Tony Fernández
Encyclopedia
Octavio Antonio Fernández Castro (born June 30, 1962), better known as Tony Fernández, is a former Major League Baseball
player most noted for his defensive skills setting a record for shortstops with a .992 fielding percentage
in 1989.
' famed Latin America scout Epy Guerrero
and was signed as an undrafted free agent. Promoted to the Blue Jays in , Fernández became the team's full-time shortstop in , and contributed significantly to the team winning its first division title that year. Fernández continued to star for the Jays for several years afterwards.
Before the season, Fernández was traded to the San Diego Padres
in a major deal that also sent Jays star Fred McGriff
to San Diego in exchange for Roberto Alomar
and Joe Carter
. Fernández played well for San Diego for two years and then began the season with the New York Mets
. After a disappointing start, he was dealt back to the Blue Jays. He played extremely well for the remainder of the season and was instrumental in helping the Blue Jays win the 1993 World Series
. In that World Series, Fernández drove in nine runs, a record for a shortstop.
In , he reached the World Series
again, thanks in large part to his own game-winning home run against Baltimore in the American League Championship Series
. Unfortunately, he committed a very ill-timed error in the bottom of the 11th inning in Game 7 of the World Series; this broke up a potential double play
, and the eventual World Series-winning run was put on base. In , he rejoined the Blue Jays, and revitalized his hitting, batting over .300 in two seasons there. In , Fernández played for the Seibu Lions
in Japan
before returning to the majors the following year. When he returned in , he briefly played for the Milwaukee Brewers
but returned to Toronto late in the season, and retired at its conclusion.
A very thin man, Fernández had a tilted, wavering batting stance that made it appear as if he might not be strong enough to hold his bat. From early in his career he carried a scar on his right cheek from a pitched ball. Fernández was a noted fitness fanatic; he liked buying unusual home exercise machines and trying them out in the clubhouse.
Early in his career, Fernández was well known for his exceptional defensive skills at shortstop. He was especially famous for leaping into the air while simultaneously making an underhanded throw to first base, on balls hit far to his right.
Fernández was awarded four consecutive Gold Glove Award
s for his defense, from 1986 to 1989. Fernández was also named to five All-Star teams. He finished his career with a .288 batting average in 2,158 games played, and batted .327 in postseason play. Fernandez hit for the cycle as a New York Yankee on September 3, 1995 playing against the Oakland Athletics.
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...
player most noted for his defensive skills setting a record for shortstops 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...
in 1989.
Career
Fernández was first scouted by the Toronto Blue JaysToronto 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 ....
' famed Latin America scout Epy Guerrero
Epy Guerrero
Epifanio Guerrero is a baseball scout in the Dominican Republic who has signed more than 40 Major League Baseball players for the Houston Astros, New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays and Milwaukee Brewers. Epy is the brother of former shortstop Mario Guerrero, and has two sons, Epy Jr...
and was signed as an undrafted free agent. Promoted to the Blue Jays in , Fernández became the team's full-time shortstop in , and contributed significantly to the team winning its first division title that year. Fernández continued to star for the Jays for several years afterwards.
Before the season, Fernández was traded to the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
in a major deal that also sent Jays star Fred McGriff
Fred McGriff
Frederick Stanley McGriff is a left-handed former Major League Baseball player who starred for several teams from the mid-1980s until the early 2000s. A power-hitting first baseman with a tall, lanky build, the five-time All-Star became, in , the first player since the dead-ball era to lead both...
to San Diego in exchange for Roberto Alomar
Roberto Alomar
Roberto "Robbie" Alomar Velázquez is a former Major League Baseball player , regarded by many as one of the best second basemen in MLB history. During his career he won more Gold Gloves than any other second baseman in history, and also won the second-most Silver Slugger Awards for a second...
and Joe Carter
Joe Carter
Joseph Christopher Carter is a former right fielder in Major League Baseball who played from to . Carter is most famous for hitting a walk-off home run to win the 1993 World Series for the Toronto Blue Jays....
. Fernández played well for San Diego for two years and then began the season with 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...
. After a disappointing start, he was dealt back to the Blue Jays. He played extremely well for the remainder of the season and was instrumental in helping the Blue Jays win the 1993 World Series
1993 World Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 16, 1993 at SkyDome in Toronto, OntarioThe Series' first game sent two staff aces—Curt Schilling for Philadelphia and Juan Guzman for Toronto—against one another. The result was less than a pitcher's duel, however, as both teams scored early and often.The deciding plays...
. In that World Series, Fernández drove in nine runs, a record for a shortstop.
In , he reached the World Series
1997 World Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 18, 1997 at Pro Player Stadium in Miami Gardens, FloridaThe first World Series game in the state of Florida, Game 1 featured a youngster and a veteran facing each other on the mound...
again, thanks in large part to his own game-winning home run against Baltimore in the American League Championship Series
1997 American League Championship Series
-Game 1:Wednesday, October 8, 1997 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland-Game 2:Thursday, October 9, 1997 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland...
. Unfortunately, he committed a very ill-timed error in the bottom of the 11th inning in Game 7 of the World Series; this broke up a potential double play
Double play
In baseball, a double play for a team or a fielder is the act of making two outs during the same continuous playing action. In baseball slang, making a double play is referred to as "turning two"....
, and the eventual World Series-winning run was put on base. In , he rejoined the Blue Jays, and revitalized his hitting, batting over .300 in two seasons there. In , Fernández played for the Seibu Lions
Seibu Lions
The are a professional baseball team in Japan's Pacific League based west of Tokyo in Tokorozawa, Saitama. Before 1979, they were based in Fukuoka in Kyushu. The team is owned by a subsidiary of Prince Hotels, which in turn is owned by the Seibu Group...
in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
before returning to the majors the following year. When he returned in , he briefly played for the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
but returned to Toronto late in the season, and retired at its conclusion.
A very thin man, Fernández had a tilted, wavering batting stance that made it appear as if he might not be strong enough to hold his bat. From early in his career he carried a scar on his right cheek from a pitched ball. Fernández was a noted fitness fanatic; he liked buying unusual home exercise machines and trying them out in the clubhouse.
Early in his career, Fernández was well known for his exceptional defensive skills at shortstop. He was especially famous for leaping into the air while simultaneously making an underhanded throw to first base, on balls hit far to his right.
Fernández was awarded four consecutive 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...
s for his defense, from 1986 to 1989. Fernández was also named to five All-Star teams. He finished his career with a .288 batting average in 2,158 games played, and batted .327 in postseason play. Fernandez hit for the cycle as a New York Yankee on September 3, 1995 playing against the Oakland Athletics.
See also
- List of major league players with 2,000 hits
- List of Major League Baseball players with 400 doubles
- List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 runs
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career stolen bases
- List of Major League Baseball triples champions