Tony Fernández

Octavio Antonio Fernandez Castro (b. June 30, 1962, San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic) was a Major League Baseball player most noted for his defensive skills.

Fernandez was first scouted by the Toronto Blue Jays' famed Latin America scount Epy Guerrero was was signed as an undrafted free agent. Promoted to the Blue Jays in 1983, Fernandez became the team's full-time shortstop in 1985; not coincidentally, the team won its first division title that year. Fernandez continued to star for the Jays for several years afterwards.

Before teh 1991 season, Fernandez was traded to the San Diego Padres in a blockbuster deal that also sent Jays star Fred McGriff to San Diego in exchange for Roberto Alomar and Joe Carter. FErnandez played well for San Diego for two years and then began the 1993 season with the New York Mets. After a disappointing start, he was dealt back to the Blue Jays. He played extremely well for the remainder of the season and was instrumental in helping the Blue Jays win the 1993 World Series. In that World Series, Fernandez drove in nine RBI, a record for a shortstop.

Fernandez then played with the Cincinnati Reds in 1994, the New York Yankees in 1995, (he missed the 1996 season to injury) and the Cleveland Indians in 1997, reaching the World Series again, thanks in large part to his own game-winning home run against Baltimore in the American League Championship Series. In 1998 he rejoined the Blue Jays, which revitalized his hitting, as he batted over .300 both seasons there. In 2000 he briefly played for the Milwaukee Brewers only to return to Toronto at season's end. He retired at the conclusion of the 2000 season.

A very thin man, Fernandez had a tilted, wavering batting stance that made it appear as if he might not be strong enough to hold his bat. For most of his career he wore a scar on his right cheek that he got when beaned by a pitch. Fernandez was nonetheless a noted fitness fanatic; he liked buying unusual home exercise machines and trying them out in the clubhouse. Early in his career Fernandez was well known for his exceptional defensive skills at shortstop. He was especially famous for his tendency to leap into the air while simultaneously throwing to first on balls hit far to his right.

Fernandez was awarded four Gold Gloves for his defense, from 1986 to 1989. Fernandez was also named to five All-Star teams. He finished his career with a .288 batting average in 2,158 games played, and batted .327 in postseason play.