Tony Graffanino was a professional baseball player who played for several teams during his career. He was born on June 6, 1972, in Amityville, New York, and attended the University of Illinois. He was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 10th round of the 1990 Major League Baseball draft.
Graffanino made his Major League debut with the Braves in 1996, playing in 17 games that season. He spent the next few years bouncing between the Braves and their minor league affiliates, as well as playing for the Montreal Expos and Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
In 2003, Graffanino signed with the Kansas City Royals and had a breakout season, hitting .319 with 7 home runs and 38 RBIs in 87 games. He also set a career-high in stolen bases with 10. He continued to play for the Royals until 2005, when he was traded to the Boston Red Sox.
Graffanino played a key role in the Red Sox's 2005 playoff run, hitting .385 in the American League Division Series against the Chicago White Sox. However, the Red Sox were swept in the series and Graffanino became a free agent after the season.
He signed with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2006 and played for them until 2007, when he was traded to the Kansas City Royals for the second time in his career. He finished his career with the Cleveland Indians in 2009, playing in 61 games before being released in August.
Throughout his career, Graffanino was known for his versatility, playing multiple positions including second base, shortstop, third base, and outfield. He was also known for his solid defense and ability to hit for average.
Overall, Graffanino played in 1,046 Major League games, hitting .265 with 52 home runs and 302 RBIs. He retired from baseball in 2010 and currently resides in Illinois with his family.
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