- by Old School

And then one August night, the kid in right, lie sprawling in the dirt.The fastball struck him square; he’s down.  Is Tony badly hurt?

– From  the “Impossible Dream,” 1967 Boston Red Sox season with Ken Coleman and Don Gillis.

Anthony Richard Conigliaro was born on January 7, 1945 in Revere, MA.  In 1962, at the age of just 17, Tony C graduated from St. Mary’s of Lynn High School and was drafted and signed by the Boston Red Sox!  In 1963, just 18 years young, Tony batted .363 with 24 home runs playing minor league ball.

Tony C was becoming the most exciting young player in all of Major League Baseball.  He was called up to the Red Sox for the 1964 season, and, despite missing 50 games due to a broken arm (He was hit in the arm by a pitch.), the teenager batted .290 with 24 home runs and 52 RBIs.  In just his second season, Tony became the youngest home run champ in the history of the game, knocking out 32 home runs.

In the summer of 1967, the Red Sox were in the midst of their “Impossible Dream” season.  New manager Dick Williams brought a new philosophy to Boston, and it was working.  Pitcher Jim Lonborg would win 22 games that year.  Carl Yastrzemski was on his way to winning the Triple Crown and the MVP.  Tony Conigliaro, at the age of 22, had just become the youngest American League player to hit 100 home runs.

In Fenway Park, on August 18th of 1967, the Sox were playing the California Angels.  In the fifth inning, Angel’s pitcher Jack Hamilton hit Tony C in the face with a pitch.  Tony suffered a broken cheek bone, a dislocated jaw, and damage to his retina.  He would miss the rest of that season and all of the 1968 season.  His team would go on to win the American League Pennant, but lose in the World Series.

After missing a year and a half, Tony attempted to come back to the game in 1969.  Tony C would win the league’s “Comeback Player of the Year” that year, playing 141 games, hitting 20 homers with 82 RBIs.  In 1970, Tony had a fine year as well, hitting 36 homers and 116 RBIs while playing alongside his younger brother Billy.

Tony’s eyesight, which was never quite the same after the damage from the injury, continued to falter.  He played a bit for the Angels in 1971, but retired after that season.  He would attempt one more comeback in 1975 with the Red Sox, but that would last just 21 games, as his eyesight was now permanently damaged.

During his playing career, as well as after he was done, Tony often could be found singing in night clubs in and around Boston.  He even appeared on the Merv Griffin show, singing his signature song “Little Red Scooter.”

During his short career he had several noteworthy accomplishments.  He was the 1965 Home Run Champ.  He was selected to the All-Star team in 1967.  He was Youngest American leaguer to hit 100 home runs.  He also holds the record for home runs by a teenager.  He was the 1969 AL Comeback Played of the Year.

Tony C always seemed to have health issues after that August night in 1967.  In 1982, he suffered a stroke that left him on a coma.  He remained that way until his death in 1990 at the age of just 45.

Each year, the Tony Conigliaro Award is given to the Major League Baseball player who has exemplified Tony’s fighting spirit in overcoming obstacles and adversity.

-Old School is the sports columnist for bostontourguide.org