Tony Fossas

From SoSH

Emilio Antonio (Morejon) "Tony" Fossas (born September 23, 1957 in Havana, Cuba) was a journeyman left-handed relief pitcher for the Texas Rangers (1988, 1998), Milwaukee Brewers (1989-1990), Boston Red Sox (1991-1994), St. Louis Cardinals (1995-1997), Seattle Mariners (1998), Chicago Cubs (1998) and New York Yankees (1999).

Contents 1 Overall Career 2 Fossas's Moments in the Sun 3 Trivia 4 Transactions 5 External Links

Overall Career

Signed by the Texas Rangers as a 12 round pick in 1979 amateur draft, the Cuban-born Fossas seemed destined to become a career minor leaguer until at the age of 31 he received a (albeit brief) promotion to the Majors in 1988. Released by the Rangers in the offseason, Fossas eventually became a serviceable setup man for the Brewers, Red Sox and Cardinals. He had his best season in 1995 with St. Louis, appearing in 58 games with a 3-0 record, and posting a 1.47 ERA in 36.2 innings. While with the Cardinals his biggest opportunity came in 1996 when he pitched against the San Diego Padres in the NLDS and against the Atlanta Braves in the NLCS.

In 1998 he pitched for the Seattle Mariners, Chicago Cubs and returned to the Texas Rangers in what would be his last full year before finishing his career with the New York Yankees in 1999. In 2005, Fossas was named pitching coach at Florida Atlantic University.

Fossas's Moments in the Sun

• While attending USF from 1975-1979, Fossas worked his way into the Bulls record books. He is 10th with 224 career strikeouts, third in single-season ERA (2.09) and seventh in complete games after throwing seven in 1979.
• Won his first major league game as a 31-year-old rookie in 1989.

Trivia

• Nicknamed "The Mechanic" by Brewers radio announcer Bob Uecker for his blue-collar appearance.
• Grounded into a double play in his only career at-bat.
• Fossas and his family moved to the Jamaica Plain section of Boston in the 1960's.
• In his first major league appearance, he faced George Brett and the Kansas City Royals. With the bases loaded, Brett ground into a double play on Fossas' first pitch to end the inning.

Transactions

• June 6, 1978: Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 9th round of the 1978 amateur draft, but did not sign.
• June 5, 1979: Drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 12th round of the 1979 amateur draft. Player signed June 12, 1979.
• February 18, 1982: Released by the Texas Rangers.
• March 11, 1982: Signed as a Free Agent with the Chicago Cubs.
• April 7, 1982: Released by the Chicago Cubs.
• May 3, 1982: Signed as a Free Agent with the Texas Rangers.
• October 15, 1985: Granted Free Agency.
• December 13, 1985: Signed as a Free Agent with the California Angels.
• October 15, 1987: Granted Free Agency.
• December 1, 1987: Signed as a Free Agent with the Texas Rangers.
• October 15, 1988: Granted Free Agency.
• January 21, 1989: Signed as a Free Agent with the Milwaukee Brewers.
• December 6, 1990: Released by the Milwaukee Brewers.
• January 23, 1991: Signed as a Free Agent with the Boston Red Sox.
• December 11, 1992: Released by the Boston Red Sox.
• January 18, 1993: Signed as a Free Agent with the Boston Red Sox.
• December 20, 1993: Granted Free Agency.
• January 20, 1994: Signed as a Free Agent with the Boston Red Sox.
• December 23, 1994: Granted Free Agency.
• April 11, 1995: Signed as a Free Agent with the St. Louis Cardinals.
• October 27, 1997: Granted Free Agency.
• December 16, 1997: Signed as a Free Agent with the Seattle Mariners.
• June 10, 1998: Released by the Seattle Mariners.
• June 19, 1998: Signed as a Free Agent with the Chicago Cubs.
• August 4, 1998: Released by the Chicago Cubs.
• August 19, 1998: Signed as a Free Agent with the Texas Rangers.
• October 19, 1998: Granted Free Agency.
• January 7, 1999: Signed as a Free Agent with the Texas Rangers.
• March 24, 1999: Released by the Texas Rangers.
• March 25, 1999: Signed as a Free Agent with the New York Yankees.
• April 1, 1999: Released by the New York Yankees.

External Links

• Baseball-Reference.com - Career Statistics and Analysis