Tony Armas Sr
From SoSH
| Born: | July 2, 1953 |
| Birthplace: | Anzoategui, Venezuela |
| Hometown: | Anzoatequi, Venezuela |
| Height: | 6'1" |
| Weight: | 200 lbs. |
| Bats: | Right |
| Throws: | Right |
| Drafted: | Amateur Free Agent 1971: Pittsburgh Pirates |
| College: | None |
| High School: | None |
| Other Teams: | Pittsburgh Pirates (1976), Oakland A’s (1977-82), & California Angels (1987-89) |
| Years with Boston: | 1983 - 1986 |
Antonio Rafael “Tony” Armas Machado (born July 2, 1953), was one of the preeminent power hitters in Major League Baseball during the early 1980's. If not for his tendency to get injured, we would have seen many more years like his outstanding season in 1984. Armas spent 4 seasons with the Red Sox.
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Overall Career
Armas got his first cup of coffee in the big leagues, with Pittsburgh in 1976. After that short stint with the Pirates that year he was traded to Oakland. Armas spent much of his first three seasons with Oakland on the diabled list, but still managed to play 289 games. Armas had a career year in 1980, when he hit .279 with 35 home runs and 109 RBI in 158 games.
Armas was named the American League Player of the Year by The Sporting News in 1981, a season in which he led the American League in home runs and games. In 1982 Armas set a pair of ML records for a right fielder with 11 putouts and 12 total chances against the Toronto Blue Jays. Later that year, he was traded to the Red Sox for Carney Lansford.
In Boston, Armas became a center fielder, sharing the outfield duties along with Jim Rice (LF) and Dwight Evans (RF). However, he was booed by fans for his low batting average (.218). Still, he managed to place second in the AL with 36 home runs, and seventh with 107 RBI. Armas again put it all together in 1984, batting .268 and leading the AL with 43 HR, 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 the 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 the rise 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.
Over Armas' 14 seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Oakland A's, Boston Red Sox, and California Angels, he compiled a .252 batting average with 251 home runs and 815 runs batted in.
Awards
- 2-Time American League All-Star (1981 & 1984)
- 1981 TSN American League Player of the Year
- 1984 American League Silver Slugger (Outfield)
Achievements
- 2-Time American Leauge Leader in Home Runs (1981 & 1984)
- 2-Time American Leauge Leader in Extra-Base Hits (1981 & 1984)
- 1984 American League Leader in Total Bases
- 1984 American League Leader in Runs Batted In
Moment in the Sun
- September 20, 1980: California's Tony Armas does it all hitting two doubles, two home runs to drive in five RBIs in a 6–4 win over Texas. Armas also has an, intentional walk, and steals 3rd.
- June 12, 1982: A's RF Tony Armas sets a pair of ML records for the position with 11 putouts and 12 total chances in an 8–1 win over the Blue Jays.
Trivia
- In 1984 Armas led the league in home runs and RBI's but did not win the MVP. The last player before him to do this and not win the MVP was Ted Williams, in 1947.
- In his major league career went into the disabled list 12 times, missing 302 games.
- Armas' brother Marcos had a brief stint with A's in 1993. His son Tony Jr. made his debut in 1999 as a righthanded starting pitcher for the Montreal Expos and is currently with the Pittsburgh Pirates (2007).
External Links
- Baseball-Reference.com - Career Statistics and Analysis
