Tony Peña
Catcher · Career Stats, Bio & Records (1980-1997)
Tony Peña was a catcher who played in Major League Baseball from 1980 to 1997 for 6 teams, including the Pittsburgh Pirates, a span of 18 seasons. In 1,988 career games, he hit .260 with 1,687 hits, 107 home runs, and 708 RBI. Tony Peña was a 5-time All-Star and a 4-time Gold Glove.
- 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
- Catcher
- Bats / Throws
- R / R
- Height / Weight
- 6'0" / 175 lb
- MLB Debut
- 1980-09-01
- Last Game
- 1997-09-28
- Awards
- 5× All-Star · 4× Gold Glove
Full name: Antonio Francesco Peña
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,988 | 6,489 | 667 | 1,687 | 298 | 27 | 107 | 708 | 80 | 455 | 846 | .260 | .309 | .364 | .673 | -6,029 |
Career AVG .260 vs. league average .261 across their career seasons — near league average.
Career OBP .309 vs. league average .328 across their career seasons — 5.6% below league average.
Career SLG .364 vs. league average .396 across their career seasons — 8.0% below league average.
Career OPS .673 vs. league average .723 across their career seasons — 7.0% below 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | PIT | NL | 8 | 21 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | .429 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1981 | PIT | NL | 66 | 210 | 16 | 63 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 17 | 1 | 8 | 23 | .300 | .255 (+17%) | .320 (+2%) | .368 (+3%) | .688 (+3%) | 54.1 |
| 1982 | PIT | NL | 138 | 497 | 53 | 147 | 28 | 4 | 11 | 63 | 2 | 17 | 57 | .296 | .261 (+13%) | .324 (avg) | .388 (+12%) | .712 (+6%) | 471.8 |
| 1983 | PIT | NL | 151 | 542 | 51 | 163 | 22 | 3 | 15 | 70 | 6 | 31 | 73 | .301 | .260 (+15%) | .324 (+4%) | .389 (+12%) | .714 (+8%) | 838.2 |
| 1984 | PIT | NL | 147 | 546 | 77 | 156 | 27 | 2 | 15 | 78 | 12 | 36 | 79 | .286 | .259 (+10%) | .322 (+3%) | .384 (+10%) | .707 (+7%) | 736.2 |
| 1985 | PIT | NL | 147 | 546 | 53 | 136 | 27 | 2 | 10 | 59 | 12 | 29 | 67 | .249 | .257 (-3%) | .323 (-12%) | .390 (-8%) | .714 (-10%) | -941.5 |
| 1986 | PIT | NL | 144 | 510 | 56 | 147 | 26 | 2 | 10 | 52 | 9 | 53 | 69 | .288 | .257 (+12%) | .325 (+9%) | .395 (+3%) | .720 (+6%) | 683.3 |
| 1987 | SLN | NL | 116 | 384 | 40 | 82 | 13 | 4 | 5 | 44 | 6 | 36 | 54 | .214 | .262 (-19%) | .331 (-15%) | .415 (-26%) | .746 (-21%) | -1336.8 |
| 1988 | SLN | NL | 149 | 505 | 55 | 133 | 23 | 1 | 10 | 51 | 6 | 33 | 60 | .263 | .254 (+4%) | .317 (-3%) | .377 (-1%) | .695 (-2%) | -222.0 |
| 1989 | SLN | NL | 141 | 424 | 36 | 110 | 17 | 2 | 4 | 37 | 5 | 35 | 33 | .259 | .254 (+2%) | .319 (avg) | .375 (-10%) | .694 (-6%) | -326.6 |
| 1990 | BOS | AL | 143 | 491 | 62 | 129 | 19 | 1 | 7 | 56 | 8 | 43 | 71 | .263 | .257 (+2%) | .324 (-1%) | .385 (-10%) | .710 (-6%) | -395.7 |
| 1991 | BOS | AL | 141 | 464 | 45 | 107 | 23 | 2 | 5 | 48 | 8 | 37 | 53 | .231 | .255 (-10%) | .323 (-10%) | .384 (-17%) | .708 (-13%) | -988.4 |
| 1992 | BOS | AL | 133 | 410 | 39 | 99 | 21 | 1 | 1 | 38 | 3 | 24 | 61 | .241 | .255 (-6%) | .322 (-12%) | .377 (-19%) | .699 (-16%) | -1032.5 |
| 1993 | BOS | AL | 126 | 304 | 20 | 55 | 11 | 0 | 4 | 19 | 1 | 25 | 46 | .181 | .265 (-32%) | .332 (-26%) | .403 (-36%) | .735 (-32%) | -1583.3 |
| 1994 | CLE | AL | 40 | 112 | 18 | 33 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 0 | 9 | 11 | .295 | .269 (+9%) | .338 (+1%) | .424 (+3%) | .763 (+2%) | 16.6 |
| 1995 | CLE | AL | 91 | 263 | 25 | 69 | 15 | 0 | 5 | 28 | 1 | 14 | 44 | .262 | .266 (-2%) | .337 (-11%) | .417 (-10%) | .755 (-10%) | -460.8 |
| 1996 | CLE | AL | 67 | 174 | 14 | 34 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 27 | 0 | 15 | 25 | .195 | .269 (-28%) | .340 (-25%) | .426 (-45%) | .767 (-36%) | -1065.5 |
| 1997 | CHA | AL | 31 | 67 | 4 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 13 | .164 | .266 (-38%) | .336 (-26%) | .419 (-57%) | .756 (-43%) | -476.0 |
| 1997 | HOU | NL | 9 | 19 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | .211 | — | — | — | — | -476.0 |
| Career · 19 seasons | 1,988 | 6,489 | 667 | 1,687 | 298 | 27 | 107 | 708 | 80 | 455 | 846 | .260 | — | — | — | — | -6,505 | ||
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
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | NLDS2 | HOU | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| 1996 | ALDS1 | CLE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| 1995 | ALCS | CLE | 4 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .333 |
| 1995 | ALDS1 | CLE | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .500 |
| 1995 | WS | CLE | 2 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .167 |
| 1990 | ALCS | BOS | 4 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .214 |
| 1987 | NLCS | SLN | 7 | 21 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | .381 |
| 1987 | WS | SLN | 7 | 22 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 2 | .409 |
Game Log & Splits
View full game log (1988 games) →Per-game data from Retrosheet (regular season, through 2025).
Batting — Home / Away
| Split | G | AB | R | H | HR | RBI | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 1004 | 3178 | 343 | 821 | 46 | 329 | .258 |
| Away | 984 | 3311 | 324 | 866 | 61 | 379 | .262 |
Last 10 Games — Batting
| Date | Tm | Opp | Res | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997-09-28 | HOU | PIT | L | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1997-09-27 | HOU | PIT | W | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1997-09-26 | HOU | PIT | W | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1997-09-22 | HOU | CIN | W | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1997-09-16 | HOU | SDP | W | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1997-09-05 | HOU | SFG | L | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1997-08-31 | HOU | CHW | L | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1997-08-26 | HOU | ATL | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1997-08-17 | HOU | PHI | W | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1997-08-13 | CHW | LAA | W | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 13 | 4 | 45 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| C | 1950 | 1779 | 11212 | 1045 | 117 | 156 |
| OF | 3 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | PIT | C | 6 | 5 | 38 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 1981 | PIT | C | 64 | 54 | 286 | 41 | 5 | 10 |
| 1982 | PIT | C | 137 | 127 | 763 | 89 | 16 | 6 |
| 1983 | PIT | C | 149 | 144 | 976 | 90 | 9 | 9 |
| 1984 | PIT | C | 146 | 139 | 895 | 95 | 9 | 15 |
| 1985 | PIT | 1B | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1985 | PIT | C | 146 | 141 | 922 | 100 | 12 | 9 |
| 1986 | PIT | 1B | 4 | 2 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1986 | PIT | C | 139 | 133 | 810 | 99 | 18 | 13 |
| 1987 | SLN | 1B | 4 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1987 | SLN | C | 112 | 103 | 615 | 51 | 8 | 8 |
| 1987 | SLN | OF | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1988 | SLN | 1B | 3 | 2 | 19 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 1988 | SLN | C | 142 | 133 | 777 | 70 | 5 | 8 |
| 1989 | SLN | C | 134 | 125 | 674 | 70 | 2 | 13 |
| 1989 | SLN | OF | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1990 | BOS | 1B | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1990 | BOS | C | 142 | 133 | 864 | 74 | 5 | 13 |
| 1991 | BOS | C | 140 | 132 | 864 | 60 | 5 | 15 |
| 1992 | BOS | C | 132 | 122 | 786 | 57 | 6 | 12 |
| 1993 | BOS | C | 125 | 102 | 698 | 53 | 4 | 8 |
| 1994 | CLE | C | 40 | 31 | 209 | 17 | 1 | 2 |
| 1995 | CLE | C | 91 | 78 | 508 | 36 | 7 | 6 |
| 1996 | CLE | C | 67 | 50 | 336 | 27 | 3 | 6 |
| 1997 | CHA | 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1997 | CHA | C | 30 | 21 | 143 | 8 | 0 | 2 |
| 1997 | HOU | C | 8 | 6 | 48 | 6 | 0 | 1 |
Career Games by Position
Circle size = games played at each position.
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Catcher | 1950 |
| First Base | 13 |
| Third Base | 1 |
| Right Field | 3 |
| Designated Hitter | 1 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Gold Glove | C |
| 1985 | Gold Glove | C |
| 1984 | Gold Glove | C |
| 1983 | Gold Glove | C |
| 1983 | TSN All-Star | C |
| 1982 | Player of the Week | Week of 1982-07-02 |
Salary History
Tony Peña's recorded salaries total $16,270,499 over 13 seasons, 1985 to 1997. This total is partial: the salary data covers 1985 to 2016, and Peña's career ran from 1980 to 1997. His seasons before 1985 are not included.
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | CHA | AL | $425,000 |
| 1996 | CLE | AL | $558,333 |
| 1995 | CLE | AL | $516,666 |
| 1994 | CLE | AL | $400,000 |
| 1993 | BOS | AL | $2,200,000 |
| 1992 | BOS | AL | $2,400,000 |
| 1991 | BOS | AL | $2,300,000 |
| 1990 | BOS | AL | $1,700,000 |
| 1989 | SLN | NL | $1,220,000 |
| 1988 | SLN | NL | $1,100,000 |
| 1987 | SLN | NL | $1,150,500 |
| 1986 | PIT | NL | $1,225,000 |
| 1985 | PIT | NL | $1,075,000 |
| Total recorded salary (partial) | $16,270,499 | ||
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 21th | 6.0 | 392 | 0 |
| 1983 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 12th | 25.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1981 | Rookie of the Year | NL | 6th | 4.0 | 120 | 0 |
Most Similar Players
Career comps based on counting + rate stats and primary position. Score is relative — closest peer anchors at ~98%.
Tony Peña (highlighted) compared to peers across the same era.
Tony Peña: the record in brief
September 1, 1980 and September 28, 1997 bracket Tony Peña's time in the majors: the debut and the last game on record. By club, Peña's seasons break down as the Pittsburgh Pirates (1980 to 1986), the St. Louis Cardinals (1987 to 1989), the Boston Red Sox (1990 to 1993), the Cleveland Indians (1994 to 1996), the Chicago White Sox (1997), and the Houston Astros (1997). Peña played primarily as a catcher and batted and threw right-handed. The bio adds a birth date on June 4, 1957, in Monte Cristi, Monte Cristi, D.R. and a listed size of 6-foot-0 and 175 pounds. Peña's full given name, per the bio, is Antonio Francesco Peña.
Across 1,988 games at the plate, Peña's career line reads 1,687 hits in 6,489 at bats for a .260 average; the totals also include 107 home runs, 708 RBI, and 80 stolen bases. Peña got on base at a .309 rate and slugged .364 (.673 OPS). Against a .261 league average for those years, Peña's .260 average was near the norm.
Frequently Asked Questions about Tony Peña
- What years did Tony Peña play?
- Tony Peña played in Major League Baseball from 1980 to 1997.
- Was Tony Peña a pitcher?
- No. Tony Peña was a position player (Catcher).
- How many home runs did Tony Peña hit?
- Tony Peña hit 107 career home runs with 1,687 hits.
- What teams did Tony Peña play for?
- Tony Peña played for 6 teams: the Pittsburgh Pirates (1980–1986), the St. Louis Cardinals (1987–1989), the Boston Red Sox (1990–1993), the Cleveland Indians (1994–1996), the Chicago White Sox (1997), and the Houston Astros (1997).
- Did Tony Peña win an MVP award?
- No. Tony Peña did not win the MVP award.
- What awards did Tony Peña win?
- Tony Peña won 4 Gold Gloves (1983, 1984, 1985, and 1991). He was selected to 5 All-Star Games.
- What were Tony Peña's career stats?
- In 1,988 games, Tony Peña had 1,687 hits, 107 home runs, 708 RBI, 667 runs, and 80 stolen bases, with a .260 batting average.
- How much did Tony Peña earn in his career?
- Tony Peña's recorded salaries total $16,270,499 over 13 seasons, 1985 to 1997. This total is partial: the salary data covers 1985 to 2016, and Peña's career ran from 1980 to 1997. His seasons before 1985 are not included.
- What was Tony Peña's salary?
- Tony Peña's last recorded salary was $425,000, in 1997. His highest recorded salary was $2,400,000, in 1992, and his lowest was $400,000, in 1994. The Salary History table lists each season from 1985 to 1997.
- What position did Tony Peña play?
- Tony Peña played primarily as a catcher, the position where he appeared in the most games.
- How tall was Tony Peña and how much did he weigh?
- Tony Peña was listed at 6 feet and 175 pounds.
- How many home runs did Tony Peña hit each season?
- Tony Peña's home runs by season: 0 in 1980, 2 in 1981, 11 in 1982, 15 in 1983, 15 in 1984, 10 in 1985, 10 in 1986, 5 in 1987, 10 in 1988, 4 in 1989, 7 in 1990, 5 in 1991, 1 in 1992, 4 in 1993, 2 in 1994, 5 in 1995, 1 in 1996, and 0 in 1997. His most in one season was 15, in 1983 and 1984.
- What was Tony Peña's career batting average?
- Tony Peña batted .260 over his career, with 1,687 hits in 6,489 at bats.
- How many RBI did Tony Peña have?
- Tony Peña drove in 708 runs in his career.