Red Sox Autographs: Frank Viola

I am showing off one of the Topps Archives Signature buyback cards.  This one is of "Sweet Music" Frank Viola.  This is my first autograph of Viola.  It is a buyback of his 1993 Topps card.

Frank Viola was the first player I remember being excited that the Red Sox acquired.  I started watching baseball in 1991 and he was signed as a free agent during the offseason, so he was really the first major player the Red Sox acquired since I was a fan.  Viola had been an All Star three times, including each of the previous seasons with the Mets.  In 1990, he went 20-12 with a 2.67 ERA, striking out 182 in a league-leading 249.2 innings.  He won the Cy Young Award in 1988 with the Twins when he went 24-7 with a 2.64 ERA, striking out 193.  Viola was 31, so he was a little past his prime, but he should have had a few good seasons left.

Boston signed Viola to a three-year deal to be the number two starter they lacked since Mike Boddicker left as a free agent to join the Royals after the 1990 season.  His first season in Boston was decent, as he went 13-12 with a 3.44 ERA and struck out 121 in 238 innings.  Unfortunately, pitching was not the problem for Boston in 1992.  The team's two best players were Roger Clemens and Viola.  Unfortunately, the offense was terrible, leaving the team in last place.

1993 was another decent, if injury-plagued season.  Viola pitched in six fewer games and threw 183.2 innings.  He was still the team's second-best pitcher, this time behind Danny Darwin who turned in a shockingly good season.  Clemens had the worst season of his career.  Viola had a record of 11-8 with a 3.14 ERA and struck out 91.  Despite the injuries, it was actually a slightly better season for Viola.  It would be his last productive season.

Viola had Tommy John surgery in 1994, his last season with Boston.  As a result, he pitched in just six games and was 1-1 with a 4.65 ERA.  He returned to the Majors in 1995 with the Reds, but pitched in just three games.  He then signed a deal with the Blue Jays to try to resurrect his career, but pitched in just six games with them and had a 7.71 ERA.  It was the last time he appeared in the Majors.

I have seen Frank Viola's contract with the Red Sox listed as a bust in the past.  I simply do not see that as true.  For two seasons, Viola gave the Red Sox exactly what they were expecting, innings and a low ERA, though he was a loss in the last season.  He was an effective number two.  Just because he did not win 20 games does not mean he was bad.  The offense was a problem, not Viola.