Frank Viola Autographs, Memorabilia & Collectibles

Frank John Viola was born on April 19, 1960, in East Meadow, New York and he is an American former professional baseball pitcher whose Major League Baseball career spanned from 1982 to 1996.

Viola attended St. John’s University in New York, where he played college baseball. In 1981, he was selected by the Minnesota Twins with the 18th overall pick in the first round of the Major League Baseball draft. He made his major league debut on June 6, 1982.

During the mid-to-late 1980s, Viola emerged as one of the leading pitchers in the American League. His most notable season occurred in 1988, when he compiled a 24–7 win–loss record with a 2.64 earned run average. That year, he led the American League in wins and was awarded the Cy Young Award as the league’s best pitcher. He also finished second in American League Most Valuable Player voting.

Viola was a key member of the Minnesota Twins team that won the 1987 World Series. Although he did not start a game during the World Series itself, he contributed significantly during the regular season and earlier postseason rounds. He was selected to multiple All-Star Games during his tenure with Minnesota, reflecting his standing among the league’s top pitchers during that period.

In July 1989, Viola was traded to the New York Mets, where he continued to pitch as a starter through the early 1990s. He later played for the Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, and Cincinnati Reds before retiring from professional baseball following the 1996 season.