Frank Viola is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for several teams during his career. He was born on April 19, 1960, in East Meadow, New York, and attended St. John's University, where he played college baseball.
Viola was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the second round of the 1981 MLB draft and made his major league debut in 1982. He quickly established himself as one of the team's top pitchers, earning the nickname "Sweet Music" for his smooth delivery and excellent control.
In 1984, Viola had a breakout season, winning 18 games and leading the Twins to their first playoff appearance since 1970. He was named the American League Championship Series MVP after pitching two complete games and allowing just one run in the series.
Viola continued to be a dominant pitcher for the Twins over the next few years, winning 17 games in 1985 and 18 games in 1987. He was named the AL Cy Young Award winner in 1988 after posting a 24-7 record with a 2.64 ERA.
After spending the first eight years of his career with the Twins, Viola was traded to the New York Mets in 1989. He had a solid season for the Mets, winning 20 games and finishing second in the NL Cy Young Award voting.
Viola spent the next few years bouncing around the league, playing for the Boston Red Sox, Cincinnati Reds, and Toronto Blue Jays. He had some success with these teams but was never able to replicate the dominance he had shown earlier in his career.
Viola retired from baseball in 1996 with a career record of 176-150 and a 3.73 ERA. He was a three-time All-Star and won the AL Cy Young Award, the AL Championship Series MVP, and the World Series MVP during his career.
After retiring from baseball, Viola became a high school baseball coach and has been involved in various coaching and scouting roles in professional baseball. He was inducted into the Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame in 2005.
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