Tony Conigliaro

From SoSH

Anthony Richard "Tony" Conigliaro (January 7, 1945 - February 24, 1990), nicknamed "Tony C.", was signed by the Boston Red Sox as an amateur free agent in 1962. Conigliaro was a power hitting right-handed batter who played for the Boston Red Sox (1964-67, 1969-1970, 1975) and California Angels (1971).

On January 3, 1982 Conigliaro, in Boston to interview for a broadcasting position, suffered a heart attack while being driven to the airport by his brother Billy, and lapsed into a coma. Conigliaro never completely recovered. Eight years later, he died in Salem, Massachusetts at 45 years of age. In commemoration, the Red Sox wore black armbands that season.

Contents 1 Overall Career 2 Awards 3 Moment in the Sun 4 Trivia 5 Transactions 6 External Links

Overall Career

In his 1964 rookie season, Conigliaro batted .290 with 24 home runs and 52 RBI in 111 games, but broke his arm in August. Tony Oliva won American League Rookie of the Year honors.

In his 1965 sophomore season, Conigliaro led the league in home runs (32). He was selected for the All-Star Game in 1967. In that season, at age 22, he became the youngest American League player to reach a career total of 100 home runs.

On August 18, 1967, the Red Sox were playing the Angels at Fenway Park. Conigliaro, batting against Jack Hamilton, was hit by a pitch on his left cheekbone, and was carried off the field on a stretcher. He sustained a broken cheekbone and severe damage to his left retina. The batting helmet he was wearing did not have the protective earflap that has since become standard.

A year and a half later, Conigliaro made a remarkable return, hitting 20 homers with 82 RBI in 141 games, earning Comeback Player of the Year honors. In 1970, he reached career-high numbers in HRs (36) and RBI (116). After a stint with the Angels in 1971, he returned to the Red Sox briefly in 1975, but was forced to retire because his eyesight had been permanently damaged.

Conigliaro batted .267 with 162 home runs and 501 RBI during his 802-game Red Sox career. With the Angels, he hit .222, 4, 15, in 74 games. He holds the MLB record for most home runs (25) hit by a teenage player.

Shaun Kelly's (User:jacklamabe65) emotive tribute to Tony, originally published on SoSH in March 2004, captures the qualities that made Conigliaro one of the two or three most beloved players in Boston Red Sox history.

Awards

• 1967 American League All-Star
• 1970 Hutch Award Winner

Moment in the Sun

• 1965: The 20-year-old Conigliaro hit 32 HR, and became the youngest home run leader in AL history.
• April 8, 1969: After a long recovery following a August 1967 beaning, Tony Conigliaro starts his first game for Boston. His dramatic 2-run 10th-inning home run gives the Red Sox a brief lead, and his 12th-inning run wins it, 5–4 over the O's at Baltimore.

Trivia

• Tony C, cut several records on the RCA and Penn Tone labels.
• The Tony Conigliaro Award is given annually to the player who best overcomes an obstacle and continues to thrive through the adversity.
• Conigliaro is interred in Holy Cross Cemetery in Malden, Massachusetts.

Transactions

• Before 1962 Season: Signed by the Boston Red Sox as an amateur free agent.
• October 11, 1970: Traded by the Boston Red Sox with Ray Jarvis and Jerry Moses to the California Angels for Ken Tatum, Jarvis Tatum, and Doug Griffin.
• November 25, 1974: Released by the California Angels.
• March 5, 1975: Signed as a Free Agent with the Boston Red Sox.
• September 2, 1975: Released by the Boston Red Sox.

External Links

• Baseball-Reference.com - Career Statistics and Analysis
• Tony Conigliaro Memorial at Find A Grave