Books and articles about Tony Armas

A popular power hitter, Tony Armas was one of baseball's top sluggers until injuries took their toll. Developed in the Pittsburgh organization, he went to Oakland in a blockbuster, nine-player deal on March 15, 1977. Various injuries held him back until 1980, when he hit .279 with 35 HR and 109 RBI. He was named AL Player of the Year by The Sporting News in 1981, tying for the league lead in homers and games played, but leading the league in strikeouts. A year later, the free swinger was traded to Boston for the more consistent Carney Lansford in a five-player deal.

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Armas peaked again in 1984 (.268, 43 HR, 123 RBI). He was named to TSN and UPI postseason AL all-star teams and was Boston 's co-MVP. From 1980 to 1985, Armas hit more homers than any AL player. The Venezuelan's next two seasons were ruined by leg injuries. He was replaced by Dave Henderson in the Boston outfield and released after batting just once in the 1986 World Series. He became a valuable role player for the Angels.

Armas' son, Tony Armas, Jr., made his major-league debut as a pitcher with the Montreal Expos in 1999. (ME)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » March 15, 1977: The Pirates trade outfielders Tony Armas and Mitchell Page, and four pitchers, including Rick Langford, to the A's for 2B Phil Garner, IF Tommy Helms, and P Chris Batton. » June 3, 1980: Oakland makes it close when Dave Revering, Mitchell Page, and Tony Armas all homer in the 9th inning against Cleveland, but the Indians hold on for a 6–4 win. » September 20, 1980: California's Tony Armas does it all hitting two doubles, two home runs to drive in five RBIs in a 6–4 win over Texas. Armas also has an, intentional walk, and steals 3rd. » June 12, 1982: A's RF Tony Armas sets a pair of ML records for the position with 11 putouts and 12 total chances in an 8–1 win over the Blue Jays. Harry "Silk Stocking" Schafer's record of 11 total chances had stood since 1877, and matched four times, most recently by Bake McBride, in 1978. Armas has a single and a triple, including the game winner for Rick Langford. » December 6, 1982: The Red Sox trade 3B Carney Lansford, OF Garry Hancock, and minor leaguer Jerry King to Oakland for OF Tony Armas and C Jeff Newman. Lansford, who led the AL in hitting in '81, is expendable with the emergence of Wade Boggs at 3B. » April 28, 1984: At Comiskey, Boston wins on an error in the 9th, 8–7. Jose Cruz homers and drives in four runs for Chicago, while Jim Rice and Tony Armas homer for Boston. Armas's clout is a 500 foot blast into the CF bleachers. » August 7, 1984: Bill Buckner and Tony Armas each hit grand slams in the first two innings off Tigers ace Jack Morris to spark the Red Sox to a 12–7 victory in the first game. Detroit takes the 2nd game 7–5 in 11 innings, after scoring a run in the 9th to tie. Lance Parrish's two-run homer ends it and Aurelio Lopez goes 9–0. » November 6, 1984: Willie Hernandez wins the American League MVP Award, joining Rollie Fingers as the only relief pitchers to be named MVP and Cy Young Award winner in the same season. Kent Hrbek is 2nd with Dan Quisenberry third. Boston's Tony Armas is the 7th, despite winning the home run and RBI titles; the last player to lead in those categories and not win was Ted Williams. » April 8, 1985: At Fenway, 46-year-old Phil Niekro starts for the Yankees, the 2nd oldest pitcher ever to start an Opener: only Jack Quinn, for Brooklyn in 1931, was older at age 47. Boston chases Niekro after four innings and behind the pitching of Oil Can Boyd coasts to a 9–2 win. Niekro walks four in the 3rd inning, including two with the bases loaded, to lose his 7th opener in a row (6 with Atlanta), the worst opening day record ever. Tony Armas, Dwight Evans, and Jim Rice stroke homers for Boston. » August 13, 1997: The Red Sox trade C Mike Stanley and IF Randy Brown to the Yankees in exchange for P Tony Armas and a player to be named. » September 17, 2001: Bud Smith follows up his no-hitter with a 2–1 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. The only run in seven innings against the Cards' budding young ace is unearned. Jeromy Burnitz of the Brewers comes within one fielding chance of joining Harry "Silk Stocking" Schafer (1877), Greasy Neale (1920), Casey Stengel (1920), Bill Nicholson (1945) and Bake McBride (1978) as the only N.L. right fielders to register 11 chances in a game. The major-league record is held by Tony Armas who handled 12 chances in an A.L. game in 1982.