Frank Viola was born on Tuesday, April 19, 1960, in Hempstead, New York. Viola was 22 years old when he broke into the big leagues on June 6, 1982, with the Minnesota Twins. His biographical data, year-by-year hitting stats, fielding stats, pitching stats (where applicable), career totals, uniform numbers, salary data and miscellaneous items-of-interest are presented by Baseball Almanac on this comprehensive Frank Viola baseball stats page.
"During the late '80s, there was no more effective southpaw in the American League than Frank Viola, ace of the 1987 world-champion Minnesota Twins and Cy Young winner during the Twins' title-defense season of 1988. And in a short two-year-plus stopover with the Mets, Viola would continue his magic, if only briefly, in the senior circuit with his only other 20-win campaign (20-12 in 1990) and the NL lead in innings pitched (249.2)." - Bjarkman, Peter C. Author. The New York Mets Encyclopedia: 3rd Edition. Sports Publishing. 4 June 2013. Page 294.
Frank Viola![]() Frank 'Sweet Music' Viola Autograph on a 1987 Topps Baseball Card (#310) |
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Frank ViolaFrank Viola Pitching Stats |
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| Year | Age | Team | G | GS | GF | W | L | PCT | ERA | CG | SHO | SV | IP | BFP | H | ER | R | HR | BB | IBB | SO | WP | HB | BK | HLD |
| 1982 | 22 | Twins | 22 | 22 | 0 | 4 | 10 | .286 | 5.21 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 126.0 | 543 | 152 | 73 | 77 | 22 | 38 | 2 | 84 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1983 | 23 | Twins | 35 | 34 | 0 | 7 | 15 | .318 | 5.49 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 210.0 | 949 | 242 | 128 | 141 | 34 | 92 | 7 | 127 | 6 | 8 | 2 | - |
| 1984 | 24 | Twins | 35 | 35 | 0 | 18 | 12 | .600 | 3.21 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 257.2 | 1,047 | 225 | 92 | 101 | 28 | 73 | 1 | 149 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| 1985 | 25 | Twins | 36 | 36 | 0 | 18 | 14 | .563 | 4.09 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 250.2 | 1,059 | 262 | 114 | 136 | 26 | 68 | 3 | 135 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 1986 | 26 | Twins | 37 | 37 | 0 | 16 | 13 | .552 | 4.51 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 245.2 | 1,053 | 257 | 123 | 136 | 37 | 83 | 0 | 191 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1987 | 27 | Twins | 36 | 36 | 0 | 17 | 10 | .630 | 2.90 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 251.2 | 1,037 | 230 | 81 | 91 | 29 | 66 | 1 | 197 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| 1988 | 28 | Twins | 35 | 35 | 0 | 24 | 7 | .774 | 2.64 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 255.1 | 1,031 | 236 | 75 | 80 | 20 | 54 | 2 | 193 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 1989 | 29 | Twins | 24 | 24 | 0 | 8 | 12 | .400 | 3.79 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 175.2 | 731 | 171 | 74 | 80 | 17 | 47 | 1 | 138 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 1989 | 29 | Mets | 12 | 12 | 0 | 5 | 5 | .500 | 3.38 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 85.1 | 351 | 75 | 32 | 35 | 5 | 27 | 3 | 73 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1990 | 30 | Mets | 35 | 35 | 0 | 20 | 12 | .625 | 2.67 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 249.2 | 1,016 | 227 | 74 | 83 | 15 | 60 | 2 | 182 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1991 | 31 | Mets | 35 | 35 | 0 | 13 | 15 | .464 | 3.97 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 231.1 | 980 | 259 | 102 | 112 | 25 | 54 | 4 | 132 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1992 | 32 | Red Sox | 35 | 35 | 0 | 13 | 12 | .520 | 3.44 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 238.0 | 999 | 214 | 91 | 99 | 13 | 89 | 4 | 121 | 12 | 7 | 2 | 0 |
| 1993 | 33 | Red Sox | 29 | 29 | 0 | 11 | 8 | .579 | 3.14 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 183.2 | 787 | 180 | 64 | 76 | 12 | 72 | 5 | 91 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 1994 | 34 | Red Sox | 6 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .500 | 4.65 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31.0 | 136 | 34 | 16 | 17 | 2 | 17 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1995 | 35 | Reds | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | 6.28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14.1 | 64 | 20 | 10 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1996 | 36 | Blue Jays | 6 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 3 | .250 | 7.71 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30.1 | 150 | 43 | 26 | 28 | 6 | 21 | 3 | 18 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | G | GS | GF | W | L | PCT | ERA | CG | SHO | SV | IP | BFP | H | ER | R | HR | BB | IBB | SO | WP | HB | BK | HLD | ||
| 15 Years | 421 | 420 | 0 | 176 | 150 | .540 | 3.73 | 74 | 16 | 0 | 2,836.1 | 11,933 | 2,827 | 1,175 | 1,303 | 294 | 864 | 39 | 1,844 | 86 | 48 | 12 | 0 | ||
Frank ViolaFrank Viola Hitting Stats |
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| Year | Age | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | GRSL | RBI | BB | IBB | SO | SH | SF | HBP | GIDP | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| 1982 | 22 | Twins | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| 1983 | 23 | Twins | 35 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| 1984 | 24 | Twins | 35 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| 1985 | 25 | Twins | 36 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| 1986 | 26 | Twins | 37 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| 1987 | 27 | Twins | 36 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| 1988 | 28 | Twins | 35 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| 1989 | 29 | Twins | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| 1989 | 29 | Mets | 12 | 23 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .130 | .167 | .130 |
| 1990 | 30 | Mets | 35 | 85 | 4 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .153 | .153 | .153 |
| 1991 | 31 | Mets | 35 | 71 | 2 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .127 | .151 | .155 |
| 1992 | 32 | Red Sox | 35 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| 1993 | 33 | Red Sox | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| 1994 | 34 | Red Sox | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| 1995 | 35 | Reds | 3 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .167 | .167 | .333 |
| 1996 | 36 | Blue Jays | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Career | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | GRSL | RBI | BB | IBB | SO | SH | SF | HBP | GIDP | AVG | OBP | SLG | ||
| 15 Years | 421 | 185 | 8 | 26 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 41 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .141 | .154 | .157 | ||
Frank ViolaFrank Viola Fielding Stats |
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| Team | POS | G | GS | OUTS | TC | TC/G | CH | PO | A | E | DP | PB | CASB | CACS | FLD% | RF |
| 1982 Twins | P | 22 | 22 | 378 | 18 | 0.8 | 16 | 1 | 15 | 2 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .889 | 1.14 |
| 1983 Twins | P | 35 | 34 | 630 | 31 | 0.9 | 30 | 7 | 23 | 1 | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .968 | 1.29 |
| 1984 Twins | P | 35 | 35 | 773 | 33 | 0.9 | 32 | 6 | 26 | 1 | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .970 | 1.12 |
| 1985 Twins | P | 36 | 36 | 752 | 44 | 1.2 | 39 | 6 | 33 | 5 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .886 | 1.40 |
| 1986 Twins | P | 37 | 37 | 737 | 32 | 0.9 | 29 | 8 | 21 | 3 | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .906 | 1.06 |
| 1987 Twins | P | 36 | 36 | 755 | 43 | 1.2 | 40 | 6 | 34 | 3 | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .930 | 1.43 |
| 1988 Twins | P | 35 | 35 | 766 | 37 | 1.1 | 35 | 5 | 30 | 2 | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .946 | 1.23 |
| 1989 Twins | P | 24 | 24 | 527 | 36 | 1.5 | 33 | 7 | 26 | 3 | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .917 | 1.69 |
| 1989 Mets | P | 12 | 12 | 256 | 13 | 1.1 | 12 | 3 | 9 | 1 | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .923 | 1.27 |
| 1990 Mets | P | 35 | 35 | 749 | 46 | 1.3 | 45 | 11 | 34 | 1 | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .978 | 1.62 |
| 1991 Mets | P | 35 | 35 | 694 | 44 | 1.3 | 40 | 6 | 34 | 4 | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .909 | 1.56 |
| 1992 Red Sox | P | 35 | 35 | 714 | 55 | 1.6 | 53 | 6 | 47 | 2 | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .964 | 2.00 |
| 1993 Red Sox | P | 29 | 29 | 551 | 45 | 1.6 | 41 | 10 | 31 | 4 | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .911 | 2.01 |
| 1994 Red Sox | P | 6 | 6 | 93 | 4 | 0.7 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 1.16 |
| 1995 Reds | P | 3 | 3 | 43 | 2 | 0.7 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 1.26 |
| 1996 Blue Jays | P | 6 | 6 | 91 | 4 | 0.7 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 1.19 |
| Career | POS | G | GS | OUTS | TC | TC/G | CH | PO | A | E | DP | PB | CASB | CACS | FLD% | RF |
| P Totals | 421 | 420 | 8,509 | 487 | 1.2 | 455 | 84 | 371 | 32 | 19 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .934 | 1.44 | |
| 15 Years | 421 | 420 | 8,509 | 487 | 1.2 | 455 | 84 | 371 | 32 | 19 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .934 | 1.44 | |
Frank ViolaFrank Viola Miscellaneous Stats |
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| Baserunning Statistics | Other Positions | Common Hitting Ratios | Common Pitching Ratios | |||||||||
| Team | SB | CS | SB% | PH | PR | DH | AB/HR | AB/K | AB/RBI | K/BB | K/9 | BB/9 |
| 1982 Twins | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.21 | 6.00 | 2.71 |
| 1983 Twins | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.38 | 5.44 | 3.94 |
| 1984 Twins | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.04 | 5.20 | 2.55 |
| 1985 Twins | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.99 | 4.85 | 2.44 |
| 1986 Twins | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.30 | 7.00 | 3.04 |
| 1987 Twins | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.98 | 7.05 | 2.36 |
| 1988 Twins | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.57 | 6.80 | 1.90 |
| 1989 Twins | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.94 | 7.07 | 2.41 |
| 1989 Mets | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 0.0 | 3.3 | 23.0 | 2.70 | 7.70 | 2.85 |
| 1990 Mets | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 0.0 | 4.3 | 21.3 | 3.03 | 6.56 | 2.16 |
| 1991 Mets | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 0.0 | 5.5 | 71.0 | 2.44 | 5.14 | 2.10 |
| 1992 Red Sox | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.36 | 4.58 | 3.37 |
| 1993 Red Sox | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.26 | 4.46 | 3.53 |
| 1994 Red Sox | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.53 | 2.61 | 4.94 |
| 1995 Reds | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 0.0 | 6.0 | 0.0 | 1.33 | 2.51 | 1.88 |
| 1996 Blue Jays | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.86 | 5.34 | 6.23 |
| Career | SB | CS | SB% | PH | PR | DH | AB/HR | AB/K | AB/RBI | K/BB | K/9 | BB/9 |
| 15 Years | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 4.5 | 30.8 | 2.13 | 5.85 | 2.74 |
Frank ViolaFrank Viola Miscellaneous Items of Interest |
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| Team | Roster | Uniform Numbers | Salary | All-Star | World Series |
| 1982 Minnesota Twins | 16 | $33,500.00 | - | - |
| 1983 Minnesota Twins | 16 | $36,200.00 | - | - |
| 1984 Minnesota Twins | 16 | $44,800.00 | - | - |
| 1985 Minnesota Twins | 16 | $375,000.00 | - | - |
| 1986 Minnesota Twins | 16 | $674,000.00 | - | - |
| 1987 Minnesota Twins | 16 | $830,000.00 | - | Stats |
| 1988 Minnesota Twins | 16 | $1,350,000.00 | Stats | - |
| 1989 Minnesota Twins | 16 | $2,766,666.00 | - | - |
| 1989 New York Mets | 26 | " " | - | - |
| 1990 New York Mets | 29 | $1,966,667.00 | Stats | - |
| 1991 New York Mets | 29 | $3,166,667.00 | Stats | - |
| 1992 Boston Red Sox | 16 | $4,833,333.00 | - | - |
| 1993 Boston Red Sox | 16 | $4,833,333.00 | - | - |
| 1994 Boston Red Sox | 16 | $4,333,334.00 | - | n/a |
| 1995 Cincinnati Reds | 44 | $190,000.00 | - | - |
| 1996 Toronto Blue Jays | 19 | $185,000.00 | - | - |
| Frank Viola Stats by Baseball Almanac | ||||

Frank John Viola was a Major League Baseball player who pitched for the Minnesota Twins (1982-1989), New York Mets (1989-1991), Boston Red Sox (1992-1994), Cincinnati Reds (1995), and Toronto Blue Jays (1996). Did you know that Viola, after the 1987 Minnesota Twins won the 1987 World Series, was the first Major League Baseball player to utter the advertising expression, "I'm going to Disney World"?

Frank Viola Rookie Card | 1983 Topps Baseball Card (#586 | Checklist)
Baseball Almanac Research Library
I'm going to Disney World!
Walt Disney World Chief Executive Officer Michael Eisner credited his wife Jane in his 1998 memoir Work Progress, with the idea for the advertising campaign. According to Eisner, during the January 1987 grand opening for the Star Tours attraction at Disneyland, the couple dined with Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager, who in December 1986 had piloted the first aircraft to fly around the world without stopping or refueling. After Jane Eisner asked what the pilots planned to do after dinner, they replied, "Well, we're going to Disneyland." She later told her husband the phrase would make a great advertising campaign.
A few weeks later, Disney launched the "I'm going to Disney World!" following Super Bowl XXI on January 25, 1987 with a commercial featuring New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms. Simms was paid a reported $75,000 for his participation.
Disney aired three more ads that year with other athletes following major sports championships: Dennis Conner (Stars & Stripes, America's Cup), Magic Johnson (Los Angeles Lakers, NBA Finals) and Frank Viola.

View the Disney Sports News Historical Press Release
Baseball Almanac Research Library
In 1970, Jim Perry went 24-12 with a 3.03 ERA, winning the Cy Young Award, the first instance by a Minnesota Twins pitcher (including their time in Washington). Eighteen years later, Frank Viola went 24-7 with a 2.64 ERA, winning the Cy Young Award, the first instance by a left-handed Minnesota Twins pitcher.
In 1987, Frank Viola started three games during the 1987 World Series, won two, and struck out sixteen hitters. During Game 7, Sweet Music pitched 8 frames, had seven strikeouts, no walks, and surrendered only two runs, becoming the first Twins player in franchise history to win a World Series Most Valuable Player Award!
Frank Viola was on the mound August 4, 1985, when Rod Carew strode to the plate in the third inning and hit a "I'm in the 3,000 Hits Club" single off Sweet Music. Frank Viola did not ever surrender a grand slam to Carew, but he did to Greg Luzinski (June 8, 1984), Joe Carter (June 20, 1986), Jim Rice (September 5, 1986), Danny Tartabull (October 2, 1987), Steve Balboni (April 14, 1989), Hubie Brooks (September 23, 1989), Garry Templeton (May 18, 1990), Dickie Thon (July 23, 1990), and Harold Baines (July 30, 1993) - nine career grand slams allowed, second most in baseball history (behind Mike Jackson and Nolan Ryan, each has allowed ten slams).