Tony Armas: Difference between revisions

Tony Armas
Tony Armas
	Outfielder
	Born: July 2, 1953 (age 70); Puerto Piritu, Venezuela
	Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
	September 6, 1976, for the Pittsburgh Pirates
Last MLB appearance
	October 1, 1989, for the California Angels
MLB statistics
Batting average	.252
Home runs	251
Runs batted in	815
Teams
	Pittsburgh Pirates (1976); Oakland Athletics (1977–1982); Boston Red Sox (1983–1986); California Angels (1987–1989);
Career highlights and awards
	2× All-Star (1981, 1984); Silver Slugger Award (1984); 2× AL home run leader (1981, 1984); AL RBI leader (1984);
Member of the Venezuelan
Baseball Hall of Fame
Induction	2005

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Antonio Rafael Armas Machado (born July 2, 1953) is a Venezuelan former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as an outfielder from 1976 to 1989. He is the father of pitcher Tony Armas Jr. and the older brother of outfielder Marcos Armas.

Armas was one of the top power hitters in the American League in the early 1980s. Twice he led the American League in home runs, and topped all of Major League Baseball in runs batted in during the 1984 season. Armas was prone to injuries and went on the disabled list twelve times during his major league career, missing 302 games.

Career[edit]

Pittsburgh Pirates[edit]

Armas debuted with the Pittsburgh Pirates' Gulf Coast League affiliate in 1971 just shy of his eighteenth birthday. He spent six seasons in their farm system, batting .270 with 69 home runs when he received a September call-up in 1976. He appeared in four games for the Pirates, and collected two hits in six at-bats.

During spring training in 1977, Armas, Doug Bair, Dave Giusti, Rick Langford, Doc Medich and Mitchell Page were dealt to the Oakland Athletics in exchange for Chris Batton, Phil Garner and Tommy Helms.^[1]

Oakland A's[edit]

Armas was the opening day right fielder for the A's in 1977, though by the end of the season, he was starting in center and saw most of his action there. Armas' inability to stay healthy limited him to just 91 games in 1978 and 80 in 1979. For 1980, Armas became a full-time right fielder, and finally played a full season, batting .279 with 35 home runs and 109 runs batted in in 158 games.

In the strike shortened 1981 season, Armas tied for the league lead in home runs (22) and games played (109) to be named the American League Player of the Year by The Sporting News. In 1982 he set a pair of major league records with eleven putouts and twelve total chances in right field in a single game against the Toronto Blue Jays. Following the season he was traded, along with Jeff Newman, to the Boston Red Sox for Carney Lansford, Garry Hancock and minor leaguer Jerry King.

Boston Red Sox[edit]

In Boston, Armas became the center fielder, sharing the outfield with Jim Rice (LF) and Dwight Evans (RF). Although he was booed by fans for his low batting average (.218), he placed second in the AL with 36 home runs and seventh with 107 RBI.

Armas had a monster 1984, batting .268 and leading the AL with 43 home runs, 123 RBI, 77 extra-base hits, and 339 total bases. He was named to The Sporting News and UPI postseason AL All-Star teams, was Boston's co-MVP, and placed seventh in AL MVP balloting.

From 1980 to 1985, Armas hit more homers (187) than any other AL player. His next two seasons were ruined by recurring leg injuries and Boston's acquisition of Dave Henderson. Armas was released after batting just once in the 1986 World Series. In the following years, he became a valuable role player for the Angels, and he retired after the 1989 season.

Twice he finished in the top ten in AL Most Valuable Player award balloting (4th, 1981; 7th, 1984).

California Angels[edit]

Armas was signed as a free agent by the California Angels In July 1987, and played 3 seasons with them (1987–1989) to finish out his Major League career. For his career playing in 1,432 games over 14 seasons, Armas tallied 251 home runs, 614 runs, 204 doubles, 39 triples, 815 RBI, and 1,302 hits.

Family ties[edit]

Tony is one of 13 children, His younger brother, outfielder Marcos Armas, had a brief stint with the Athletics in the 1993 season, while his son Tony Jr. pitched from 1999 through 2008 for the Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals, Pittsburgh Pirates and New York Mets.

Coaching career[edit]

Armas is the current Batting coach for the Leones del Caracas a team in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League.

His playing career in Venezuela was a stellar one. He started playing with the Leones and later joined the Caribes de Oriente. His 97 career home runs were the Venezuelan professional baseball record, before another center fielder—Robert Pérez "the black wall" of Cardenales de Lara—set a new mark in 2007. In addition, Armas is fourth in the all-time list of RBI leaders, with 412.

In 2005, he earned induction into the Venezuelan Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum with 96% of the vote. He also was selected to the Caribbean Baseball Hall of Fame in 1998.

References[edit]

^ "Pirates, A's Swap 9 Players; Garner and Medich Key Men". The New York Times. Associated Press. March 17, 1977. Retrieved July 5, 2017.

External links[edit]

Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Tony Armas - Baseballbiography.com
The ESPN Baseball Encyclopedia – Gary Gillette, Peter Gammons, Pete Palmer. Publisher: Sterling Publishing, 2005. Format: Paperback, 1824pp. Language: English. ISBN 1-4027-4771-3

[1] "Pirates, A's Swap 9 Players; Garner and Medich Key Men". The New York Times. Associated Press. March 17, 1977. Retrieved July 5, 2017.

[1]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{short description|Venezuelan baseball player}}
-{{spanish name|Armas|Machado}}
+{{family name hatnote|Armas|Machado|lang=Spanish}}
 {{Infobox baseball biography
 |name=Tony Armas
+|image=1987 Mother's Cookies - Tony Armas.jpg
 |position=[[Outfielder]]
 |bats=Right
@@ Line 16: / Line 18: @@
 |finalteam=California Angels
 |statleague = MLB
-|stat1label=[[Batting average]]
+|stat1label=[[Batting average (baseball)|Batting average]]
 |stat1value=.252
 |stat2label=[[Home runs]]
@@ Line 23: / Line 25: @@
 |stat3value=815
 |teams=
-*[[Pittsburgh Pirates]] ({{Baseball year|1976}})
+*[[Pittsburgh Pirates]] ({{mlby|1976}})
-*[[Oakland Athletics]] ({{Baseball year|1977}}–{{Baseball year|1982}})
+*[[Oakland Athletics]] ({{mlby|1977}}–{{mlby|1982}})
-*[[Boston Red Sox]] ({{Baseball year|1983}}–{{Baseball year|1986}})
+*[[Boston Red Sox]] ({{mlby|1983}}–{{mlby|1986}})
-*[[California Angels]] ({{Baseball year|1987}}–{{Baseball year|1989}})
+*[[Los Angeles Angels|California Angels]] ({{mlby|1987}}–{{mlby|1989}})
 |highlights=
 * 2× [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] ([[1981 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1981]], [[1984 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1984]])
@@ Line 32: / Line 34: @@
 * 2× [[List of Major League Baseball annual home run leaders|AL home run leader]] (1981, 1984)
 * [[List of Major League Baseball annual runs batted in leaders|AL RBI leader]] (1984)
+|hofcolor = #ffd700
+|hoflink = Venezuelan Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
+|hoftype = Venezuelan
+|hofdate = [[Venezuelan Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum#2005|2005]]
+|hofvote =
+|hofmethod =
 }}
-'''Antonio Rafael Armas Machado''' (born July 2, 1953) is a [[Venezuela]]n former [[Professional baseball|professional]] [[baseball]] [[outfielder]] who played in [[Major League Baseball]]. He is the father of pitcher [[Tony Armas, Jr.]] and the older brother of outfielder [[Marcos Armas]].
+'''Antonio Rafael Armas Machado''' (born July 2, 1953) is a [[Venezuelans|Venezuelan]] former professional [[baseball]] player. He played in [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) as an [[outfielder]] from 1976 to 1989. He is the father of pitcher [[Tony Armas Jr.]] and the older brother of outfielder [[Marcos Armas]].
-Armas Sr. was one of the top sluggers in the [[American League]] in the early 1980s. Twice he led the [[American League]] in [[home runs]], and topped all of Major League Baseball in [[runs batted in]] during the {{baseball year|1984}} season. He was, however, prone to injuries that affected his career. In his major league career, Armas went to the [[disabled]] list twelve times, missing 302 games.
+Armas was one of the top power hitters in the [[American League]] in the early 1980s. Twice he led the [[American League]] in [[home runs]], and topped all of Major League Baseball in [[runs batted in]] during the {{baseball year|1984}} season. Armas was prone to injuries and went on the [[disabled]] list twelve times during his major league career, missing 302 games.
-==Pittsburgh Pirates==
+==Career==
+===Pittsburgh Pirates===
 Armas debuted with the [[Pittsburgh Pirates]]' [[Gulf Coast League]] affiliate in {{baseball year|1971}} just shy of his eighteenth birthday. He spent six seasons in their farm system, batting .270 with 69 home runs when he received a September call-up in {{baseball year|1976}}. He appeared in four games for the Pirates, and collected two [[hit (baseball)|hits]] in six at-bats.
-During [[spring training]] in {{baseball year|1977}}, Armas, [[Doug Bair]], [[Dave Giusti]], [[Rick Langford]], [[Doc Medich]] and [[Mitchell Page]] were dealt to the [[Oakland Athletics]] in exchange for [[Chris Batton]], [[Phil Garner]] and [[Tommy Helms]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/03/17/archives/pirates-as-swap-9-players-garner-and-medich-key-men.html |title=Pirates, A's Swap 9 Players; Garner and Medich Key Men |work=The New York Times |agency=Associated Press|date=March 17, 1977 |accessdate=July 5, 2017}}</ref>
+During [[spring training]] in {{baseball year|1977}}, Armas, [[Doug Bair]], [[Dave Giusti]], [[Rick Langford]], [[Doc Medich]] and [[Mitchell Page]] were dealt to the [[Oakland Athletics]] in exchange for [[Chris Batton]], [[Phil Garner]] and [[Tommy Helms]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/03/17/archives/pirates-as-swap-9-players-garner-and-medich-key-men.html |title=Pirates, A's Swap 9 Players; Garner and Medich Key Men |work=The New York Times |agency=Associated Press|date=March 17, 1977 |access-date=July 5, 2017}}</ref>
-==Oakland A's==
+===Oakland A's===
 Armas was the opening day [[right fielder]] for the A's in 1977, though by the end of the season, he was starting in center and saw most of his action there. Armas' inability to stay healthy limited him to just 91 games in {{baseball year|1978}} and 80 in {{baseball year|1979}}. For {{baseball year|1980}}, Armas became a full-time right fielder, and finally played a full season, batting .279 with 35 home runs and 109 [[runs batted in]] in 158 games.
 In the [[1981 Major League Baseball strike|strike]] shortened {{baseball year|1981}} season, Armas tied for the league lead in home runs (22) and games played (109) to be named the ''American League Player of the Year'' by ''[[The Sporting News]]''. In {{Baseball year|1982}} he set a pair of major league records with eleven [[putout]]s and twelve [[total chances]] in right field in a single game against the [[Toronto Blue Jays]]. Following the season he was traded, along with [[Jeff Newman (baseball)|Jeff Newman]], to the [[Boston Red Sox]] for [[Carney Lansford]], [[Garry Hancock]] and minor leaguer Jerry King.
-==Boston Red Sox==
+===Boston Red Sox===
-In Boston, Armas became the [[center fielder]], sharing the outfield with [[Jim Rice]] ([[Left fielder|LF]]) and [[Dwight Evans]] ([[Right fielder|RF]]). Although he was booed by fans for his low batting average (.218), he placed second in the AL with 36 home runs and seventh with 107 RBI.
+In Boston, Armas became the [[center fielder]], sharing the outfield with [[Jim Rice]] ([[Left fielder|LF]]) and [[Dwight Evans (Baseball)|Dwight Evans]] ([[Right fielder|RF]]). Although he was booed by fans for his low batting average (.218), he placed second in the AL with 36 home runs and seventh with 107 RBI.
-Armas had a monster {{Baseball year|1984}}, batting .268 and leading the AL with 43 HR, 123 RBI, 77 [[extra base hit|extra-base hits]], and 339 [[total bases]]. He was named to ''The Sporting News'' and [[UPI]] postseason AL All-Star teams, was Boston's co-[[Most Valuable Player|MVP]], and placed seventh in AL MVP balloting.
+Armas had a monster {{Baseball year|1984}}, batting .268 and leading the AL with 43 home runs, 123 RBI, 77 [[extra base hit|extra-base hits]], and 339 [[total bases]]. He was named to ''The Sporting News'' and [[UPI]] postseason AL All-Star teams, was Boston's co-[[Most Valuable Player|MVP]], and placed seventh in AL MVP balloting.
 From 1980 to {{Baseball year|1985}}, Armas hit more homers (187) than any other AL player. His next two seasons were ruined by recurring leg injuries and Boston's acquisition of [[Dave Henderson]]. Armas was released after batting just once in the [[1986 World Series]]. In the following years, he became a valuable role player for the Angels, and he retired after the {{Baseball year|1989}} season.
@@ Line 56: / Line 66: @@
 Twice he finished in the top ten in AL Most Valuable Player award balloting (4th, 1981; 7th, 1984).
-==California Angels==
+===California Angels===
-Armas was signed as a free agent by the California Angels In July 1987, and played 3 season with them (1987-1989) to finish out his Major League career. For his career, Armas tallied 251 home runs, 204 doubles, 39 triples, and 1,302 hits.
+Armas was signed as a free agent by the California Angels In July 1987, and played 3 seasons with them (1987–1989) to finish out his Major League career. For his career playing in 1,432 games over 14 seasons, Armas tallied 251 home runs, 614 runs, 204 doubles, 39 triples, 815 RBI, and 1,302 hits.
 ==Family ties==
-Tony is one of 13 children, His younger brother, outfielder [[Marcos Armas]], had a brief stint with the Athletics in the 1993 season, while his son [[Tony Armas, Jr.|Tony Jr.]] pitched from 1999 through 2008 for the [[Montreal Expos]], [[Washington Nationals]], [[Pittsburgh Pirates]] and [[New York Mets]].
+Tony is one of 13 children, His younger brother, outfielder [[Marcos Armas]], had a brief stint with the Athletics in the 1993 season, while his son [[Tony Armas Jr.|Tony Jr.]] pitched from 1999 through 2008 for the [[Montreal Expos]]/[[Washington Nationals]], [[Pittsburgh Pirates]] and [[New York Mets]].
 ==Coaching career==
@@ Line 67: / Line 77: @@
 His playing career in Venezuela was a stellar one. He started playing with the Leones and later joined the [[Caribes de Oriente]]. His 97 career home runs were the Venezuelan professional baseball record, before another center fielder—[[Robert Pérez (baseball)|Robert Pérez]] "the black wall" of [[Cardenales de Lara]]—set a new mark in 2007. In addition, Armas is fourth in the all-time list of RBI leaders, with 412.
-In 2005, he gained induction into the [[Venezuelan Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum]] with 96% of the vote. He also was selected to the [[Caribbean Baseball Hall of Fame#1998|Caribbean Baseball Hall of Fame]] in 1998.
+In 2005, he earned induction into the [[Venezuelan Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum]] with 96% of the vote. He also was selected to the [[Caribbean Baseball Hall of Fame#1998|Caribbean Baseball Hall of Fame]] in 1998.
 ==See also==
@@ Line 80: / Line 90: @@
 ==External links==
-{{Baseballstats|mlb=|espn=|br=a/armasto01|brm=armas-002ant|fangraphs=|cube=Tony-Armas|}}, or [http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/A/Armas_Tony.stm Baseball Library]
+*{{Baseballstats|mlb=|espn=|br=a/armasto01|brm=armas-002ant}}, or [https://baseballbiography.com/tony-armas Tony Armas - Baseballbiography.com]
 *''The ESPN Baseball Encyclopedia'' – Gary Gillette, Peter Gammons, Pete Palmer. Publisher: Sterling Publishing, 2005. Format: Paperback, 1824pp. Language: English. {{ISBN|1-4027-4771-3}}
@@ Line 86: / Line 96: @@
 {{AL RBI champions}}
 {{AL OF Silver Slugger Award}}
+{{Venezuelan Baseball Hall of Fame}}
 {{Venezuela roster 2009 World Baseball Classic}}
 {{DEFAULTSORT:Armas, Tony}}
 [[Category:1953 births]]
+[[Category:Living people]]
 [[Category:American League All-Stars]]
 [[Category:American League home run champions]]
@@ Line 95: / Line 107: @@
 [[Category:Boston Red Sox players]]
 [[Category:California Angels players]]
-[[Category:Caribbean Baseball Hall of Fame inductees]]
-[[Category:Caribbean Series players]]
 [[Category:Caribes de Oriente players]]
 [[Category:Charleston Charlies players]]
@@ Line 103: / Line 113: @@
 [[Category:Gulf Coast Pirates players]]
 [[Category:Leones del Caracas players]]
-[[Category:Living people]]
 [[Category:Llaneros de Portuguesa players]]
 [[Category:Major League Baseball center fielders]]
@@ Line 110: / Line 119: @@
 [[Category:Monroe Pirates players]]
 [[Category:Oakland Athletics players]]
-[[Category:People from Anzoátegui]]
+[[Category:Sportspeople from Anzoátegui]]
 [[Category:Pittsburgh Pirates players]]
 [[Category:Sherbrooke Pirates players]]
 [[Category:Silver Slugger Award winners]]
 [[Category:Thetford Mines Pirates players]]
-[[Category:Venezuelan Baseball Hall of Fame inductees]]
+[[Category:Venezuela national baseball team people]]
+[[Category:Venezuelan baseball coaches]]
+[[Category:Venezuelan expatriate baseball players in Canada]]
+[[Category:Venezuelan expatriate baseball players in the United States]]

v t e Members of the Venezuelan Baseball Hall of Fame
Players	Luis Aparicio José Bracho Alex Carrasquel Chico Carrasquel José Antonio Casanova Dave Concepción Vic Davalillo Luis García Vidal López Diego Seguí César Tovar Ernesto Aparicio Luis Aparicio Sr. Tony Armas Teo Acosta Emilio Cueche Baudilio Díaz Ramón Monzant Pompeyo Davalillo Manuel García Manny Trillo Héctor Benítez Gus Gil Luis Leal Gonzalo Márquez Luis Peñalver Urbano Lugo Aurelio Monteagudo Oswaldo Olivares Chucho Ramos Luis Tiant Luis Zuloaga Luis Aponte Ángel Bravo Andrés Galarraga Teodoro Obregón Lázaro Salazar Wilson Álvarez Ozzie Guillén Roberto Rodríguez Luis Salazar Dalmiro Finol Luis Sojo Dámaso Blanco Ossie Blanco Leonel Carrión Remy Hermoso Julián Ladera Balbino Inojosa Giovanni Carrara Bobby Marcano Omar Vizquel Carlos Ascanio Edwin Hurtado Leo Hernández Robert Pérez Bobby Abreu Edgardo Alfonzo Johan Santana Melvin Mora
Miscellaneous	Roberto Olivo Abelardo Raidi Juan Antonio Yanes José Del Vecchio Herman Ettedgui Francisco José Cróquer Delio Amado León Gualberto Acosta Oscar Prieto Ortiz Reggie Otero Carlos Tovar Bracho Pedro Padrón Panza Juan Vené Martín Tovar Lange Carlos Lavaud Juan Reggeti Luis Rodolfo Machado Pablo Morales Pérez Antonio Herrera Gutiérrez Carlos González Rubén Mijares Dionisio Acosta Carlos Cárdenas Lares Adolfo Álvarez Marco Antonio Lacavalerie Oscar Prieto Párraga Alfonso Saer
Groups	1941 AWS Champion Team 1959 PanAm Games Champion Team