Tony Armas
Outfielder · Career Stats, Bio & Records (1976-1989)
Tony Armas was an outfielder who played in Major League Baseball from 1976 to 1989 for 4 teams, including the Pittsburgh Pirates, a span of 14 seasons. In 1,432 career games, he hit .252 with 1,302 hits, 251 home runs, and 815 RBI. Tony Armas was a 2-time All-Star and a Silver Slugger. His career PIV — Baseball Data Hub's era-adjusted measure of offensive impact — is 2,270.
- AVG (Batting Average):
- Hits divided by at bats. .300 is the traditional mark of an excellent hitter.
- HR (Home Runs):
- Hits on which the batter circled the bases and scored, almost always by clearing the outfield fence.
- RBI (Runs Batted In):
- Runs that scored as a direct result of a batter's plate appearance.
- OPS (On-Base Plus Slugging):
- On-base percentage plus slugging percentage, the quickest single summary of offensive value. .900 or better is star-level.
Data updated
- Position
- Outfielder
- Bats / Throws
- R / R
- Height / Weight
- 5'11" / 182 lb
- MLB Debut
- 1976-09-06
- Last Game
- 1989-10-01
- Awards
- 2× All-Star · Silver Slugger
Full name: Antonio Rafael Armas
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,432 | 5,164 | 614 | 1,302 | 204 | 39 | 251 | 815 | 18 | 260 | 1,201 | .252 | .287 | .453 | .740 | 2,270 |
Career AVG .252 vs. league average .260 across their career seasons — near league average.
Career OBP .287 vs. league average .324 across their career seasons — 11.4% below league average.
Career SLG .453 vs. league average .387 across their career seasons — +16.9% above league average.
Career OPS .740 vs. league average .712 across their career seasons — near league average.
Season-by-Season Batting
Click a stat to plot it across every season.
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | Lg AVG | Lg OBP | Lg SLG | Lg OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | PIT | NL | 4 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .333 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1977 | OAK | AL | 118 | 363 | 26 | 87 | 8 | 2 | 13 | 53 | 1 | 20 | 99 | .240 | .264 (-9%) | .329 (-17%) | .401 (-5%) | .730 (-10%) | -733.8 |
| 1978 | OAK | AL | 91 | 239 | 17 | 51 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 1 | 10 | 62 | .213 | .257 (-17%) | .323 (-23%) | .378 (-28%) | .702 (-26%) | -965.8 |
| 1979 | OAK | AL | 80 | 278 | 29 | 69 | 9 | 3 | 11 | 34 | 1 | 16 | 67 | .248 | .265 (-7%) | .329 (-12%) | .397 (+6%) | .727 (-2%) | -179.2 |
| 1980 | OAK | AL | 158 | 628 | 87 | 175 | 18 | 8 | 35 | 109 | 5 | 29 | 128 | .279 | .264 (+5%) | .326 (-5%) | .387 (+29%) | .714 (+13%) | 1392.2 |
| 1981 | OAK | AL | 109 | 440 | 51 | 115 | 24 | 3 | 22 | 76 | 5 | 19 | 115 | .261 | .255 (+2%) | .320 (-8%) | .368 (+30%) | .688 (+12%) | 762.8 |
| 1982 | OAK | AL | 138 | 536 | 58 | 125 | 19 | 2 | 28 | 89 | 2 | 33 | 128 | .233 | .261 (-11%) | .324 (-15%) | .388 (+11%) | .712 (-1%) | -264.2 |
| 1983 | BOS | AL | 145 | 574 | 77 | 125 | 23 | 2 | 36 | 107 | 0 | 29 | 131 | .218 | .260 (-17%) | .324 (-22%) | .389 (+16%) | .714 (-1%) | -380.4 |
| 1984 | BOS | AL | 157 | 639 | 107 | 171 | 29 | 5 | 43 | 123 | 1 | 32 | 156 | .268 | .259 (+3%) | .322 (-7%) | .384 (+38%) | .707 (+17%) | 1805.0 |
| 1985 | BOS | AL | 103 | 385 | 50 | 102 | 17 | 5 | 23 | 64 | 0 | 18 | 90 | .265 | .257 (+3%) | .323 (-8%) | .390 (+32%) | .714 (+14%) | 736.3 |
| 1986 | BOS | AL | 121 | 425 | 40 | 112 | 21 | 4 | 11 | 58 | 0 | 24 | 77 | .264 | .257 (+2%) | .325 (-7%) | .395 (+4%) | .720 (-1%) | -157.0 |
| 1987 | CAL | AL | 28 | 81 | 8 | 16 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 11 | .198 | .262 (-25%) | .331 (-38%) | .415 (-11%) | .746 (-23%) | -346.0 |
| 1988 | CAL | AL | 120 | 368 | 42 | 100 | 20 | 2 | 13 | 49 | 1 | 22 | 87 | .272 | .254 (+7%) | .317 (-2%) | .377 (+17%) | .695 (+8%) | 461.5 |
| 1989 | CAL | AL | 60 | 202 | 22 | 52 | 7 | 1 | 11 | 30 | 0 | 7 | 48 | .257 | .254 (+1%) | .319 (-13%) | .375 (+24%) | .694 (+7%) | 139.0 |
| Career · 14 seasons | 1,432 | 5,164 | 614 | 1,302 | 204 | 39 | 251 | 815 | 18 | 260 | 1,201 | .252 | — | — | — | — | 2,270 | ||
Lg columns show the league average for that season, with the player's figure as a percentage above or below it. Career totals the seasons listed above.
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
Playoff Batting by Year
Game Log & Splits
View full game log (1432 games) →Per-game data from Retrosheet (regular season, through 2025).
Batting — Home / Away
| Split | G | AB | R | H | HR | RBI | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 737 | 2601 | 298 | 650 | 120 | 433 | .250 |
| Away | 695 | 2563 | 316 | 652 | 131 | 382 | .254 |
Last 10 Games — Batting
| Date | Tm | Opp | Res | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989-10-01 | LAA | TEX | W | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1989-09-23 | LAA | CLE | L | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1989-09-21 | LAA | CLE | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1989-09-20 | LAA | MIN | W | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 1989-09-18 | LAA | MIN | W | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| 1989-09-15 | LAA | CHW | W | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 1989-09-13 | LAA | NYY | W | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1989-09-08 | LAA | BOS | W | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1989-09-04 | LAA | NYY | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1989-09-02 | LAA | NYY | L | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| OF | 1306 | 1236 | 3091 | 78 | 60 | 17 |
| SS | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | PIT | OF | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1977 | OAK | OF | 112 | 103 | 294 | 9 | 6 | 4 |
| 1977 | OAK | SS | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1978 | OAK | OF | 85 | 62 | 214 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| 1979 | OAK | OF | 80 | 78 | 194 | 7 | 5 | 2 |
| 1980 | OAK | OF | 158 | 157 | 374 | 17 | 10 | 2 |
| 1981 | OAK | OF | 109 | 109 | 259 | 8 | 2 | 2 |
| 1982 | OAK | OF | 135 | 134 | 333 | 9 | 6 | 2 |
| 1983 | BOS | OF | 116 | 116 | 326 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1984 | BOS | OF | 126 | 126 | 329 | 4 | 9 | 2 |
| 1985 | BOS | OF | 79 | 79 | 173 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| 1986 | BOS | OF | 117 | 116 | 247 | 4 | 8 | 0 |
| 1987 | CAL | OF | 27 | 19 | 36 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1988 | CAL | OF | 113 | 91 | 212 | 5 | 3 | 1 |
| 1989 | CAL | 1B | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 1989 | CAL | OF | 47 | 45 | 97 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
Career Games by Position
Circle size = games played at each position.
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 2 |
| Left Field | 123 |
| Center Field | 618 |
| Right Field | 623 |
| Designated Hitter | 94 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Player of the Week | Week of 1985-05-10 |
| 1985 | Player of the Week | Week of 1985-08-30 |
| 1984 | Player of the Month | June |
| 1984 | Silver Slugger | OF |
| 1984 | TSN All-Star | OF |
| 1983 | Player of the Week | Week of 1983-06-03 |
| 1981 | Player of the Week | Week of 1981-04-10 |
| 1981 | Player of the Week | Week of 1981-04-17 |
| 1981 | TSN All-Star | OF |
| 1981 | TSN Player of the Year |
Salary History
Tony Armas's recorded salaries total $2,602,500 over 5 seasons, 1985 to 1989. This total is partial: the salary data covers 1985 to 2016, and Armas's career ran from 1976 to 1989. His seasons before 1985 are not included.
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | CAL | AL | $525,000 |
| 1988 | CAL | AL | $100,000 |
| 1987 | CAL | AL | $62,500 |
| 1986 | BOS | AL | $1,000,000 |
| 1985 | BOS | AL | $915,000 |
| Total recorded salary (partial) | $2,602,500 | ||
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 7th | 87.0 | 392 | 0 |
| 1981 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 4th | 139.0 | 392 | 1 |
| 1980 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 12th | 29.0 | 392 | 0 |
Most Similar Players
Career comps based on counting + rate stats and primary position. Score is relative — closest peer anchors at ~98%.
Tony Armas (highlighted) compared to peers across the same era.
Tony Armas: the record in brief
Between the debut on September 6, 1976 and the final game on October 1, 1989, Tony Armas built the record summarized on this page. By club, Armas's seasons break down as the Pittsburgh Pirates (1976), the Oakland Athletics (1977 through 1982), the Boston Red Sox (1983 to 1986), and the California Angels (1987 to 1989). Listed as an outfielder, Armas threw and hit right-handed. Height and weight on file: 182 pounds on a 5-foot-11 frame. Armas was born on July 2, 1953, in Puerto Piritu, Anzoátegui, Venezuela. Armas's full given name, per the bio, is Antonio Rafael Armas.
In 1,432 games and 5,164 at bats, Armas batted .252 with 1,302 hits, plus 251 home runs and 815 RBI. On-base and slugging figures of .287 and .453 give Armas a career OPS of .740. Armas hit .252 while the league hit .260 over the same span, a figure close to average. No season beat the 43 home runs Armas hit in 1984. Armas collected a career-high 175 hits in 1980.
Frequently Asked Questions about Tony Armas
- What years did Tony Armas play?
- Tony Armas played in Major League Baseball from 1976 to 1989.
- Was Tony Armas a pitcher?
- No. Tony Armas was a position player (Outfielder).
- How many home runs did Tony Armas hit?
- Tony Armas hit 251 career home runs with 1,302 hits.
- What teams did Tony Armas play for?
- Tony Armas played for 4 teams: the Pittsburgh Pirates (1976), the Oakland Athletics (1977–1982), the Boston Red Sox (1983–1986), and the California Angels (1987–1989).
- Did Tony Armas win an MVP award?
- No. Tony Armas did not win the MVP award.
- What awards did Tony Armas win?
- Tony Armas won the Silver Slugger award (1984). He was selected to 2 All-Star Games.
- What were Tony Armas's career stats?
- In 1,432 games, Tony Armas had 1,302 hits, 251 home runs, 815 RBI, 614 runs, and 18 stolen bases, with a .252 batting average.
- How much did Tony Armas earn in his career?
- Tony Armas's recorded salaries total $2,602,500 over 5 seasons, 1985 to 1989. This total is partial: the salary data covers 1985 to 2016, and Armas's career ran from 1976 to 1989. His seasons before 1985 are not included.
- What was Tony Armas's salary?
- Tony Armas's last recorded salary was $525,000, in 1989. His highest recorded salary was $1,000,000, in 1986, and his lowest was $62,500, in 1987. The Salary History table lists each season from 1985 to 1989.
- What position did Tony Armas play?
- Tony Armas played primarily as an outfielder, the position where he appeared in the most games.
- How tall was Tony Armas and how much did he weigh?
- Tony Armas was listed at 5 feet 11 inches and 182 pounds.
- How many home runs did Tony Armas hit each season?
- Tony Armas's home runs by season: 0 in 1976, 13 in 1977, 2 in 1978, 11 in 1979, 35 in 1980, 22 in 1981, 28 in 1982, 36 in 1983, 43 in 1984, 23 in 1985, 11 in 1986, 3 in 1987, 13 in 1988, and 11 in 1989. His most in one season was 43, in 1984.
- What was Tony Armas's career batting average?
- Tony Armas batted .252 over his career, with 1,302 hits in 5,164 at bats.
- How many RBI did Tony Armas have?
- Tony Armas drove in 815 runs in his career.