Tony Saunders
Encyclopedia
Anthony Scott "Tony" Saunders (born April 29, 1974 in Baltimore, Maryland
) is a retired American
Major League baseball
pitcher
for three seasons between 1997 and 1999. He was the first player selected by the-then Tampa Bay Devil Rays
in the expansion draft.
Saunders initially signed with the Florida Marlins
' minor league system in 1992, a year before their expansion season. He was part of the Marlins' opening day roster in 1997, and finished with a 4-6 record in 22 starts, with his first three wins coming against the Atlanta Braves
. The Marlins earned a wild card berth in the 1997 playoffs, and after being left off the Division Series roster, Saunders was placed on the LCS roster against the Braves. He started game 3 of the series, which Liván Hernández
won in relief of Saunders.
In the World Series
, Saunders started game 4 against the Cleveland Indians
, but took the loss after giving up six earned runs in two innings pitched; nonetheless, he earned a ring as the Marlins defeated Cleveland in seven games.
Saunders was one of many members of that team who left Florida following that season, joining the Rays for their inaugural season after being the first pick in the 1997 MLB Expansion Draft
. Saunders was 9th in the American League in strikeouts, but also 1st in walks, as he struggled to a 6-15 record. He started the 1999 season 3-3, but on May 26, while pitching against the Texas Rangers
, a bone in Saunders' arm was broken while throwing a pitch in a frightening incident. It was reported that, at the time of the incident, "a pin drop could be heard" inside Tropicana Field. He missed the remainder of the season. In 2000, he broke his arm again in a rehab assignment, forcing Saunders to retire at the age of 26.
In his controversial book
, José Canseco
, a teammate of Saunders in 1999, stated that Saunders' broken arm may have been a result of steroid
abuse.
In 2005, Saunders announced a comeback, signing a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles
, and making their spring training roster. He pitched one inning against the St. Louis Cardinals
before he was reassigned to the minor leagues. He remained listed on the Bowie Baysox
roster for the whole 2005 season, but never pitched in a game, although he did appear in 9 games for the Mesa Miners
of the Golden Baseball League
.
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
) is a retired American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
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...
for three seasons between 1997 and 1999. He was the first player selected by the-then Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
in the expansion draft.
Saunders initially signed with the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
' minor league system in 1992, a year before their expansion season. He was part of the Marlins' opening day roster in 1997, and finished with a 4-6 record in 22 starts, with his first three wins coming against the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
. The Marlins earned a wild card berth in the 1997 playoffs, and after being left off the Division Series roster, Saunders was placed on the LCS roster against the Braves. He started game 3 of the series, which Liván Hernández
Liván Hernández
Eisler Liván Hernández Carrera is a Cuban professional baseball pitcher. He is the half-brother of pitcher Orlando "El Duque" Hernández.-Playing career:...
won in relief of Saunders.
In 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...
, Saunders started game 4 against the 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...
, but took the loss after giving up six earned runs in two innings pitched; nonetheless, he earned a ring as the Marlins defeated Cleveland in seven games.
Saunders was one of many members of that team who left Florida following that season, joining the Rays for their inaugural season after being the first pick in the 1997 MLB Expansion Draft
1997 MLB Expansion Draft
The 1997 Major League Baseball expansion draft was conducted by Major League Baseball on November 18, 1997 in the Phoenix Civic Center to stock the major league rosters of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Arizona Diamondbacks, new major league expansion franchises that were set to start play in the...
. Saunders was 9th in the American League in strikeouts, but also 1st in walks, as he struggled to a 6-15 record. He started the 1999 season 3-3, but on May 26, while pitching against the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
, a bone in Saunders' arm was broken while throwing a pitch in a frightening incident. It was reported that, at the time of the incident, "a pin drop could be heard" inside Tropicana Field. He missed the remainder of the season. In 2000, he broke his arm again in a rehab assignment, forcing Saunders to retire at the age of 26.
In his controversial book
Juiced: Wild Times, Rampant 'Roids, Smash Hits & How Baseball Got Big
Juiced: Wild Times, Rampant 'Roids, Smash Hits & How Baseball Got Big is a 2005 book by Jose Canseco and his personal account of steroid usage in Major League Baseball. The book is autobiographical, and it focuses on Canseco's days as a major leaguer, his marriages, his daughter, and off-field...
, José Canseco
José Canseco
José Canseco Capas, Jr. is a Cuban-American professional baseball manager, outfielder, and designated hitter for the Yuma Scorpions of the North American League and former Major League Baseball player. He is the identical twin brother of former major league player and current teammate Ozzie Canseco...
, a teammate of Saunders in 1999, stated that Saunders' broken arm may have been a result of steroid
Steroid
A steroid is a type of organic compound that contains a characteristic arrangement of four cycloalkane rings that are joined to each other. Examples of steroids include the dietary fat cholesterol, the sex hormones estradiol and testosterone, and the anti-inflammatory drug dexamethasone.The core...
abuse.
In 2005, Saunders announced a comeback, signing a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
, and making their spring training roster. He pitched one inning against the St. Louis 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...
before he was reassigned to the minor leagues. He remained listed on the Bowie Baysox
Bowie Baysox
The Bowie Baysox are a minor league baseball team located in Bowie, Maryland. They are the class-AA affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, and play in the Eastern League...
roster for the whole 2005 season, but never pitched in a game, although he did appear in 9 games for the Mesa Miners
Mesa Miners
The Mesa Miners are an independent professional baseball team that is based in Mesa, Arizona. They began as a member of the Arizona Division of the now-defunct Golden Baseball League in 2005...
of the Golden Baseball League
Golden Baseball League
The Golden Baseball League, based in San Ramon, California, was an independent baseball league. It later merged with the Northern League and the United Baseball League to form the North American League in the western United States, western Canada and Mexico....
.