Tony Peña
Encyclopedia
Antonio Francisco Peña Padilla (ˈtoni ˈpeɲa; born June 4, 1957, in Monte Cristi
, Dominican Republic
) is a former professional
baseball
player, manager
and current coach
. He played as a catcher
in Major League Baseball
for the Pirates
, Cardinals
, Red Sox
, Indians
, White Sox
, and Astros
. Peña was the manager of the Kansas City Royals
between 2002
and 2005
. He currently is the bench coach for the New York Yankees
. As a player, Peña was known for his defensive abilities as well as his unorthodox squat behind home plate
.
in 1975
. Originally an outfielder
, he didn't start playing as a catcher until while playing in the minor leagues
. As a catcher, Peña adopted an unorthodox squat behind the plate when there were no runners on base, extending his left leg straight out while squatting on his right leg. He did this in order to help his pitcher
s keep their pitches low in the strike zone. In while playing for the Buffalo Bisons
, Peña hit for a .313 batting average
along with 34 home run
s and 97 runs batted in. The following year with the Portland Beavers
he posted a .323 batting average with a .367 on base percentage
before making his major league debut with the Pirates on September 1, 1980
.
In 1981
, Peña platooned
alongside Steve Nicosia
, hitting for an impressive .300 batting average in 66 games and finished in sixth place in the National League
Rookie of the Year Award. In 1982
, he took over as the Pirates full time catcher and had a .340 batting average on the first of July, helping him earn a spot as a reserve for the National League team in the 1982 All-Star Game
. He finished the year with a .296 batting average. While he committed 16 errors
, he finished second among National League catchers in assists
and third in putouts and caught stealing
percentage.
Peña had one of his best seasons in 1983
, posting career-highs with a .301 batting average and 15 home runs as, the Pirates improved to finish in second place in the National League Eastern Division. He led National League catchers with 976 putouts and finished second to Gary Carter
with a .992 fielding percentage
, earning him his first Gold Glove Award
. Peña also finished 12th in voting for the National League Most Valuable Player Award.
After the 1983 season, the Pirates went into a period of decline, finishing in last place for three consecutive years between 1984
and 1986
. Although his offensive statistics tapered off, Peña continued to be productive defensively during this period, leading National League catchers in assists, putouts and baserunners caught stealing in and, again leading the league in assists and baserunners caught stealing in , winning two more Gold Glove Awards and two more All-Star selections in the process. When Peña broke the 100 assists barrier in , he joined Johnny Bench
, Jim Sundberg
and Gary Carter as the only catchers to have more than 100 assists in a season since the end of the Second World War. In a poll of major league managers, Peña was selected as the best throwing catcher in the major leagues.
In November , Peña led a team of major league All-Stars to victory over a team of Japanese All-Stars and, was chosen as the most valuable player of the American team. With Peña nearing the end of his contract, the Pirates made a decision to trade him rather than lose him through free agency. On April 1, 1987
, Peña was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for Andy Van Slyke
and Mike LaValliere
.
Three games into his Cardinals' career, he suffered a broken left thumb in a game against his former team, the Pirates. He missed more than a month and returned to post a career-low batting average of .214. Nevertheless, the Cardinals won the National League Eastern Division crown with Peña rebounding to post a .381 batting average in the 1987 National League Championship Series
as, the Cardinals defeated the San Francisco Giants
. In the 1987 World Series
against the Minnesota Twins he produced 9 hits
with 4 runs batted in as the Cardinals lost in a seven-game series.
In 1988
, Peña recovered with a .263 batting average along with 10 home runs and 51 runs batted in. He also led National League catchers with a .994 fielding percentage and was second in putouts and third in assists. In 1989
he earned his fifth All-Star
selection and, once again led the league's catchers with a .997 fielding percentage, committing only 2 errors in 134 games.
In November 1989, Peña was granted free agency and signed a contract to play for the Boston Red Sox. With the Red Sox in 1990
, he led American League
catchers in games played
, range factor
, putouts and finished second in assists and in fielding percentage. His performance earned him the Gold Glove Award, making him only the second catcher after Bob Boone
to earn a Gold Glove in both the American and National Leagues. The Red Sox won the American League Eastern Division
pennant before eventually losing to the Oakland Athletics
in the 1990 American League Championship Series
.
In October 1993, Peña again filed for free agency and signed to play for the Cleveland Indians. Although his batting statistics weren't as strong as his earlier career, Peña was still valued for his strong defensive skills as a catcher. He proved invaluable for the Indians in 1994
as a substitute for the injury-prone starting catcher, Sandy Alomar, Jr.
, while posting a .296 batting average with a .341 on base percentage
. He caught the majority of the Indians' games in 1995
as they made it all the way to the 1995 World Series
before losing to the Atlanta Braves
. Peña's batting average dropped to .195 in 1995
and, he once again filed for free agency at the end of the season, signing a contract with the Chicago White Sox. He played with the White Sox until August 1997
when he was traded to the Houston Astros. At the end of the year, he retired as a player at the age of 40.
, accumulating 1687 hits
in 6489 at bats for a .260 career batting average along with 107 home runs, 708 runs batted in and a .309 on base percentage. He ended his career with a .991 fielding percentage. He led his league five times in putouts and twice in fielding percentage, assists, range factor and in baserunners caught stealing. A five-time All-Star, he won four Gold Glove Awards during his career. Peña's 1950 games played as a catcher rank him sixth on the all-time list. His 156 career double plays ranks fifth all-time among major league catchers.
In 2011, Peña was inducted into the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons
Hall of Fame along with Cleveland Indians
broadcaster Jim Rosenhaus
.
In , Peña became the manager of the New Orleans Zephyrs
and in he led them to a first place finish in the East Division of the Pacific Coast League
. He also led Águilas Cibaeñas
of the Dominican Winter Baseball League to two domestic championships in 1998 and 2000 and also led them to the 2001 Caribbean Series title.
Peña was hired by the Kansas City Royals in 2002
to replace Tony Muser
(John Mizerock
had served as interim manager). Peña led the 2003
Royals to a seven-game lead in the American League Central Division
by mid-season before settling into a third-place finish in the with a record of 83–79. It was the Royals' first season with a winning record since the strike-shortened season. Peña was rewarded with the American League Manager of the Year Award
.
Peña's Royals were less successful in 2004
, finishing in last place in the Central Division
of the American League
with 104 losses. He resigned as manager of the Royals after a loss to the Toronto Blue Jays
on May 10, 2005
, as the Royals had the worst record in the American League at 8–25. He was replaced by interim manager Bob Schaefer
.
On November 3, 2005
, Peña was named first base coach
of the New York Yankees
. On October 21, 2007
, the Yankees announced that Peña would interview to replace Joe Torre
as manager. However, the Yankees chose to hire former catcher Joe Girardi
to manage the team instead. Peña remained as the Yankees first base coach in 2008
, before shifting to his current role as bench coach in 2009
.
He is considered a candidate to replace Terry Francona
as Manager of the Red Sox. http://bleacherbumsports.net/2011/10/01/who-could-replace-francona/
minor league player Francisco Peña, a prospect for the New York Mets
. Peña's daughter, Jennifer Amaris, won Miss RD USA 2007 and represented the Dominican Community in the USA in Miss Dominican Republic 2008 and came in sixth place. His brother, Ramón Peña
, pitched with the Detroit Tigers
organization.
Provinces of the Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is divided into thirty–one provincias , while the national capital, Santo Domingo, is contained within its own Distrito Nacional ....
, Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
) is a former professional
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player, manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
and current coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
. He played as a catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
for the Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
, Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
, Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
, Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
, White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
, and Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
. Peña was the manager of the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
between 2002
2002 Kansas City Royals season
The 2002 Kansas City Royals season involved the Royals finishing 4th in the American League Central with a record of 62 wins and 100 losses.-Offseason:*December 18, 2001: Chuck Knoblauch was signed as a Free Agent with the Kansas City Royals....
and 2005
2005 Kansas City Royals season
The 2005 Kansas City Royals season involved the Royals finishing 5th in the American League Central with a record of 56 wins and 106 losses. The Royals had a very disappointing losing streak of 19 games that started from July 28 to August 19.-Offseason:...
. He currently is the bench coach for the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
. As a player, Peña was known for his defensive abilities as well as his unorthodox squat behind home plate
Home Plate
Home Plate is the fifth album by Bonnie Raitt, released in 1975 .-Track listing:#"What Do You Want the Boy to Do?" – 3:19#"Good Enough" – 2:56#"Run Like a Thief" – 3:02...
.
Playing career
Peña was signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as an amateur free agentFree agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
in 1975
1975 Pittsburgh Pirates season
The Pittsburgh Pirates season was the 89th in the history of the franchise. The Pirates' 92-69 record was good enough to win their fifth National League East title in six seasons by 6½ games over their cross-state rivals, the Philadelphia Phillies...
. Originally an outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
, he didn't start playing as a catcher until while playing in the minor leagues
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
. As a catcher, Peña adopted an unorthodox squat behind the plate when there were no runners on base, extending his left leg straight out while squatting on his right leg. He did this in order to help his pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
s keep their pitches low in the strike zone. In while playing for the Buffalo Bisons
Buffalo Bisons
The Buffalo Bisons are a minor league baseball team based in Buffalo, New York. They currently play in the International League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets...
, Peña hit for a .313 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
along with 34 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s and 97 runs batted in. The following year with the Portland Beavers
Portland Beavers
The Tucson Padres are a minor league baseball team, representing Tucson, Arizona, in the Pacific Coast League . They are the Triple-A affiliate for the San Diego Padres. The team was formerly known as the Portland Beavers and played its last home game at PGE Park on September 6, 2010...
he posted a .323 batting average with a .367 on base percentage
On base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
before making his major league debut with the Pirates on September 1, 1980
1980 Pittsburgh Pirates season
- Offseason :* November 24, 1979: Cecilio Guante was signed as an amateur free agent by the Pirates.- Notable transactions :* June 3, 1980: Rick Renteria was drafted by the Pirates in the 1st round of the 1980 Major League Baseball Draft....
.
In 1981
1981 Pittsburgh Pirates season
The Pittsburgh Pirates season was the 100th in franchise history.- Offseason :* December 9, 1980: Bert Blyleven and Manny Sanguillén were traded by the Pirates to the Cleveland Indians for Gary Alexander, Víctor Cruz, Rafael Vásquez, and Bob Owchinko....
, Peña platooned
Platoon system
The platoon system in baseball is a method of designating two players to a single defensive position—usually one right-handed and one left-handed. Typically the right-handed half of the platoon is played on days when the opposing pitcher is left-handed and the left-handed player is played otherwise...
alongside Steve Nicosia
Steve Nicosia
Steven Richard Nicosia , is a former major league baseball player. He played catcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates, San Francisco Giants, Montreal Expos, and Toronto Blue Jays from 1979 until 1985.-External links:...
, hitting for an impressive .300 batting average in 66 games and finished in sixth place in the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
Rookie of the Year Award. In 1982
1982 Pittsburgh Pirates season
- Offseason :* October 5, 1981: Luis Tiant was released by the Pirates.* December 11, 1981: Tim Foli was traded by the Pirates to the California Angels for Brian Harper.* December 11, 1981: Dorn Taylor was signed as an amateur free agent by the Pirates....
, he took over as the Pirates full time catcher and had a .340 batting average on the first of July, helping him earn a spot as a reserve for the National League team in the 1982 All-Star Game
1982 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1982 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 53rd midseason exhibition between the all-stars of the American League and the National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was played on July 13, 1982 at Olympic Stadium in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, home of the...
. He finished the year with a .296 batting average. While he committed 16 errors
Error (baseball)
In baseball statistics, an error is the act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to reach one or more additional bases, when such an advance would have been prevented given ordinary effort by the fielder.The term ...
, he finished second among National League catchers in assists
Assist (baseball)
In baseball, an assist is a defensive statistic, baseball being one of the few sports in which the defensive team controls the ball. An assist is awarded to every defensive player who fields or touches the ball prior to the recording of a putout, even if the contact was unintentional...
and third in putouts and caught stealing
Caught stealing
In baseball, a runner is charged, and the fielders involved are credited, with a time caught stealing when the runner attempts to advance or lead off from one base to another without the ball being batted and then is tagged out by a fielder while making the attempt...
percentage.
Peña had one of his best seasons in 1983
1983 Pittsburgh Pirates season
- Offseason :* December 22, 1982: Tim Burke, Don Aubin , John Holland , and José Rivera were traded by the Pirates to the New York Yankees for Lee Mazzilli.- Notable transactions :...
, posting career-highs with a .301 batting average and 15 home runs as, the Pirates improved to finish in second place in the National League Eastern Division. He led National League catchers with 976 putouts and finished second to Gary Carter
Gary Carter
Gary Edmund Carter , nicknamed "Kid" and "Kid Carter", is an American former Major League Baseball catcher. During a 19-year baseball career, mostly with the Montreal Expos and the New York Mets, Carter established himself as one of the premier catchers in the National League, winning three Gold...
with a .992 fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
, earning him his first Gold Glove Award
Gold Glove Award
The Rawlings Gold Glove Award, usually referred to as the Gold Glove, is the award given annually to the Major League Baseball players judged to have exhibited superior individual fielding performances at each fielding position in both the National League and the American League , as voted by the...
. Peña also finished 12th in voting for the National League Most Valuable Player Award.
After the 1983 season, the Pirates went into a period of decline, finishing in last place for three consecutive years between 1984
1984 Pittsburgh Pirates season
- Offseason :* November 12, 1983: Bob Owchinko was purchased by the Cincinnati Reds from the Pittsburgh Pirates. * December 19, 1983: Amos Otis was signed as a free agent by the Pirates.* January 17, 1984: 1984 Major League Baseball Draft...
and 1986
1986 Pittsburgh Pirates season
In his rookie season, Barry Bonds led the Pirates with 36 Stolen Bases and finished second on the club with 16 Home Runs.-Offseason:* December 10, 1985: Bobby Bonilla was drafted from the Pirates by the Chicago White Sox in the 1985 rule 5 draft....
. Although his offensive statistics tapered off, Peña continued to be productive defensively during this period, leading National League catchers in assists, putouts and baserunners caught stealing in and, again leading the league in assists and baserunners caught stealing in , winning two more Gold Glove Awards and two more All-Star selections in the process. When Peña broke the 100 assists barrier in , he joined Johnny Bench
Johnny Bench
Johnny Lee Bench is a former professional baseball catcher who played in the Major Leagues for the Cincinnati Reds from 1967 to 1983 and is a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame...
, Jim Sundberg
Jim Sundberg
James Howard Sundberg is a former professional baseball catcher known for being one of the best defensive catchers of his era. He played for a number of Major League teams, most significantly the Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals, with whom we won a World Championship...
and Gary Carter as the only catchers to have more than 100 assists in a season since the end of the Second World War. In a poll of major league managers, Peña was selected as the best throwing catcher in the major leagues.
In November , Peña led a team of major league All-Stars to victory over a team of Japanese All-Stars and, was chosen as the most valuable player of the American team. With Peña nearing the end of his contract, the Pirates made a decision to trade him rather than lose him through free agency. On April 1, 1987
1987 St. Louis Cardinals season
The 1987 St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 106th season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 96th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 95-67 during the season and finished first in the National League East Division for the third and last time before moving to the NL Central in 1994....
, Peña was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for Andy Van Slyke
Andy Van Slyke
Andrew James Van Slyke is a retired Major League Baseball outfielder and former first base coach for the Detroit Tigers.-Career:...
and Mike LaValliere
Mike LaValliere
Michael Eugene "Mike" LaValliere , nicknamed Spanky, is a former catcher in Major League Baseball whose 11-year career included tenures in both the National and American Leagues...
.
Three games into his Cardinals' career, he suffered a broken left thumb in a game against his former team, the Pirates. He missed more than a month and returned to post a career-low batting average of .214. Nevertheless, the Cardinals won the National League Eastern Division crown with Peña rebounding to post a .381 batting average in the 1987 National League Championship Series
1987 National League Championship Series
- Game 1 :Tuesday, October 6, 1987 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, MissouriThe Giants struck first on an RBI groundout by Candy Maldonado, but the Cardinals tied it in the third on Vince Coleman's RBI single...
as, the Cardinals defeated the San Francisco Giants
1987 San Francisco Giants season
The 1987 San Francisco Giants season saw the Giants finish in first place in the National League West with a record of 90 wins and 72 losses. They lost the National League Championship Series in seven games to the St. Louis Cardinals.-Offseason:...
. In the 1987 World Series
1987 World Series
The 1987 World Series pitted the Minnesota Twins versus the St. Louis Cardinals.Minnesota was victorious in a World Series that was the first in which the home team won every game...
against the Minnesota Twins he produced 9 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
with 4 runs batted in as the Cardinals lost in a seven-game series.
In 1988
1988 St. Louis Cardinals season
The 1988 St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 107th season in St. Louis, Missouri and its 97th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 76-86 during the season and finished 5th in the National League East division.-Offseason:...
, Peña recovered with a .263 batting average along with 10 home runs and 51 runs batted in. He also led National League catchers with a .994 fielding percentage and was second in putouts and third in assists. In 1989
1989 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals 1989 season was the team's 108th season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 98th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 86-76 during the season and finished 3rd in the National League East division....
he earned his fifth All-Star
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
selection and, once again led the league's catchers with a .997 fielding percentage, committing only 2 errors in 134 games.
In November 1989, Peña was granted free agency and signed a contract to play for the Boston Red Sox. With the Red Sox in 1990
1990 Boston Red Sox season
The Boston Red Sox season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Red Sox finishing first in the American League East with a record of 88 wins and 74 losses. It was the second AL East division championship in three years for the Red Sox...
, he led American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
catchers in games played
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
, range factor
Range Factor
Range Factor is a baseball statistic developed by Bill James. It is calculated by dividing putouts and assists by number of innings or games played at a given defense position...
, putouts and finished second in assists and in fielding percentage. His performance earned him the Gold Glove Award, making him only the second catcher after Bob Boone
Bob Boone
Robert Raymond Boone is a former catcher and manager in Major League Baseball who was a four-time All-Star. Born in San Diego, California, Bob Boone is the son of a major league player, the late third baseman Ray Boone, and the father of two major leaguers: former second baseman Bret Boone and...
to earn a Gold Glove in both the American and National Leagues. The Red Sox won the American League Eastern Division
American League East
The American League Eastern Division is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions . This division was created before the start of the 1969 season along with the Western Division...
pennant before eventually losing to the Oakland Athletics
1990 Oakland Athletics season
The Oakland Athletics' 1990 season saw the A's win their third consecutive American League West title, with a record of 103 wins and 59 losses, nine games ahead of the Chicago White Sox. It was the third consecutive year in which Oakland finished with the best record in all of MLB...
in the 1990 American League Championship Series
1990 American League Championship Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 6, 1990 at Fenway Park in Boston, MassachusettsThe opening game of the series saw a battle of aces, as Oakland sent Dave Stewart to the hill against Boston's Roger Clemens. The game was a scoreless pitchers duel until the bottom of the fourth, when Red Sox third baseman...
.
In October 1993, Peña again filed for free agency and signed to play for the Cleveland Indians. Although his batting statistics weren't as strong as his earlier career, Peña was still valued for his strong defensive skills as a catcher. He proved invaluable for the Indians in 1994
1994 Cleveland Indians season
-Offseason:* November 2, 1993: Heathcliff Slocumb was traded by the Indians to the Philadelphia Phillies for Ruben Amaro, Jr..* December 2, 1993: Dennis Martínez was signed as a free agent by the Indians....
as a substitute for the injury-prone starting catcher, Sandy Alomar, Jr.
Sandy Alomar, Jr.
Santos "Sandy" Alomar, Jr., or in the Spanish-language naming system Santos Alomar Velázquez , is a former Major League Baseball catcher who played for the San Diego Padres , Cleveland Indians , Chicago White Sox and , Colorado Rockies , Texas Rangers , Los Angeles Dodgers , and New York Mets...
, while posting a .296 batting average with a .341 on base percentage
On base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
. He caught the majority of the Indians' games in 1995
1995 Cleveland Indians season
The Cleveland Indians season was the Major League Baseball season that led to the Indians returning to the World Series for the first time since . In a season that started late by 18 games - giving it just a 144 games - the Indians finished in first place in the American League Central Division...
as they made it all the way to the 1995 World Series
1995 World Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 21, 1995 at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta, GeorgiaAtlanta ace Greg Maddux pitched a two-hit complete game victory in his first World Series appearance ....
before losing to the Atlanta Braves
1995 Atlanta Braves season
The 1995 Atlanta Braves season was the 125th season in the history of the franchise and 30th season in the city of Atlanta. The team finished the strike-shortened season with a record of 90–54, the best in the National League, en route to winning the World Series. For the sixth straight season,...
. Peña's batting average dropped to .195 in 1995
1995 Cleveland Indians season
The Cleveland Indians season was the Major League Baseball season that led to the Indians returning to the World Series for the first time since . In a season that started late by 18 games - giving it just a 144 games - the Indians finished in first place in the American League Central Division...
and, he once again filed for free agency at the end of the season, signing a contract with the Chicago White Sox. He played with the White Sox until August 1997
1997 Chicago White Sox season
The 1997 Chicago White Sox season was the White Sox's 98th season. They finished with a record 80-81, good enough for 2nd place in the American League Central, 6 games behind the 1st place Cleveland Indians.-Offseason:...
when he was traded to the Houston Astros. At the end of the year, he retired as a player at the age of 40.
Career statistics
In an 18 year career, Peña played in 1988 gamesGames played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
, accumulating 1687 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
in 6489 at bats for a .260 career batting average along with 107 home runs, 708 runs batted in and a .309 on base percentage. He ended his career with a .991 fielding percentage. He led his league five times in putouts and twice in fielding percentage, assists, range factor and in baserunners caught stealing. A five-time All-Star, he won four Gold Glove Awards during his career. Peña's 1950 games played as a catcher rank him sixth on the all-time list. His 156 career double plays ranks fifth all-time among major league catchers.
In 2011, Peña was inducted into the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons
Buffalo Bisons
The Buffalo Bisons are a minor league baseball team based in Buffalo, New York. They currently play in the International League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets...
Hall of Fame along with Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
broadcaster Jim Rosenhaus
Jim Rosenhaus (broadcaster)
Jim Rosenhaus is the engineer/producer and third broadcaster for the Cleveland Indians Major League Baseball team. Rosenhaus also hosts Indians Warm Up and TribeTalk on the Indians Radio Network....
.
Coaching and managerial career
New Orleans Zephyrs
The New Orleans Zephyrs are a minor league baseball team based in Metairie, Louisiana, a suburb of New Orleans. The Zephyrs play in the Pacific Coast League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins. The Zephyrs play their home games at Zephyr Field....
and in he led them to a first place finish in the East Division of the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
. He also led Águilas Cibaeñas
Águilas Cibaeñas
The Águilas Cibaeñas are a team in the Dominican Republic's winter baseball league. Founded in and based in Santiago, they have won 5 Caribbean Series and 20 national titles. The Águilas have a large fan base in the Dominican Republic...
of the Dominican Winter Baseball League to two domestic championships in 1998 and 2000 and also led them to the 2001 Caribbean Series title.
Peña was hired by the Kansas City Royals in 2002
2002 Kansas City Royals season
The 2002 Kansas City Royals season involved the Royals finishing 4th in the American League Central with a record of 62 wins and 100 losses.-Offseason:*December 18, 2001: Chuck Knoblauch was signed as a Free Agent with the Kansas City Royals....
to replace Tony Muser
Tony Muser
Anthony Joseph Muser is currently a roving instructor in the San Diego Padres organization. From 1997 until 2002, Muser served as the manager of the Kansas City Royals...
(John Mizerock
John Mizerock
John Joseph Mizerock was a backup catcher for the Houston Astros and the Atlanta Braves. He was the eighth overall pick in the 1979 draft.Since retiring as a player he has served as an interim manager and coach for the Kansas City Royals, and as a manager in the minor leagues.Mizerock managed...
had served as interim manager). Peña led the 2003
2003 Kansas City Royals season
The 2003 Kansas City Royals season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Royals finishing third in the American League Central with a record of 83 wins and 79 losses...
Royals to a seven-game lead in the American League Central Division
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
by mid-season before settling into a third-place finish in the with a record of 83–79. It was the Royals' first season with a winning record since the strike-shortened season. Peña was rewarded with the American League Manager of the Year Award
Manager of the Year Award
In Major League Baseball, the Manager of the Year Award is an honor given annually since 1983 to the best managers in the American League and the National League . The winner is voted on by 28 members of the Baseball Writers Association of America . Each places a vote for first, second, and third...
.
Peña's Royals were less successful in 2004
2004 Kansas City Royals season
The Kansas City Royals season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Royals finishing 5th in the American League Central with a record of 58 wins and 104 losses. It was one of the most disappointing seasons in Royals' history. The team had been picked by many sporting magazines to win...
, finishing in last place in the Central Division
American League Central
The American League Central Division is one of six divisions in Major League Baseball. This division was formed in the realignment in 1994, and its teams are all located in the Midwestern United States...
of the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
with 104 losses. He resigned as manager of the Royals after a loss to the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
on May 10, 2005
2005 Kansas City Royals season
The 2005 Kansas City Royals season involved the Royals finishing 5th in the American League Central with a record of 56 wins and 106 losses. The Royals had a very disappointing losing streak of 19 games that started from July 28 to August 19.-Offseason:...
, as the Royals had the worst record in the American League at 8–25. He was replaced by interim manager Bob Schaefer
Bob Schaefer
Robert Walden Schaefer is a former interim manager, bench coach and farm system official in American Major League Baseball. He is currently the special assistant to the general manager with the Washington Nationals....
.
On November 3, 2005
2005 New York Yankees season
The New York Yankees' 2005 season was the 103rd season for the Yankees. The team finished with a record of 95-67 finishing with the same record as the Boston Red Sox but winning the division due to a head-to-head advantage over Boston. New York was managed by Joe Torre. The Yankees played at Yankee...
, Peña was named first base coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
of the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
. On October 21, 2007
2007 New York Yankees season
The New York Yankees' 2007 season was the Yankees' 105th in New York and their 107th overall dating back to their origins in Baltimore. The season started with the Yankees trying to win the AL East championship, a title they had won every season since after the 1997 season, but ultimately they came...
, the Yankees announced that Peña would interview to replace Joe Torre
Joe Torre
Joseph Paul Torre is a former American professional baseball player and manager who currently serves as Major League Baseball’s Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations. A nine-time All-Star, he played in Major League Baseball as a catcher, first baseman and a third baseman for the...
as manager. However, the Yankees chose to hire former catcher Joe Girardi
Joe Girardi
Joseph Elliott Girardi is a former Major League Baseball catcher and current manager of the New York Yankees. During a 15-year playing career, he played from 1989–2003 for the Chicago Cubs, the Colorado Rockies, the New York Yankees, and St. Louis Cardinals...
to manage the team instead. Peña remained as the Yankees first base coach in 2008
2008 New York Yankees season
The 2008 New York Yankees season was the 106th season for the New York Yankees franchise. The Yankees hosted the 2008 All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday July 15, 2008. It was the 83rd and last season at Yankee Stadium prior to the team's move to a new ballpark just north of the current...
, before shifting to his current role as bench coach in 2009
2009 New York Yankees season
The 2009 New York Yankees season was the 107th season for the New York Yankees franchise. The Yankees opened their new Yankee Stadium on April 3, 2009, when they hosted an exhibition game against the Chicago Cubs...
.
He is considered a candidate to replace Terry Francona
Terry Francona
Terry Jon Francona , nicknamed "Tito," is a former Major League Baseball manager and a former player. He was a first baseman and outfielder in the majors from 1981 to 1990. After retiring as a player, he managed several minor league teams in the 1990s before managing the Philadelphia Phillies for...
as Manager of the Red Sox. http://bleacherbumsports.net/2011/10/01/who-could-replace-francona/
Personal
Peña is married to Amaris and has three children. He is the father of pitcher Tony Francisco Peña (mistakenly known as "Tony, Jr. or just as TJ"), as well as New York MetsNew York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
minor league player Francisco Peña, a prospect for the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
. Peña's daughter, Jennifer Amaris, won Miss RD USA 2007 and represented the Dominican Community in the USA in Miss Dominican Republic 2008 and came in sixth place. His brother, Ramón Peña
Ramón Peña
Ramón Arturo Peña Padilla is a retired relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played one season for the Detroit Tigers...
, pitched with the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
organization.