Gene Tenace
| Birthdate | 10/10/1946 |
| Death Date | |
| Debut Year | 1968 |
| Year of Induction | |
| Teams | Athletics, Blue Jays, Cardinals, Padres, Pirates |
| Positions | Catcher, First Base, Manager |
The 1972 World Series Most Valuable Player, Gene Tenace has four rings, 4 homers, 12 RBI, and a .405 on-base percentage in Fall Classic play.
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Gene Tenace played catcher and first base for the Oakland A's from 1969-1976
Gene Tenace played catcher and first base for the Oakland A's from 1969-1976
Fiore Gino Tennaci played 15 years in the big leagues. Better known as Gene Tenace, he was the starting catcher for three consecutive World Series championship teams starting in 1972
Tenace served as a backup catcher for the Oakland A’s from ’68-’72. When he reached the Fall Classic in ’72, Tenace shined.
Playing in all 7 games, he slashed .348/.400/.913. He was named the World Series Most Valuable Player.
Tenace’s October performance forced his way into the lineup in ’73. That year he played in 160 games – 134 at first base. Tenace drew 101 walks and posted a .387 on-base percentage. The A’s returned to the World Series. In the Fall Classic Tenace reached base 14 times in 30 plate appearances and earned his second ring.
The following season was more of the same. In ’74 Tenace found his way into 150 games, more than half of them behind the plate. He hit 26 homers and led the league with 110 walks. Tenace and the A’s won the World Series for the third straight year.
Tenace’s finest season in Oakland came in 1975. The starting first baseman in the All Star Game, Tenace reached career highs in homers (29) and RBI (87). He also drew more than 100 bases on balls for the third straight season.
In eight season with the A’s, Tenace went to the postseason five times and earned three rings. He had a .374 on-base percentage in 3,016 plate appearances with the A’s. Twice he received consideration in MVP voting.
Above is an autographed 1973 Topps card titled, “Tenace the Menace”. It shows Tenace as he crosses the plate in Game 1 of the ’72 World Series. In that contest he slammed two homers and drove in all three runs in the A’s 3-2 win over the Reds.
Gene Tenace hit 4 homers in the 1972 World Series and was named the Most Valuable Player
Gene Tenace hit 4 homers in the 1972 World Series and was named the Most Valuable Player
The object of baseball is to gain the World Series. Perhaps the greatest individual achievement is being named Most Valuable Player of the Fall Classic. Gene Tenace did both of these in 1972.
Tenace’s Oakland A’s won 93 games in the regular season to win the AL Western Division. They defeated the Detroit Tigers in the ALCS and faced off against the Cincinnati Reds in the World Series.
Tenace took center stage at baseball’s biggest event. In the 7-game tilt he went 8-for-23 with a double, four homers, and 9 runs batted in. For his efforts he was named the World Series MVP.
Shown here is a letter from Hall of Fame commissioner Bowie Kuhn. Baseball’s head man extols the virtues of baseball’s showcase event.
“The World Series is the premier event of American Sports.
“No other event has been able to capture it’s special appeal or match its magnificent history.”
Kuhn later writes of the 1971 seven-game thriller. His final sentence alludes to the crowing achievement of Tenace’s career – the ’72 Fall Classic Oakland victory in which Tenace was named the MVP.
“To our loyal fans, I dedicate the 1972 World Series.”
His final 7 seasons were in the NL, including the 1982 champion Cardinals
His final 7 seasons were in the NL, including the 1982 champion Cardinals
After 8 seasons with Charlie Finley’s Oakland Athletics, Tenace signed with the Padres as a free agent in December of 1976. He enjoyed four productive seasons in San Diego.
In his first year in America’s Finest City Tenace drew a career-high and league-leading 125 walks. He was also hit by pitch 13 times – both a career and league best.
The following season in ’78 he passed the century mark in walks for the fourth time. His 5.2 WAR matched his career high set in his All Star season of 1975.
In ’79 Tenace put up a career-best 6.0 WAR. It was his seventh consecutive season with a WAR above 4.0. The San Diego catcher and first baseman recorded his sixth and final season with more than 100 walks.
In December of 1980 Tenace was part of an 11 player trade that sent him to St. Louis. In his second season with the Cardinals, Tenace returned to the World Series for the fourth time. St. Louis beat Milwaukee in 7 games as Tenace earned a fourth World Series ring.
Before the ’83 campaign Tenace signed a free-agent deal with the Pirates. He concluded his 15-year career with 53 games in Pittsburgh in ’83. The Pirates released him the following spring.
Tenace’s overall numbers include 998 walks and more than 1,000 hits. His 8 years in the AL included 3 championships with the A’s and three seasons with more than 100 walks. In 7 seasons in the Senior Circuit, Tenace boasted a .404 on-base percentage and a 4th World Series ring.
In the collection is this 1973 Topps card autographed by Gene Tenace. The card shows the A’s catcher at bat in Game 4 of the 1972 World Series. In that game Tenace went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and one RBI.
His key at bat came in the 9th inning with his team down 2-1. Tenace slapped a one-out single to left. Two batters later he came around to score the winning run in the A’s 3-2 walk-off victory.
