Ron Villone

Ron Villone
Villone with the Washington Nationals
Pitcher
Born: (1970-01-16) January 16, 1970 (age 47) Englewood, New Jersey
Batted: Left Threw: Left
MLB debut
April 28, 1995, for the Seattle Mariners
Last MLB appearance
October 4, 2009, for the Washington Nationals
MLB statistics
Win–loss record	61–65
Earned run average	4.73
Strikeouts	925
Teams
Seattle Mariners (1995) San Diego Padres (1995–1996) Milwaukee Brewers (1996–1997) Cleveland Indians (1998) Cincinnati Reds (1999–2000) Colorado Rockies (2001) Houston Astros (2001) Pittsburgh Pirates (2002) Houston Astros (2003) Seattle Mariners (2004–2005) Florida Marlins (2005) New York Yankees (2006–2007) St. Louis Cardinals (2008) Washington Nationals (2009)

Ronald Thomas Villone, Jr. (born January 16, 1970) is a retired Major League Baseball left-handed relief pitcher. Villone played for 12 teams in his career, tied for 2nd all time with pitcher Mike Morgan and outfielder Matt Stairs, and trailing only Octavio Dotel who has played for 13 teams.

Born in Englewood, New Jersey, Villone grew up in Bergenfield, New Jersey.

Villone attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst and was a two-sport star, playing baseball and football. At 6’-3’’ and 245 pounds, Villone was a tight end when he played football, and he had success with it. In 1990, he was selected as a first team All-Yankee Conference tight end.

His natural strength was on the pitcher’s mound. In 1991, Villone was the recipient of the Atlantic-10 Left Handed Pitcher of the Year. Not only did he pitch for Team USA in 1992, he also was a third-team All American Selection after striking out 89 in just 59 ¹⁄₃ innings.

Villone was just as good a hitter as a pitcher for the University of Massachusetts as well as a pitcher. Balls that are hit off the side of a practice rink in the distance there are referred to as “Villone Bologna”, as he hit eight homers off of it in his playing days.

Villone was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the first round (14th overall) of the 1992 Major League Baseball Draft. Prior to signing with Seattle, Villone increased his bargaining position while playing for the Bourne Braves of the Cape Cod Baseball League. He had an impressive debut, striking out 18, and in his next outing, he fanned 14.