Playing in the Alaska Baseball League in 1987, Tony Ariola described himself to The Anchorage Daily News as a pitcher who hit the corners and let his defense get the outs.To John Hughes, Ariola's opposing manager in one June game, Ariola was an unassuming pitcher who just beat him.
"He was one of those guys I sit there and say, 'We're gonna get him, we're gonna get him,'" Hughes told The Daily News after Ariola's 9-3 victory. "But we never did."
Ariola played in Alaska that summer, before his senior year at Northwestern. He went on to be drafted the next summer by the Athletics in the 26th round of the draft. But his time in the professional ranks would be brief, just four seasons. And it would end without him making the majors.
Ariola spent his first professional season at short-season Southern Oregon. There, he went 8-3, with a 2.63 ERA. One of those wins came in an August game, where he gave up three hits and no runs in seven innings against Bend. He also had a late-season 5-0 victory over Spokane. He gave up just two hits.
The Greatest 21 Days caught up with Tony Ariola in November 2011, read the two-part interview: Tony Ariola, Overcame Obstacles
Ariola moved to single-A Madison, then AA Huntsville in 1989. At Madison that year, Ariola went 9-5, with a sterling ERA of 1.86 in 18 innings. At Huntsville, Ariola went 5-2 with a 3.41 ERA and earned a trip to AAA for 1990.
At AAA Tacoma in 1990, however, Ariola got into just six games, starting two. He didn't play at all in 1991.
He returned for 1992 for just five more games. He started three at single-A Madison, then two more at AA Huntsville, going 3-0 with a 2.37 ERA between them. But they were Ariola's final games as a professional. His career ended without making the majors.
That year, Ariola's old high school coach spoke to The Chicago Tribune about the coach's more recent players. The coach compared that player to Ariola and another player.
Ariola was still fresh on Fenwick High School Coach Dave Hogan's mind. "Ariola," Hogan told The Tribune, "probably had the best fastball out of the group."
Ariola moved to single-A Madison, then AA Huntsville in 1989. At Madison that year, Ariola went 9-5, with a sterling ERA of 1.86 in 18 innings. At Huntsville, Ariola went 5-2 with a 3.41 ERA and earned a trip to AAA for 1990.
At AAA Tacoma in 1990, however, Ariola got into just six games, starting two. He didn't play at all in 1991.
He returned for 1992 for just five more games. He started three at single-A Madison, then two more at AA Huntsville, going 3-0 with a 2.37 ERA between them. But they were Ariola's final games as a professional. His career ended without making the majors.
That year, Ariola's old high school coach spoke to The Chicago Tribune about the coach's more recent players. The coach compared that player to Ariola and another player.
Ariola was still fresh on Fenwick High School Coach Dave Hogan's mind. "Ariola," Hogan told The Tribune, "probably had the best fastball out of the group."
Originally published Feb. 21, 2011
The Greatest 21 Days caught up with Tony Ariola in November 2011, read the two-part interview: Tony Ariola, Overcame Obstacles
The Greatest 21 Days caught up with Tony Ariola in November 2011, read the two-part interview: Tony Ariola, Overcame Obstacles
- Anchorage Daily News, June 20, 1987: Oiler pitcher teases victory out of Bucs
- Chicago Tribune, May 1, 1992: Fenwick Left-hander Stands Tall Among Peers
More: The 1990 Tacoma Tigers
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