veale's, Jim Maloney's, Don Drysdale's, and those fellows. 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. Mr. Tony Lee Cloninger, Sr., age 77, of Denver, passed away on Tuesday, July 24, 2018. Publisher Alfred A. Knopf announced Wednesday that Brock-Broido died Tuesday at EDMONTON A Edmonton homeless man whose spontaneous piano performance was viewed on theinternetby millions ofpeople has died. 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. 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. 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. Anyone can read what you share. In 1970 he went to the World Series with Cincinnati and started Game 3 against the Baltimore Orioles. 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. Traded to Cincinnati during the 1968 season, he went to the World Series with the Reds in 1970. In the May 22, 1958, edition of The Gaston Gazette, Tony Cloninger was that rare player. Raymond's Obituary . Allen was born in Strawberry Plains on February 14, 1943 to the late Randy and Mary Lee Cloninger. 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. A farming family blessed with considerable baseball genes - an older brother passed on a potential professional career, and two of Tony's sons . He drove in nine runs that day, in fact, getting three hits as the Braves routed San Francisco 17-3. 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. Do you want even more trivia? August 13, 1940 He earned four World Series rings with the Yankees. Born: Cloninger has a daughter, Meredith Sherrill, and three sons Tony Jr., Darin and Michael. Part of the Baseball Almanac Family, Denver United Methodist Church Cemetery, Denver, North Carolina. He drove in nine runs that day, getting three hits as the Braves routed San Francisco 17-3. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to East Lincoln Optimist Club, PO Box 39, Denver, NC 28037. Mr. Tony Lee Cloninger, Sr., age 77, of Denver, passed away on Tuesday, July 24, 2018. (Age 31-344d) 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. 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. . 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 was 20 years old when he broke into the big leagues on June 15, 1961, with the Milwaukee Braves. 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. Cloninger hit his first major-league home run in 1965, his fifth season in the majors. 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. Obituary Allen A. Cloninger, age 79, passed away peacefully into the arms of Jesus on the evening of Friday, September 23rd, 2022. He also was an accomplished batter with a .192 batting average, 11 home runs and 67 RBIs. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Cloninger, who went on to have a 12-year major league career, died on Tuesday at age 77. [4] In 2004, Cloninger became a player development consultant for the Red Sox, serving for almost 15 consecutive seasons until his death. DENVER, N.C. - Former major league pitcher Tony Cloninger, perhaps best known for hitting two grand slams in a game, has died. Cloninger died Tuesday. 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. Sport Magazine. Cloninger, 76, still lives in Lincoln County and is a father of four children who he credits for supporting him throughout his coaching career. Echovita offers a solidarity program that gives back the funds generated to families. 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. We present them here for purely educational purposes. 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. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Exceeded rookie limits during 1961 season, View Player Bio Cloninger went 113-97 during 12 seasons in the big leagues, mostly with the Braves. Cloninger, who went on to have a 12-year major league career, died on Tuesday at age 77. 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. Bob Lynn and Pastor Mike Devine officiating. As Red Sox pitching coach, Cloninger was ejected from a game in 2002 against the Baltimore Orioles. Would you like to offer Tony Lee Cloninger Sr.s loved ones a condolence message? Authorize the publication of the original written obituary with the accompanying photo. 1? 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. Copyright 2023 Echovita Inc. All rights reserved. He had been a consultant for the team since 2002. 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. He had a 16-5 pitching record with 308 strikeouts in 171 innings in those two seasons, which ended with playoff defeats to Shelby. Leave a sympathy message to the family in the guestbook on this memorial page of Ann H. Cloninger to show support. Ray was born August 26, 1946 in Bellefontaine to the late Donald Edward and Emma L. (Jackson) Cloninger. DENVER, N.C. Former major league pitcher Tony Cloninger, perhaps best known for hitting two grand slams in a game, has died. 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. 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. He's also survived by nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. 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 most successful season came in 1965, when he set career bests in wins (24-11), ERA (3.29), innings pitched (279), complete games (16), and strikeouts (211). 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. Family and friends are welcome to leave their condolences on this memorial page and share them with the family. All Rights Reserved. Tony Cloninger was born on August 13, 1940. He had worked as a consultant for . Tony Cloninger had 1,120 strikeouts over his career. The Braves dont tell me how much they give, he said. vs. ATL 0.0 IP, 1 H, 0 SO, 0 BB, 1 ER, L, Rookie Status: Allen A. Cloninger - age 79, passed away peacefully into the arms of Jesus on the evening of Friday, September 23, 2022. from the SABR BioProject, More Tony Cloninger Pages at Baseball Reference. 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.
