Tony Cloninger

Tony Cloninger was a professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball from 1961 to 1972. Born in 1940, Cloninger made his debut with the Milwaukee Braves and later played for the Atlanta Braves and the San Francisco Giants. Over his career, he achieved a win-loss record of 113-97 and posted an earned run average (ERA) of 4.07. Cloninger was known for his durability and competitiveness on the mound, accumulating a total of 1,120 strikeouts and securing 6 saves during his time in the league. Cloninger's career unfolded during a transformative period in baseball, marked by the transition from the deadball era to a more offense-oriented game. He was particularly notable for his contributions to the Braves during the 1960s, and he remains one of the few pitchers in MLB history to hit two grand slams in a single game, showcasing his unique dual-threat ability as both a pitcher and a hitter. His legacy in the game is characterized by his skillful pitching and his place in the history of the Braves franchise.