FV
1982–1996 · P
Frank Viola
6' 4", 200 lbs·Lived to 66·Bats L / Throws L
Cy Young AwardAll-Star
The Almanac's Take
Frank Viola was a workhorse left-hander who became one of the 1980s' most durable starters, winning the 1988 AL Cy Young with a dominant 24-win season for Minnesota. Over 15 seasons, he compiled 176 wins with a 3.73 ERA and 1,844 strikeouts across 2,836 innings, earning three All-Star selections and consistently posting ERA+ marks above league average. His peak proved brief but brilliant—that 1988 campaign featuring a 2.64 ERA and 141 ERA+ remains his signature achievement, a season where he simply dominated opposing hitters week after week.
Career Highs
2.64
Best ERA · 1988
24
Most W · 1988
211
Most K · 1989
1.136
Best WHIP · 1988
Career Arc · OPS
4 seasonsCareer Arc · ERA
15 seasonsStatistical Comps
Career · Hitting
15 seasons| Year | Team | G | AB | HR | RBI | AVG | OPS | OPS+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | MIN | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — |
| 1983 | MIN | 35 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — |
| 1984 | MIN | 35 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — |
| 1985 | MIN | 36 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — |
| 1986 | MIN | 37 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — |
| 1987 | MIN | 36 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — |
| 1988 | MIN | 35 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — |
| 1989 | NYM | 36 | 23 | 0 | 1 | .130 | .297 | 43 |
| 1990 | NYM | 35 | 85 | 0 | 4 | .153 | .306 | 43 |
| 1991 | NYM | 35 | 71 | 0 | 1 | .127 | .306 | 43 |
| 1992 | BOS | 35 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — |
| 1993 | BOS | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — |
| 1994 | BOS | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — |
| 1995 | CIN | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | .167 | .500 | 66 |
| 1996 | TOR | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — |
| Career | 421 | 185 | 0 | 6 | .141 | — | — | |
Career · Pitching
15 seasons| Year | Team | G | IP | W | L | ERA | ERA+ | SO | WHIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | MIN | 22 | 126.0 | 4 | 10 | 5.21 | 74 | 84 | 1.508 |
| 1983 | MIN | 35 | 210.0 | 7 | 15 | 5.49 | 70 | 127 | 1.590 |
| 1984 | MIN | 35 | 257.7 | 18 | 12 | 3.21 | 119 | 149 | 1.157 |
| 1985 | MIN | 36 | 250.7 | 18 | 14 | 4.09 | 95 | 135 | 1.316 |
| 1986 | MIN | 37 | 245.7 | 16 | 13 | 4.51 | 88 | 191 | 1.384 |
| 1987 | MIN | 36 | 251.7 | 17 | 10 | 2.90 | 148 | 197 | 1.176 |
| 1988 | MIN | 35 | 255.3 | 24 | 7 | 2.64 | 141 | 193 | 1.136 |
| 1989 | MIN | 36 | 261.0 | 13 | 17 | 3.66 | 101 | 211 | 1.226 |
| 1990 | NYM | 35 | 249.7 | 20 | 12 | 2.67 | 144 | 182 | 1.150 |
| 1991 | NYM | 35 | 231.3 | 13 | 15 | 3.97 | 98 | 132 | 1.353 |
| 1992 | BOS | 35 | 238.0 | 13 | 12 | 3.44 | 109 | 121 | 1.273 |
| 1993 | BOS | 29 | 183.7 | 11 | 8 | 3.14 | 133 | 91 | 1.372 |
| 1994 | BOS | 6 | 31.0 | 1 | 1 | 4.65 | 97 | 9 | 1.645 |
| 1995 | CIN | 3 | 14.3 | 0 | 1 | 6.28 | 71 | 4 | 1.605 |
| 1996 | TOR | 6 | 30.3 | 1 | 3 | 7.71 | 60 | 18 | 2.110 |
| Career | 421 | 2836.4 | 176 | 150 | — | — | 1844 | — | |
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