Tony Perez
| Birthdate | 5/14/1942 |
| Death Date | |
| Debut Year | 1964 |
| Year of Induction | 2000 |
| Teams | Expos, Phillies, Red Sox, Reds |
| Positions | First Base, Third Base |
The Most Valuable Player of the 1967 All Star game, Tony Perez was a seven-time All Star, and the 1980 Lou Gehrig Memorial Award recipient.
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Tony Perez hit .435 with a .500 on-base percentage in the 1972 World Series
Tony Perez hit .435 with a .500 on-base percentage in the 1972 World Series
Tony Perez was a vital cog in the Big Red Machine of the 1970s. He helped Cincinnati reach the postseason in five of the first seven years of the 1970s. He also played into October with the 1983 Phillies.
Perez’s finest performance in a postseason series came in the ’72 World Series. Against the Oakland A’s Perez went 10-for-28 with a pair of doubles and four walks. His on-base percentage was a team-leading .500 while his slugging percentage was a robust .522.
The A’s beat the Reds in a thrilling tilt. Six of the seven games were decided to by one. If Cincinnati had found a way to win just one more it’s likely Perez would’ve been the Series MVP. Instead the honor went to Oakland’s Gene Tenace.
Shown here is a letter from baseball commissioner Bowie Kuhn. The game’s head man writes about the virtues of the 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.”
The Hall of Fame executive later writes of the 1971 seven-game thriller. His final sentence alludes to the Fall Classic that Perez dominated.
“To our loyal fans, I dedicate the 1972 World Series.”
In 1985 Tony Perez became the oldest player to hit a grand slam; his mark has since been broken
In 1985 Tony Perez became the oldest player to hit a grand slam; his mark has since been broken
Tony Perez hit 379 career home runs. One of the most memorable was long ball #372. It was a pinch hit grand slam that broke a 3-3 tie and put the Reds ahead to stay. The homer also made the 42-year old Perez the oldest player ever to hit a grand slam in a major league game.
The record-breaking clout came on May 13, 1985 at Cincinnati’s Riverfront Stadium off of Phillies pitcher Dave Rucker. Perez kept the record for nearly 20 years until Julio Franco broke it on June 3, 2004.
Shown here is a 1985 Topps Record Breaker Card highlighting Perez’s accomplishment. The slugger has added his signature across it.
During his 23-year MLB career, Perez climbed the all-timer leaderboard
During his 23-year MLB career, Perez climbed the all-timer leaderboard
Tony Perez spent 23 years in the big leagues on his way to a Hall of Fame career. His numbers are impressive. The two-time World Series champ finished with 2,732 hits, 505 doubles, 379 homers, and 1,652 RBI.
One of the players who passed him on the hits and doubles list is Brewers Hall of Famer Robin Yount. This lineup card is from May 17, 1991 in a game featuring the Yount’s Milwaukee Brewers. The Brew Crew’s skipper Tom Trebelhorn has autographed the bottom of the card.
Yount is penned in the cleanup spot as the centerfielder. The two-time MVP went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored. The two-base hit was the 506th of Yount’s career, passing Perez. Yount moved into a tie on the career doubles list with Yankee legend Babe Ruth.
Tony Perez worked for the Florida Marlins front office and later as their manager for one season
Tony Perez worked for the Florida Marlins front office and later as their manager for one season
As a member of the Florida Marlins’ front office, Tony Perez routinely traveled with the club. This picture was taken on August 11, 1998 when the Marlins beat the Dodgers 8-6 for one of their 54 wins in the 108-loss season.
Three years later, Perez took over as the Florida skipper and helped them to a 54-60 record. Perez piloted the Reds eight years earlier for the first 44 games of the 1993 season.
For his career, Perez’s teams posted a 74-84 win-loss record.
Tony Perez reached Cooperstown in 2000 after nine years on the ballot
Tony Perez reached Cooperstown in 2000 after nine years on the ballot
It’s only fitting that Tony Perez signed this Hall of Fame stationary in red after spending each of his seven All Star campaigns in Cincinnati. Driving in 90 or more runs in twelve seasons, Perez tallied seven years with at least 100 RBI. During the 1970s, only teammate Johnny Bench totaled more than Perez’ 954 RBI during the decade.
Despite impressive career numbers, Perez had to wait until his ninth year of eligibility to reach the Hall of Fame. with 77.2% of the vote, Perez became the first Cuban-born player voted in by the BBWAA in 2000.
