Tony Perez Biography

Atanasio Tony Perez Rigal was born on May 14, 1942, and earned the nickname Big Dog during his professional baseball career. He played in Major League Baseball from 1964 to 1986, primarily as a first baseman and third baseman, and was a key part of the Cincinnati Reds' success between 1970 and 1976. After retiring as a player, Perez transitioned into coaching and later served as a manager for both the Reds and the Florida Marlins. From 1993 through 2017, he held the role of Special Assistant to the General Manager with the Florida Marlins. He began his baseball journey playing shortstop for the Mill's team, Central Violeta, in his early years. Perez was signed by the Cincinnati Reds at age 17 in 1960 after impressing scout Tony Pacheco while playing for the Camagüey sugar factory team. After one season as a Reds coach, he was named manager for the 1993 season, marking the start of his managerial tenure.