Tony Perez
Slugger Tony Perez was one of baseball's most popular players over a 23-year major league career. His greatest fame came as a vital member of Cincinnati's powerful "Big Red Machine" during the 1970s. His home run in Game Seven of the 1975 World Series helped lead the Reds to the title. "Big Dog" was traded to the Expos after the '76 championship season, and the Reds dynasty was all but over.
Quotes From Perez
"On the field we [the Big Red Machine], were a family. We worked together and worked at playing the game."
Played For
Cincinnati Reds (1964-1976)
Montreal Expos (1977-1979)
Boston Red Sox (1980-1982)
Philadelphia Phillies (1983)
Cincinnati Reds (1984-1986)
Managed
Cincinnati Reds (1993)
Florida Marlins (2001)
All-Time Rankings
Tony Perez ranks #15 among the Top 50 all-time at 1B. Rankings ⇒
Best Season: 1970
Playing 153 games at third base for the Reds in 1970, Perez exploded for 40 home runs and 129 RBI. Teaming with Bench (who won the MVP), he formed a fearsome right-handed tandem as Cincinnati rolled to 70 wins in their first 100 games - a ML record. Perez also scored 107 runs, rapped out 186 hits, batted .317, and walked 83 times.
Factoids
From August 8-20, 1973, Tony Perez collected exactly two hits in eleven consecutive games. He hit .468 (22-for-47) with one homer and 11 RBI during the stretch.
Major League RBI Leaders, (1967-1977)
Tony Perez... 1,119
Johnny Bench... 1,038
Lee May... 1,034
Carl Yastrzemski... 984
Willie Stargell... 959
Where He Played
First base
Born
Atanasio (Rigal) Perez was born on May 14, 1942, in Ciego De Avila
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
Primary Position: 1B
Primary Team: CIN
Major League Debut
July 26, 1964
Nine Other Players Who Debuted in 1964
Tony Perez
Bert Campaneris
Don Kessinger
Paul Blair
Lou Piniella
Phil Niekro
Luis Tiant
Mel Stottlemyre
Mickey Stanley
Nicknames
Big Dog, Dog, Doggie
Similar Players
Gil Hodges, Orlando Cepeda, Harold Baines, Joe Carter
Related Players
Pete Rose, Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, Dan Driessen, Sparky Anderson, Orlando Cepeda, Eduardo Perez
| Hall of Fame Voting |
| Year |
Election |
Votes |
Pct |
| 1992 |
BBWAA |
215 |
50.0% |
1993 |
BBWAA |
233 |
55.1% |
1994 |
BBWAA |
263 |
57.8% |
1995 |
BBWAA |
259 |
56.3% |
1996 |
BBWAA |
309 |
65.7% |
1997 |
BBWAA |
312 |
66.0% |
1998 |
BBWAA |
321 |
67.9% |
1999 |
BBWAA |
302 |
60.8% |
2000 |
BBWAA |
385 |
77.2% |
|
Post-Season Appearances
1970 National League Championship Series
1970 World Series
1972 National League Championship Series
1972 World Series
1973 National League Championship Series
1975 National League Championship Series
1975 World Series
1976 National League Championship Series
1976 World Series
1983 National League Championship Series
1983 World Series
Post-Season Notes
Perez's two-run home run in the sixth inning of Game Seven in the 1975 World Series helped the Reds rally from a three-run deficit and win the first Big Red Machine title.
Awards and Honors
1967 ML AS MVP
Feats
Perez drove in at least 90 runs in 11 consecutive seasons, from 1967-1977.
Notes
Perez split from former Big Red Machine teammates Joe Morgan and Johnny Bench, and supported the induction of Pete Rose into the Hall of Fame. Morgan demanded that Rose apologize and admit he did wrong, Bench (who never was a big fan of Rose), felt stronger - believing his former teammate should be barred from the shrine forever... In 1985, in his second stint with the Reds, at the age of 43, Perez played for Pete Rose and batted .328 with six homers and 33 RBI in 183 at-bats as a part-time first baseman and pinch-hitter.
Hitting Streaks
20 games (1968)
18 games (1968)
17 games (1980)
17 games (1967)
15 games (1969)
Transactions
March 12, 1960: Signed by the Cincinnati Reds as an amateur free agent.
December 16, 1976: Traded by the Cincinnati Reds with Will McEnaney to the Montreal Expos for Woodie Fryman and Dale Murray.
It is not an exaggeration when historians cite this trade as the demise of the Big Red Machine. The Reds thought Dan Driessen woul fill Perez's shoes, but of course, he couldn't.
November 1, 1979: Granted Free Agency.
November 16, 1979: Signed as a Free Agent with the Boston Red Sox.
November 1, 1982: Released by the Boston Red Sox.
January 31, 1983: Signed as a Free Agent with the Philadelphia Phillies.
December 6, 1983: Purchased by the Cincinnati Reds from the Philadelphia Phillies.
November 8, 1984: Granted Free Agency.
April 10, 1985: Signed as a Free Agent with the Cincinnati Reds.
November 12, 1985: Granted Free Agency.
January 20, 1986: Signed as a Free Agent with the Cincinnati Reds.
All-Star Selections
1967 NL
1968 NL
1969 NL
1970 NL
1974 NL
1975 NL
1976 NL
Best Strength as a Player
Driving in runs
Largest Weakness as a Player
His throwing arm was somewhat erratic.
Learn More about Tony Perez
Search Amazon.com for Books about Tony Perez ⇒
Search for Tony Perez at Google ⇒
View a map of his hometown at Mapquest ⇒
