Frank Viola

Frank John Viola (born April 19 1960 in Hempstead, New York) is a former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Minnesota Twins (1982-89), New York Mets (1989-91), Boston Red Sox (1992-94), Cincinnati Reds (1995) and Toronto Blue Jays (1996). He batted and threw left-handed, and was nicknamed "Sweet Music" – an unusual nickname he picked up after a Minnesota fan began displaying a banner bearing the phrase in the outfield's upper deck whenever Viola pitched.

Statistics

Batting

Viola's 2 and a half years with the Mets in the National League gave him 179 at bats, enough to accumulate only 25 hits. He would get 6 more at bats in 1995 with the Reds and got 1 hit. Overall 26 for 185 was a .141 batting average. With 3 walks in his career, his on base percentage was .154. However, in his last season with the Mets he became more productive picking up 10 sacrifice hits and 2 doubles. He would end his career with 6 RBIs.

Related Topics:
National League - At bats - Hits - 1995 - Batting average - On base percentage - Sacrifice hits - Double - RBI

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Postseason

He only got one chance in the postseason and he certainly made the most of it. It was with the Twins in 1987. After getting past the Detroit Tigers in the 1987 American League Championship Series, Viola and the Twins had to face favorites, the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series. Viola pitched Game 1, when the Twins blew the Cardinals away 10-1.

Related Topics:
Postseason - 1987 - Detroit Tigers - American League Championship Series - St. Louis Cardinals - World Series

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Game 4 was his second start, and the Twins went on to lose 7-2. After the Twins tied the series in Game 6 with an 11-5 win under a Don Baylor home run, it was up to Viola in Game 7. He pitched a gem, shutting the Cardinals out after giving up 2 runs in the 2nd inning. Jeff Reardon saved the game and the Twins won 4-2 and won the World Series 4-3. Viola was named World Series MVP.

Related Topics:
Don Baylor - Jeff Reardon - World Series

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