Books and articles about Tony Cloninger

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Raised on a North Carolina farm, the barrel-chested Cloninger usually got tougher as the game went on. He won 57 games in the 1964-66 seasons, peaking in 1965 with a 24-11 mark for Milwaukee. The $100,000 bonus baby was not only an effective, fireballing pitcher, but a dangerous batter as well. On July 3, 1966 against San Francisco, he hit two grand slams in one game, the only man - no less the only pitcher - in NL history to do so. His nine RBI that day are a one-game ML record for a pitcher. After a shoulder muscle pull and eye problems caused by a virus dropped his 1967 record to 4-7, he was traded to Cincinnati. Though he had mixed success there, he contributed nine wins to the Reds' 1970 NL pennant. (JCA)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » August 19, 1961: The Phils rally in the 9th, but strand 11 and lose, 4–3 to Milwaukee. For the hapless Quakers, it is their 22nd loss in a row. For the Braves, it is their 9th win in a row. The Phils have 13 hits off Tony Cloninger, the winner, while Frank Sullivan allows just 7. The Braves score all their runs in the 3rd, the big blow being Frank Thomas' 2-run homer. » August 18, 1965: The Braves take first place when Tony Cloninger beats St. Louis, 5–3. Hank Aaron of the Braves hits a home run off Curt Simmons, but has it nullified when umpire Chris Pelekoudas says Aaron stepped out of the batter's box when he made contact. » September 11, 1965: Tony Cloninger's one-hit, 9–0 win is Milwaukee's 2nd straight one-hitter against the Mets, tying a ML mark set 48 years ago. Wade Blasingame, Billy O'Dell, and Phil Niekro combined the day before for a 3–1 win. In today's win, Aaron has two hits, a stolen base, RBI, and run scored before leaving for pinch hitter John Blanchard. » September 24, 1965: At Candlestick, Tony Cloninger throws a 4-hitter to give the Braves an 8–2 win over the Giants. In Southern California, The Dodgers win 4–3 over the Cards to reduce the Giants lead to one game. » April 12, 1966: The Braves and Tony Cloninger lose their first game in Atlanta 3–2 to Pittsburgh in 13 innings, with 50,761 fans on hand. Both Atlanta runs come on homers by Joe Torre, who opened the 1965 Milwaukee Braves season with two homers against the Reds. » June 16, 1966: Led by the hitting and pitching of Tony Cloninger, the Braves roll over the Mets, 17–1. Cloninger has five RBIs, the first pitcher to drive in that many since Lew Burdette on July 10, 1958. » July 3, 1966: Pitcher Tony Cloninger hits two grand slams and drives in nine runs, as the Braves rout the Giants at Candlestick Park 17–3. Cloninger is the first National League player to slam two in a game, and the first pitcher ever, and his nine RBIs are a major-league record for pitchers, breaking Vic Raschi's mark of 7. The National League record for pitchers was 5, held by several: the last hurler to collect five RBIs in a game is Cloninger, who had five on June 16th against the Mets (as noted by Tom Zocco). » June 11, 1968: The Reds send P Milt Pappas, pitchers Ted Davidson, and IF Bob Johnson to the Braves for pitchers Tony Cloninger and Clay Carroll and IF Woody Woodward. Davidson, who made 54 relief appearances in 1966, has never been the same since his estranged wife shot him in the stomach prior to the 1967 season. » August 27, 1969: Chicago loses for the 7th time in the last eight games, a 6–3 loss to the Reds Tony Cloninger. Ken Holtzman is the loser. Chicago is now just two games ahead of the Amazing Mets. » June 29, 1971: At Montreal, the Reds roll over the Expos, 14–0, and Tony Cloninger pitches his first complete game since 1969. The Reds collect 23 hits, led by Tommy Helms' four. » March 24, 1972: The Reds send P Tony Cloninger to the Cards for veteran Julian Javier. » September 26, 1973: In front of a home crowd of 4,804, Jim Colborn wins his 20th for the Brewers, defeating the Yankees, 5–2. George Scott chips in with two RBIs, giving him 100 for the year. Colborn is the Brewers first 20-game winner and the first in Milwaukee since Tony Cloninger did it for the Braves in 1965. » May 2, 1987: Graig Nettles and Dion James each hit grand slams to lead the Braves to a 12–4 rout of the Astros. It is the first time since July 3, 1966 (when pitcher Tony Cloninger did it by himself), that the Braves have hit two grand slams in one game.