Frank Viola attended East Meadow High
School in East Meadow, New York, at the same time that
convicted serial killer Joel Rifkin was there. A school
newspaper article exists that was written by Rifkin
about Frank's athletic exploits. Frank went on to attend
St. John's University before being drafted in the 2nd
round of the 1981 amateur draft by the Minnesota Twins.
His first year in the majors was only one year after
that, on June 6, 1982.
After posting a combined 11-25 record and a 5.38
ERA in his first two seasons, Frank posted two consecutive
18-win years in 1984 and 1985, adding a 16-13 record
in 1986, when he led the league in starts. Key to
Frank Viola's success was a changeup taught to him
by Twins pitching coach Johnny Podres; it gave Frank
more confidence in his fastball, and would eventually
become his signature pitch.
The most prominent portion of his career came in
Minnesota, where he picked up 112 of his 176 career
wins. His overall career stats are impressive, with
a 3.73 ERA, 176-150 record, 74 complete games, and
16 shutouts in 421 games. His most impressive career
achievement is his Cy Young Award in 1988, when he
won a career high 24 games.
His first two years in the majors were not horrible,
but playing with some bad Twins teams, his statistics
were rather disappointing. In the 1982 and 1983 seasons
combined, he went 11-25 with a 5.37 ERA. However,
after those two seasons, his career took off.
In 1987, Frank helped the Twins win the World Series.
After getting past the Detroit Tigers in the American
League Championship Series, Frank and the Twins had
to face favorites, the St. Louis Cardinals in the
World Series. He pitched game 1, when the Twins blew
the Cardinals away 10-1. Game 4 was Frank’s
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 Frank Viola
to clinch the title in game 7. He pitched a phenomenal
game, 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.
In his shining moment, Frank Viola was named the World
Series MVP.
Averaging 229 innings pitched through his career,
he was a true workhorse, finishing 74 of the 420 games
he started. His best year, which was also his last
full year with the Twins, most likely came in 1988
when he won 24 games, losing only 7 and completing
7 games, 2 for shutouts. That year, he had an impressive
255 innings pitched and gave up only 20 home runs
and 54 walks. He had 193 strikeouts and easily led
the league in wins. His ERA was a career-low 2.64
and he would go on to win the American League Cy Young
Award.
Frank Viola's humble and enthusiastic approach to
the game earned him tremendous popularity in Minnesota.
However, Twins fans were greatly offended when his
agent wrote a "trade-me-or-pay-me" letter
to Twins management in 1989. Local hero Kent Hrbek
attacked him in the press and third baseman Gary Gaetti
chimed in with his negative feelings regarding Frank's
contract demands.
Not surprisingly, Twins management elected to give
Frank Viola's agent what he wanted, and Frank was
dealt to the New York Mets on July 31, 1989 for a
number of top players, including Rick Aguilera, David
West, and Kevin Tapani. Leaving his lifelong team
was tough, but Frank would go on to have more good
years in New York and Boston.
In 1990, he would have another great season, this
time for his hometown New York Mets finishing 3rd
in the Cy Young voting. He was 20-12 that year, with
a 2.67 ERA in 35 starts, including 3 shutouts.
After making his third all-star team in 1991, he
signed with the Red Sox in January of 1992. He would
have a few mediocre seasons with them, and then finished
his career with the Reds and then the Blue Jays ending
his career on May 28, 1996. His last career win came
in May at Kansas City's Kauffman Stadium, the site
of his very first. He finished his career with 1844
strikeouts.
Frank Viola was a curly-haired changeup artist and
established himself as one of the leagues finest pitchers
and the ace of an otherwise mediocre Minnesota staff.
Despite the bad press due to his agents’ brash
letter, Frank Viola started his career in Minnesota
and led them to the World Series. He will always be
known as a Twin “great.” Many fans hope
that Frank will get the nod to join the teams’
Hall of Fame.
