View source for Frank Viola

{{short description|American baseball player (born 1960)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{for multi|his son, the American baseball pitcher|Frank Viola III|the American writer|Frank Viola (author)}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Frank Viola
|team=High Point Rockers
|image=Frank Viola 1987.jpg
|caption=Viola with the Minnesota Twins in 1987
|position=[[Pitcher]] / [[Pitching coach|Coach]]
|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1960|4|19}}
|birth_place=[[East Meadow, New York]], U.S.
|bats=Left
|throws=Left
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate=June 6
|debutyear=1982
|debutteam=Minnesota Twins
|finalleague = MLB
|finaldate=May 28
|finalyear=1996
|finalteam=Toronto Blue Jays
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label=[[Win–loss record (pitching)|Win–loss record]]
|stat1value=176–150
|stat2label=[[Earned run average]]
|stat2value=3.73
|stat3label=[[Strikeout]]s
|stat3value=1,844
|teams=
*[[Minnesota Twins]] ({{mlby|1982}}–{{mlby|1989}})
*[[New York Mets]] ({{mlby|1989}}–{{mlby|1991}})
*[[Boston Red Sox]] ({{mlby|1992}}–{{mlby|1994}})
*[[Cincinnati Reds]] ({{mlby|1995}})
*[[Toronto Blue Jays]] ({{mlby|1996}})
|highlights=
*3× [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] ([[1988 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1988]], [[1990 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1990]], [[1991 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1991]])
*[[World Series champion]] ({{wsy|1987}})
*[[AL Cy Young Award]] (1988)
*[[World Series MVP]] (1987)
*[[List of Major League Baseball annual wins leaders|MLB wins leader]] (1988)
* [[Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame]]
}}
'''Frank John Viola Jr.''' (born April 19, 1960) is an American former [[starting pitcher]] in [[Major League Baseball]] who played for the [[Minnesota Twins]] (1982–1989), [[New York Mets]] (1989–1991), [[Boston Red Sox]] (1992–1994), [[Cincinnati Reds]] (1995), and [[Toronto Blue Jays]] (1996). A three-time [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]], he was named [[World Series MVP]] with the Twins in 1987 and won the [[AL Cy Young Award]] in 1988. He is the pitching coach of the [[High Point Rockers]].

He batted and threw left-handed, and he was nicknamed "'''Sweet Music'''" &ndash; a nickname he picked up after a Minnesota sports writer declared that when Viola pitched, there was "Sweet Music" in the [[Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome]]. The nickname was a play on the fact that his last name is also a name of a [[Viola|musical instrument]], although pronounced differently. A fan began displaying a banner bearing the phrase in the outfield's upper deck whenever Viola pitched. Twins fans considered the banner to be a good luck charm.  The banner is now the property of the Minnesota Historical Society. It was again displayed when Viola was inducted into the Twins Hall of Fame. He was honored as a member of the Twins' "All Dome" team in 2009.

==Biography==

===Early life===
Viola was born and grew up in [[East Meadow, New York]], with his brother John and sister Nancy, and he went on to attend and play baseball for [[East Meadow High School]] before playing at the collegiate level for [[St. John's Red Storm baseball|St. John's University]]. On May 21, 1981, Viola faced future Mets teammate [[Ron Darling]], then playing for [[Yale Bulldogs baseball|Yale University]].  The game, often considered to be the best in college baseball history, saw Darling pitch 11 innings of no-hit ball before surrendering his only hit, a leadoff single in the 12th, leading to the game's only run. Viola himself threw 11 innings of shutout ball.<ref>{{cite news|date=June 9, 2012 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/09/sports/baseball/darling-viola-pitchers-duel-lives-on-in-st-johns-baseball-lore.html?ref=sports |author=Zach Schonbrun |title=Viola-Darling Pitching Duel in 1981 Has Not Been Forgotten |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=June 9, 2012 |archive-date=June 14, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130614094452/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/09/sports/baseball/darling-viola-pitchers-duel-lives-on-in-st-johns-baseball-lore.html?ref=sports |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=McGee>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-sports/baseball/story/_/id/31474244/ron-darling-frank-viola-ncaa-baseball-greatest-game-ever-40-years-on |title=Ron Darling, Frank Viola and NCAA baseball's greatest game ever, 40 years on |first=Ryan |last=McGee |website=ESPN.com |date=May 21, 2021 |accessdate=May 24, 2021}}</ref> Viola was drafted following his senior year in the 16th round of the [[1979 Major League Baseball draft]] by the [[Kansas City Royals]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Frank Viola Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/v/violafr01.shtml |access-date=2022-10-13 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> but he did not sign.

===Minnesota Twins===
Viola signed with the [[Minnesota Twins]] after the team drafted him in the second round of the [[1981 Major League Baseball draft]]. After spending less than a full season in the minor leagues, Viola made his major league debut on June 6, 1982. Although his [[statistics]] were fairly disappointing—he finished 11–25 with a 5.37 ERA in the {{mlby|1982}} and {{mlby|1983}} seasons—Viola became a permanent fixture of the Twins' starting staff for the next 7 seasons, picking up 112 of his 176 career wins.

[[File:Frank Viola and 1987 Twins (cropped).png|thumb|Viola (left) at the [[White House Rose Garden|White House]] in 1987]]
Viola helped pitch the Twins to their second World Series appearance and first World Series win in 1987; he finished the season with a 17–10 record, a 2.90 ERA, and 197 strikeouts in {{frac|251|2|3}} innings. Viola would then sparkle in the post-season, going a combined 3–1 with 25 strikeouts in {{frac|31|1|3}} innings despite a 4.31 ERA. Following the Twins' Game 7 series–clinching win—a game which Viola won 4–2—he was named the [[1987 World Series]] [[World Series MVP Award|Most Valuable Player]].

Most baseball enthusiasts agree that Viola's best year was [[1988 in baseball|1988]], his last full year with the Twins. That year, he threw his signature [[circle change]] with skill, compiling an impressive 24–7 record with 7 complete games and 2 shutouts in 255 innings pitched with a career-low ERA of 2.64. He also gave up only 20 home runs and 54 [[Base on balls|walks]]. Viola led the league in wins and would go on to win the [[American League|AL]] Cy Young Award in a landslide, finishing with 27 of the 28 first-place votes and beating out second-place [[Dennis Eckersley]] by 86 total votes.

===New York Mets===
At the [[trade deadline]] in July {{mlby|1989}}—two years after Viola had led the Twins to a World Series title—the Twins traded him to the [[New York Mets]] for four pitchers and a player to be named later. Viola was not having a strong year and was 8–12 when he was traded, but he managed a 5–5 record with the Mets and finished the year at 13–17. Meanwhile, two of the pitchers the Twins acquired in the deal went on to become key members of the team: [[Kevin Tapani]] was one of the front-line starters for the Twins in their [[1991 World Series]] run, while [[Rick Aguilera]] eventually became the team's closer and one of the best relievers in the major leagues.

Viola had a much better year in 1990, winning 20 games for the second time in his career. He would finish third in the Cy Young Award voting behind Pittsburgh's [[Doug Drabek]] and Los Angeles' [[Ramón Martínez (pitcher)|Ramón Martínez]], and he was named to the National League's All-Star Team.

In {{mlby|1991}}, Viola made the [[1991 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star Game]] for a third time after posting an 11–5 record in the first half of the season. However, as the Mets collapsed in the second half of the year to finish with a 78–84 record, Viola collapsed with them and went 2–10 in his final 12 decisions. His last win came in his second-to-last start with the Mets on September 29 at Shea Stadium against the [[Philadelphia Phillies]]. He became a free agent after the 1991 season when the Mets opted not to resign Viola.

===Later career===
He signed with the [[Boston Red Sox|Red Sox]] in January {{mlby|1992}}. In a spring training game on April 2, [[1993 Boston Red Sox season|1993]], Viola and [[Cory Bailey]] combined on a no-hitter as the Red Sox defeated the Phillies 10–0 at [[Jack Russell Memorial Stadium]] in [[Clearwater, Florida]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Viola, Bailey combine on no-hitter|date=April 3, 1993|work=[[Chicago Tribune]]|pages=3}}</ref> He was injured while with the Red Sox and underwent [[Tommy John surgery]]. He finished his career with the [[Cincinnati Reds|Reds]] and [[Toronto Blue Jays|Blue Jays]], ending his career on May 28, 1996. He finished his career with 1844 [[strikeout]]s.

===Postseason===
He only got one chance in the [[postseason]], and he certainly made the most of it when his Twins faced the [[St. Louis Cardinals]] in the [[1987 World Series|World Series]]. After getting past the [[Detroit Tigers]] in the [[1987 American League Championship Series]], Viola and the Twins had to face the favored Cardinals. Viola pitched Game 1 and led the Twins to a 10–1 rout of the Cards. Viola's second start came in Game 4, and the Twins went on to lose 7–2. After the Twins tied the series in Game 6 with an 11–5 win thanks to a [[Kent Hrbek]] grand slam, it was up to Viola in Game 7. He pitched a gem, shutting the Cardinals out after giving up two runs in the second inning. [[Jeff Reardon]] pitched the ninth inning, and the Twins won 4–2 on the way to a 4–3 series win. Viola was named World Series MVP.

==Coaching and personal life==
In retirement, Viola coached baseball for [[Lake Highland Preparatory School]] for a time in [[Orlando, Florida]]. He also coached with the Florida College Summer League's Leesburg Lightning. In 2009, Viola assisted the [[Cleveland Indians]] as a coach in spring training. Frank was also a part-time, substitute game broadcast announcer for [[NESN]], network of the Boston Red Sox. On January 26, 2011, Viola was hired as pitching coach of the [[Brooklyn Cyclones]], the Mets' Single-A (Short Season) team.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/community/leesburg/os-lk-frank-viola-0128-20110127,0,4405782.story |title=Frank Viola takes job as Mets minor-league coach |newspaper=Orlando-Sentinel |date=January 27, 2011 |access-date=January 27, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-date=November 10, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110225716/http://www.orlandosentinel.com/community/leesburg/os-lk-frank-viola-0128-20110127,0,4405782.story }}</ref> Viola spent 2012–2013 as the Single-A Affiliate [[Savannah Sand Gnats]] pitching coach, winning Coach of the Year in 2013. Following the season, Viola was named the pitching coach for the [[Las Vegas Aviators|Las Vegas 51s]] (now the Las Vegas Aviators), the Mets' Triple-A affiliate in the [[Pacific Coast League]].<ref name=newsday>{{cite news|date=March 19, 2014 |url=http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/mets/ballpark-a-refuge-for-mets-minor-league-pitching-coach-frank-viola-1.7441610 |newspaper=[[Newsday]] |author=Anthony Rieber |title=Ballpark a refuge for Mets minor-league pitching coach Frank Viola |access-date=March 26, 2014 |archive-date=March 26, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140326163507/http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/mets/ballpark-a-refuge-for-mets-minor-league-pitching-coach-frank-viola-1.7441610 }}</ref> During a 2014 spring training physical, Viola was diagnosed with a heart condition that required open-heart surgery on April 2.<ref>{{cite news|date=April 28, 2014 |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/martino-met-viola-takes-heart-article-1.1772293 |title=Former NY Mets pitcher Frank Viola recovering from heart surgery, getting big show of support |newspaper=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]] |access-date=May 31, 2014 |author=Andy Martino |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140430072637/http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/martino-met-viola-takes-heart-article-1.1772293 |archive-date=April 30, 2014 }}</ref> After surgery he signed with the 51s.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/11001667/new-york-mets-minor-league-coach-frank-viola-back-heart-issue |author=Adam Rubin |title=Frank Viola back after heart issue |publisher=[[ESPN.com]] |work=[[WEPN (AM)|WEPN]] |date=May 29, 2014 |access-date=May 31, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140530233729/http://espn.go.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/11001667/new-york-mets-minor-league-coach-frank-viola-back-heart-issue |url-status=live |archive-date=May 30, 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/05/29/frank-viola-recovered-from-heart-surgery-ready-to-serve-as-mets-triple-a-pitching-coach/ |title=Frank Viola recovered from heart surgery, ready to serve as Mets' Triple-A pitching coach |author=D. J. Short |work=[[NBC Sports]] |date=May 29, 2014 |access-date=May 31, 2014 |archive-date=May 31, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531021316/http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/05/29/frank-viola-recovered-from-heart-surgery-ready-to-serve-as-mets-triple-a-pitching-coach/ }}</ref>
He continued as the pitching coach for the 51s through the 2017 season.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.milb.com/binghamton/news/gcs-264310260 |title=2018 Field Staff Named for Binghamton |author=Tim Heiman |date=January 5, 2018 |website=mlb.com }}</ref> For the 2018 season, Frank served as the pitching coach for the Mets  Double-A [[Binghamton Rumble Ponies]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.milb.com/binghamton/news/gcs-264310260 |title=2018 Field Staff Named for Binghamton |author=Tim Heiman |date=January 5, 2018 |website=mlb.com }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/pitching-instructor-frank-viola-leaving-mets-c297011544|title=Pitching instructor Viola leaving Mets | author=Anthony DiComo | date = October 3, 2018 | website = mlb.com }}</ref> He joined the [[High Point Rockers]] of the [[Atlantic League of Professional Baseball]] as the pitching coach in 2019,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/sports/baseball/patriots/somersetpatriotspulse/2018/11/28/high-point-rockers-name-jamie-keefe-manager-frank-viola-pitching-coach/38635995/ |title=High Point Rockers Name Jamie Keefe Manager, Frank Viola Pitching Coach |author=Mike Ashmore |date=November 28, 2018 |website=mycentraljersey.com }}</ref> a position he continues to hold in 2024. At that time, he was living in [[Mooresville, North Carolina]].<ref name=McGee/>

Daughter [[Brittany Viola|Brittany]] was a [[Diving (sport)|diver]] at the [[University of Miami]], becoming the 2008 and 2011 platform diving NCAA National Champion. Brittany narrowly missed making the 2004 [[United States at the 2004 Summer Olympics|United States Olympic]] diving team, but later competed at the [[2012 London Olympics]].<ref>{{cite news|author=Anthony DiComo |title=Viola to undergo open-heart surgery |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/nym/frank-viola-to-undergo-open-heart-surgery?ymd=20140325&content_id=70100270&vkey=news_nym |work=[[MLB.com]] |date=March 25, 2014 |access-date=May 31, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531010511/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/nym/frank-viola-to-undergo-open-heart-surgery?ymd=20140325&content_id=70100270&vkey=news_nym |archive-date=May 31, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Brittany made Viola a grandfather in August 2014.<ref name=newsday/> Daughter Kaley played volleyball at [[Winthrop Eagles|Winthrop University]] and is now an assistant coach at [[Davidson Wildcats|Davidson College]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/267270491.html?page=2&c=y |title=Continued: Hartman: Grant cherishes '65 All-Star Game, World Series with Twins |newspaper=[[Star Tribune]] |author=Sid Hartman |date=July 16, 2014 |access-date=July 21, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140727171052/http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/267270491.html?page=2&c=y |archive-date=July 27, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/26007291/warriors-stephen-curry-celebrates-davidson-win-student-section |title=Warriors' Stephen Curry celebrates Davidson win in student section |first=Nick |last=Friedell |website=ESPN.com |date=February 15, 2019 |access-date=February 16, 2019 |quote=One of the fans [[Stephen Curry|Curry]] was able to spend a few moments with was former Cy Young Award winner Frank Viola, whose daughter, Kaley, is an assistant volleyball coach at Davidson.}}</ref>

Son [[Frank Viola III|Frank III]] attended [[Florida College]] and was drafted by the [[Chicago White Sox]] in the 29th round of the [[2004 MLB draft]]. Frank III struggled with injuries (including needing [[Tommy John surgery]]) and only pitched in 24 games at rookie level [[Bristol White Sox]] before being released following the 2007 season.<ref name=jj>{{cite news|date=March 5, 2014 |url=http://jaysjournal.com/2014/03/05/toronto-blue-jays-sign-knuckleballer-frank-viola-iii-minor-league-contract-news-rumors/ |title=Toronto Blue Jays sign knuckleballer Frank Viola III to minor league deal |author=Michael Wray |url-status=live |archive-date=March 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140326164424/http://jaysjournal.com/2014/03/05/toronto-blue-jays-sign-knuckleballer-frank-viola-iii-minor-league-contract-news-rumors/ }}</ref> In 2010, he pitched for the independent league [[St. Paul Saints]] and was 1–2 with a 4.58 ERA in 21 games before retiring from professional baseball.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=viola-002fra |title=Frank Viola |publisher=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140326165620/http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=viola-002fra |archive-date=March 26, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> He now serves as analyst for Bright House Sports Network on their studio show and for their Florida State League broadcasts. Starting in 2012, Frank III has worked with [[R. A. Dickey]] and Hall of Fame pitcher [[Phil Niekro]] on developing a [[knuckleball]] to resurrect his baseball career.<ref name=jj/> In December 2012, he appeared as himself on the ''[[How I Met Your Mother]]'' episode "[[The Final Page]]", where he is on the phone with Marshall, one of the main characters.<ref>{{cite web|date=December 17, 2012 |url=https://www.avclub.com/how-i-met-your-mother-the-final-page-part-one-the-1798175326|title=How I Met Your Mother: "The Final Page, Part One"/"The Final Page, Part Two" |author=Donna Bowman |publisher=The A.V. Club| access-date=February 27, 2018 }}</ref> On March 5, 2014, he was signed by the [[Toronto Blue Jays]] to a minor league contract and currently pitches for the [[Dunedin Blue Jays]] in the Advanced Single A [[Florida State League]].<ref>{{cite web |date=March 5, 2014 |access-date=March 5, 2014 |url=http://www.canadianbaseballnetwork.com/articles/blue-jays-sign-another-knuckleballer-frank-viola-iii/ |title=Blue Jays sign another Knuckleballer with Frank Viola III |first=April |last=Whitzman |work=Canadian Baseball Network |archive-date=May 30, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140530235339/http://www.canadianbaseballnetwork.com/articles/blue-jays-sign-another-knuckleballer-frank-viola-iii/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> {{update|date=February 2019}}

==See also==
*[[List of Major League Baseball annual wins leaders]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball career strikeout leaders]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Baseballstats|mlb=123732|espn=1234|br=v/violafr01|fangraphs=1013435}}
*[http://www.frankviolabaseball.com/ Frank Viola Baseball Official Site] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130527025950/http://frankviolabaseball.com/ |date=2013-05-27 }}
*[https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/stats/_/id/1234/frank-viola Frank Viola Career Stats] ESPN
*[https://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=violafr01 Frank Viola Baseball Stats] Baseball Almanac
*[http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/mets/roger_that_NLyLhEdp8VluvDG5CE6oBP Frank Viola Pitching Coach] ''NY Post''

{{Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame}}
{{1987 Minnesota Twins}}
{{AL Cy Young}}
{{World Series MVPs}}
{{Babe Ruth Award}}
{{AL wins champions}}
{{Sporting News AL Pitcher of the Year Award}}
{{Minnesota Twins Opening Day starting pitchers}}
{{1981 College Baseball All-Americans}}
{{National College Baseball Hall of Fame}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Viola, Frank}}
[[Category:1960 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American people of Italian descent]]
[[Category:All-American college baseball players]]
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[[Category:Baseball coaches from New York (state)]]
[[Category:Boston Red Sox players]]
[[Category:Brooklyn Cyclones coaches]]
[[Category:National College Baseball Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Cy Young Award winners]]
[[Category:Dunedin Blue Jays players]]
[[Category:Indianapolis Indians players]]
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[[Category:Major League Baseball pitchers]]
[[Category:Minnesota Twins players]]
[[Category:National League All-Stars]]
[[Category:New York Mets players]]
[[Category:Orlando Twins players]]
[[Category:People from East Meadow, New York]]
[[Category:Baseball players from Nassau County, New York]]
[[Category:St. John's Red Storm baseball players]]
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[[Category:Toronto Blue Jays players]]
[[Category:World Series Most Valuable Player Award winners]]
[[Category:Peninsula Oilers players]]
[[Category:East Meadow High School alumni]]
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