Tony Pérez

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Tony Pérez Rigal, a former professional baseball player, manager, and a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, is a Cuban-American former professional baseball player, manager, and a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame.

In Major League Baseball, he appeared as a first baseman and third baseman, most notably for the Cincinnati Reds.

Variously tagged "Big Doggie," "Doggie," "Doggie," and "The Mayor of Riverfront," the slugging seven-time All-Star received two World Series awards during his twenty-year playing career, as well as one as a coach at the World Series. Pérez, along with fellow Cincinnati artist Pete Rose and Johnny Bench, was a central participant of the city's cherished "Big Red Machine."

He appeared with the Montreal Expos (1977–1976), Boston Red Sox (1980–1982), and Philadelphia Phillies (1983) before returning to Cincinnati for his final three seasons (1984-1986).

He finished his career with a.279 batting average, 379 home runs, 1,652 runs batted in, and 1,272 runs scored. Pérez moved to coach and later managed the Reds and the Florida Marlins after retiring.

He was voted to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2000 from 1993 to 2017.

Early life

Pérez was born in Ciego de vila, Cuba, in 1942, the son of José Manuel and Teodora Pérez (Rgal) Pérez. Tony, his parents, and siblings all lived in a two-bedroom row house owned by the sugar mill where Tony's father, Robert, and eventually Tony worked. Tony also played shortstop for Central Violeta's baseball team.

While playing on the Camagüey sugar factory team, he was signed to a pro deal in 1960 at the age of 17. He was assigned to Havana Sugar Kings' instructional staff. The $2.50 price of a visa and a plane ticket to Miami, Florida was his "bonus" for signing with the Reds.

Personal life

Pérez met Juana ("Pituka") de la Cantera, the daughter of Pablo de la Cantera and Edilia Cortina, while playing winter basketball in Puerto Rico in 1964. She grew up in Puerto Rico, and she was also of Cuban descent. The couple were married in early 1965 and were married four months after. Both men were born in Cincinnati on October 18, 1971, and they had two sons, Victor Pérez (May 11, 1966) and Eduardo Pérez (September 11, 1969).

Victor played in the Reds' minor league system for one year (1990). He earned a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Finance and Computer Science from Xavier University in Cincinnati. He then moved to New York City, where he worked in real estate and telecommunications. He attended acting school and became a professional actor, first in New York City and then in London for several years.

Eduardo, an All-American third baseman at Florida State University, competed in the College World Series. The California Angels selected him in the first round (17th overall pick) in the first round (17th overall pick). He played Major League Baseball for 13 seasons. He spent five years as an ESPN commentator after retiring as a player. Leones de Ponce was the head coach for the Leones de Ponce in 2009 and 2012, and he was an assistant coach for the Miami Marlins in 2011. For the 2013 season, he served as the Houston Astros bench coach. Eduardo appeared on SiriusXM's MLB Network Radio in 2016 as a host for The Leadoff Spot with Steve Phillips. Andreanna and Juliana are two children who live in Mirba (Rivera).

According to "Latino Baseball Legends: An Encyclopedia," Pérez received a 20-day visa to return to Cuba for the first time since a 1963 trip; however, the visa did not allow his wife and children to travel. He carried 17 suitcases of gifts, clothes, and medical equipment and reunited with his family in Central Violeta, Cuba, a 400-mile train ride from Havana.

Jose Manuel, Tony's father, who worked with Tony at the Camagüey sugar factory as a youth, died in 1979 at the age of 84 (some sources mention him as a year of death in 1977). During his playing career, Tony said that his Cuban family would follow the Voice of America, which would have daily updates on Cuban players competing in the majors.

Teodora ("Tita"), Tony's mother, was 88 when Tony told her that he had been inducted to the Hall of Fame in 2000. In 2002, Tony was able to return to Cuba for the second time, but this time with his sons. Teodora died in 2008. In 1997, Tony's oldest sister died. The Marlins planned to surprise Tony by assisting his two living sisters, Argelia and Gloria, with visas and arrival from Miami from their homes in Central Violeta, Camagüey, Cuba, in 2000.

Pérez has cited Minnie Mioso, a Cuban-born girl, as his boyhood idol. Pérez has worked for many years in writing, speeches, and attempts to get Minoso elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Tony Pérez, a 326-page biography, was written by John Erardi in 1961.

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Career

Pérez arrived in Florida in the spring of 1960 and was active in the Reds' spring training in Tampa. On May 1, 1960, he played his first minor league game for the Reds' Class D affiliate in Geneva, New York, at the age of 17. In a 6–5, 13-inning loss to the Auburn Yankees, he hit his first professional hit in second base. In the next game (the Redlegs' home opener) in a 17–16 victory, he went hitless, and the team lost by a single point in a 5–0 loss. He was placed on the disabled list on June 25, which was the reason for his removal from the list. Pete Rose, 19, was recalled on the active roster on the same day and was inserted into the starting lineup at second base and was inserted in the starting lineup on Sunday. Rose remained at second base after Pérez's return, while Pérez played third base. Martn Dihigo Jr., the son of Baseball Hall of Fame member and Negro leagues great and Cuban native Martn Dihigo, was another one of his teammates. In 104 games, Pérez earned 6 home runs in 96 games, a new record.

He appeared for Geneva in 1961 and set several team batting records, hitting.348 with 27 home runs in 121 games. In 1962, he was promoted to the Class B Rocky Mount Leafs of the Carolina League. He appeared two weeks late because he had trouble getting out of Cuba, his homeland. He hit.292 in 100 games with 18 home runs and 74 RBI, making the all-star team as a third baseman, but his season was cut short after the first 100 games due to a broken ankle. He was promoted to the Macon Peaches of the Class AA South Atlantic League in 1963, where he played.309 with 11 home runs and 48 RBIs before being promoted to the Class AAA San Diego Padres of the Pacific Coast League in 69 games. In 8 games, he topped.379 with 1 home run and 5 RBI.

Pérez, who now plays first base, was voted Most Valuable Player in the Pacific Coast League in 1964 by the Padres. Pérez led to a.309 record and 107 RBI. He was called up to the Reds and played his first two games in a doubleheader at Cincinnati's Crosley Field on July 26, 1964. He started at first base on his debut and took a walk against left-handed pitcher Joe Gibbon in his first at-bat. In a 7–2 Reds win over Gibbon and Don Schwall, he went 0–2 against them, then went 0–4 against pitcher Bob Veale in a 5–1 Pirates victory.

He first appeared at first base and batted fifth against the Braves at Milwaukee County Stadium the following day. He earned his first hit, a second-inning double off Denny Lemaster, and then scored his first run on a Johnny Edwards double in an 11–2 victory. Frank Robinson was the first RBI in his seventh innings, with a single off Lemaster scoring him.

He platooned at first base from 1964 to 1966, mainly with Deron Johnson and Gordy Coleman. In the Reds' second game of 1965, he had his first home run, a grand slam, against Milwaukee and then against Denny Lemaster. Valianta Pinson, Frank Robinson, and Deron Johnson were among the grand slam winners, with 2 outs and scored.

Pérez debuted at third base in 1967 and was selected to his first All-Star team in 1967. The game, which took place on July 11, 1967 at Anaheim Stadium, was played in 15 innings, the longest All-Star Game in history (since equalized by the 2008 game). Pérez's home run off the future Hall of Fame candidate Catfish Hunter gave the National League a 2–1 victory. He was then named the Most Valuable Player of the game by the end of the game.

In 1970, Pérez scored his first home run in Pittsburgh's Three Rivers Stadium. Pérez's 1970 campaign was his best year, in addition to his 129 RBIs: he hit.317, slugged 40 home runs, and scored 107 runs. Billy Williams and Reds' teammate and champion Johnny Bench came in third in the Most Valuable Player poll, placing him third overall.

Pérez played winter basketball for ten seasons between 1964–65 and 1982–83 in the Puerto Rico Baseball League (Cangrejeros de Santurce). In 1966–67, he captured the batting championship and was named league MVP.

He started playing first base in the early part of his career (1964–66) with the Cincinnati Reds, and became a perennial all-star from 1967 to 1971. He appeared at first base from 1972 to 1971. Pérez was one of the best RBI men of his time, averaging 100 or more runs seven times during his 23-year career. Pérez hit 90 or more runs per year during an 11-year period from 1967 to 1977, with a record of 129 RBIs in 1970. Pérez came in second place in RBI during the 1970s, second only behind teammate Johnny Bench.

Beginning in 1970, the Reds have won back-to-back world championships in 1975 and 1976, with Pérez starting at first base. Pérez was traded to the Montreal Expos by Will McEnaney for Woodie Fryman and Dale Murray following the Reds' sweeping of the Phillies in the 1976 World Series (the first time a team has ever swept the postseason since the League Championship Series was introduced in 1969). The "Big Red Machine," one of baseball's all-time favorites, was fired and never again joined the Series, but not for the first time in 1979. In numerous interviews since Pérez was the head and soul of those teams, Sparky Anderson, the Reds' manager during the 1970s championships, has revealed this.

Pérez signed as a free agent with the Boston Red Sox for three seasons in Montreal (in which he had 46 home runs with 242 RBIs and a.281 batting average). In his first season with the Red Sox, he ranked in the top 10 in the American League in home runs (25), RBIs (105) and intentional walks (11), and received the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award.

Pérez reunited with "Big Red Machine" colleagues Pete Rose and Joe Morgan on the Philadelphia Phillies for the 1983 season. Pérez, who was still a feared hitter based on his fame, was a reserve for the Philadelphia Phillies during their World Series debut last year and batted.242 in his five World Series appearances. Following the 1986 season, he rejoined the Cincinnati Reds as a free agent, where he remained until his release following his release.

He became the first player to record a walk-off pinch-hit home run in 1984 (off the Pirates' Don Robinson). He was the first player (44) to reach a grand slam on May 13, 1985, batting against Philadelphia Phillies reliever Dave Rucker, breaking a 70-year-old record set by Honus Wagner. Julio Franco broke it at age 46 in 2004. Pérez was named National League Player of the Week in the last week of his career, when he went 8-for-19 with a home run, three doubles, and six runs batted in.

His last game and RBI came on October 4, 1986, when he struck a solo home run off San Diego Padres pitcher Ed Whitson in a 10–7 Reds victory. The following day was the Reds' last game of the year and their final game of his career. In his last at-bat, he flied out against Andy Hawkins in a 2–1 victory for the Padres.

In 1998, Pérez was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame. The Reds retired his number, 24, on May 27, 2000, during an on-field pre-game ceremony at Cinergy Field (formerly Riverfront Stadium).

Pérez was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, in 2000, receiving 385 votes on 499 ballots for a total of 77.1 percent, just shy of the three-quarters minimum for induction. He was born in July 2000, alongside Sparky Anderson, Carlton Fisk, Bid McPhee, and Turkey Stearnes. "I don't think that a king at his coronation feels better than me today," the king said in his induction address. He has attended the weekend festivities every year since his induction, including riding in the annual parade and playing in the annual golf outing and old-timers' baseball game.

At a pre-game parade held at the San Francisco Giants' Pacific Bell Park in 2001, Pérez was inducted into the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame. He threw out the ceremonial first pitch at the 2001 All-Star Game at the Seattle Mariners' Safeco Field; he had been playing at the Kingdome during the 1979 All-Star Game. Pérez was inducted into the Caribbean Baseball Hall of Fame in 1998, which honors those who have made major contributions to the Caribbean Series. In 2010, he was one of 24 inaugural inductees into the Latino Baseball Hall of Fame. In 2010, he was inducted into the Cuban Sports Hall of Fame.

With Pérez and his sons in attendance at the opening ceremonies of the Museo del Deporte de Puerto Rico in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico's adopted homeland, he was given a surprise award in 2011. "For his contributions to the commonwealth as a father and a grandfather," he was proclaimed Puerto Rico's "official son" and for his numerous accolades as a Puerto Rican representative. Orlando Cepeda and Roberto Alomar's widow, Roberto Clemente, were among those on hand.

Former Reds teammates Johnny Bench and Joe Morgan, as well as Pérez himself, announced that the Reds will erect a statue of Pérez outside Great American Ball Park on August 10, 2014.

During a stretch with the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Cincinnati Reds hosted Tony Pérez Weekend on August 21-22, 2015. At least a dozen players of the Big Red Machine were involved in a post-game parade on Friday night. A bronze statue of Pérez was unveiled near the entrance to Great American Ball Park on Saturday. Pérez was honoured at the pre-game parade and then he launched the ceremonial first pitch for fans of the game.

Tommy John said Pérez was one of the hardest hitters he's ever faced due to his ability to hit right-center field with power. "He waited on the ball well, but I couldn't throw hard enough to get it by him inside," John remembered.

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