R I P Tony Cloninger (1940-2018)

[JohnBriggs12]

As a 12-13 year old boy in 1965 the devastating news that the Braves were leaving for Atlanta following the 1965 season left me with only the faint hope that somehow a Braves pennant in their last season in Milwaukee would cast the nation's attention on the plight of the city and it's loyal fans.

 

Nobody did more to bring one last hurrah for Braves fans in Milwaukee than Tony Cloninger who was 24-11 that season with an ERA of 3.29. The team was an astounding 26-12 in his starts. There was a stretch that season when Cloninger, Wade Blasingame (16 wins) and Ken Johnson (13 wins), were almost automatic and they were right there in late August.

 

I'm firmly convinced however that the Braves front office, which that year operated in Atlanta, did everything they could to undermine that team's chances down the stretch that year. They simply refused to make a move for that one additional pitcher that that team so desperately needed.

 

RIP Tony. I'll always remember you as a great Milwaukee Brave.

[JimH5]

That's a nice remembrance.

 

Tony is the only pitcher in history to hit 2 grand slam homers in a game.

[reillymcshane]

Thanks JohnBriggs, I appreciate you sharing your memories. Not a lot of us on the board have those experiences, so it's nice to hear about them, as they are part of Milwaukee's baseball history.

[JohnBriggs12]

Thanks JohnBriggs, I appreciate you sharing your memories. Not a lot of us on the board have those experiences, so it's nice to hear about them, as they are part of Milwaukee's baseball history.

 

It was us baby boomers that bore the brunt of the Braves leaving. Our parents generation in Wisconsin had loyalties to teams prior to the Braves arrival, so they reverted. Even my brother, who's 12 years older than me was a White Sox fan before and after the Braves left had an easier time adjusting. I've never truly gotten over it and my loathing of Bill Bartholomay who amazingly is still alive has never waned.

[JackNicholson1974]

So let me get this straight. The guy made 38 starts that year and factored into the decision in 35 of them? Wow. A different era back then.

[Invader3K]

Nice tribute. I'll admit to not knowing a lot about him, so this was a nice read. My dad was heartbroken as a teenager when the Braves left.