MLB Pitcher Who Made History With 2 Grand Slams in a Game Dies at 77
Tony Cloninger, who holds a Major League record unlikely to ever be broken, has died at the age of 77.
On July 6, 1966, Cloninger — then with the Atlanta Braves — became the first and only pitcher in baseball history to hit two grand slams in a single game.
In addition to that feat, Cloninger holds another distinction — he pitched the first game for the Braves when they moved to Atlanta in 1965.
Over a 12-year career, he also pitched for Cincinnati in the 1970 World Series, before retiring two years later with St. Louis.
RIP, Tony Cloninger, @Braves 1961-68, @Reds 1968-71; @Cardinals 1972. Coach for four-time World Champion @Yankees; and @RedSox. pic.twitter.com/cG3U7bMyyJ
— Baseball Digest (@BaseballDigest) July 27, 2018
Following his retirement, Cloninger joined the Yankees in 1992, spending eight seasons as Joe Torre’s bullpen coach, and one as pitching coach.
During that stretch, New York won four World Series championships.
In 2002, Cloninger joined the Red Sox organization as a pitching consultant, but was forced to take a leave of absence the next season as he battled bladder cancer.
He made a full recovery, and worked with Boston until his death, which the team announced Sunday.
Despite being a 24-game winner in 1965, and posting a 113-97 career record, Cloninger has always been remembered as the pitcher who hit the two grand slams.
As Cloninger remembered back in 2016, he came to the plate in that magical game against Bob Priddy with the bases loaded, and just one thing on his mind.
“All I was trying to do was get a base hit,” Cloninger recalled. “But I got a pitch to hit.”
“I knew I hit it pretty good,” he said. “But I didn’t know it was gonna go out.”
You can’t blame Cloninger for being skeptical. In his rookie year, the pitcher hit what he thought was going to be a home run, only to be robbed by Willie Mays.
History did not repeat itself.
In the fourth inning, with the bases loaded again, the slugging pitcher was no longer trying for just a hit.
“I wasn’t trying to hit a home run,” Cloninger said. “The second time I was swinging hard just in case.
“It’s still hard to believe.”
Former @MLB pitcher Tony Cloninger, who hit 2 slams in game, dies at 77. Was a high school star in Denver, NC. … Threw first pitch in Atlanta for #Braves. Also played with #Reds, #Cardinals. Worked with #RedSox, #Yankees https://t.co/fUDL9ULBi4#Yankees #Reds #Cards pic.twitter.com/KzZ4UtVvYi
— Mike Reader ✡🌊🇺🇸🇺🇦 (@mreader) July 29, 2018
More than 50 years later after that historic day at Candlestick Park, Tony Cloninger still stands alone in baseball history.
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