College Sports:

By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor

If Tony Barbone was judged solely on his success as a baseball coach at Azusa High School, APU and Concordia, it would be considered a very impressive life.

If you looked at the quantity and quality of his family, friends and colleagues, one might be envious.

But it’s arguably the life-changing impact he’s had on hundreds and hundreds of young men and their lives that is Barbone’s greatest contribution to society.

‘Bones,’ as they call him, earned 516 victories in his 16-year career at Azusa Pacific.

That included a .664 winning percentage, eight GSAC titles and five second-place finishes.

He would go on to win 109 games between 2004-2007 at Concordia University in Irvine.

Part of his long resume and coaching stops included seventh-grade basketball at Foothill Middle School, as well as an assistant and head coach for the Azusa High School football and baseball programs, respectively.

In 1983, Barbone led the Aztecs to a CIF championship over Baldwin Park at Angel Stadium.

Barbone would join Citrus legend Skip Claprood’s staff for two years and then onto his beloved APU at the age of 30.

Bones spent time as an assistant athletic director at Concordia, served as SID at Citrus and athletic director at both El Camino and Pasadena City College.

Fast forward to 2020, and after decades of both competing and winning everywhere he’s gone, Tony Barbone is courageously taking on the most difficult opponent of his life.

Barbone has battled an undiagnosed neurological condition for quite some time, which makes it hard for the 66-year old to walk.

He’s also had his left kidney removed and thankfully the cancer within the organ had not spread.

Tony’s current focus, in yet another health-related battle, is a tumor the size of a quarter on his brain stem, and because of its location, it can’t be touched.

He’s been told he has years, but not a decade to live.

But instead of hiding away in a corner from his family, friends, life and an unpleasant diagnosis, this stubborn, faith-driven man is going to throw every left hook he has, and that includes his treatment at City of Hope.

Barbone couldn’t be more thankful or impressed with the care he’s gotten there, including the great work of a genius named Dr. Pal, who graduated from UCLA at the age of 13.

And there is reason for hope and optimism, because on more than one occasion, Barbone got the good news that his tumor is shrinking.

As his medical needs are met, Bones continues to work from his Glendora home as Pasadena City College’s athletic director.

His wife Beth, their daughters, Jennifer and Ashley, and grandkids, Cora and Calvin Tanzillo, and Camden and Mia Mercado, are the seven biggest reasons this brave and accomplished man keeps fighting.

The many obstacles that Barbone has leapt throughout his lifetime gives his family, friends, former players, coaches and colleagues reason to keep the faith that Bones will come out of this stronger than ever.

How and when did Barbone become the gritty warrior he remains to this day?

Barbone’s toughness and determination surfaced long before these medical maladies became a reality in his life.

In fact, his resolve and ability to shake off life’s biggest challenges started nearly 50 years ago.

As a young man and transitioning into adulthood, Tony’s parents divorced and his father moved to Florida.

His mom went on to Michigan for three years after a death in the family required her time and attention, which meant Barbone was, for all intents and purposes, on his own in Southern California.

He was forced into grown-man status at the age of 18, and it served up many humbling moments, including having to wait in line for hours to receive food stamps.

He needed some transportation, so Bones saved up and bought a 1966 Austin Healey Sprite for $600, and his new wheels did not include a roof.

Not a problem.

Barbone would show his ingenuity and bought a shower curtain to cover the massive open space.

Barbone worked many jobs to get by, and along with some financial aid, he paid for his own college education and graduated from APU in 1977.

Instead of being bitter or resentful about his family situation, or lack thereof, at the age of 24, Barbone flew on a whim to West Palm Beach, called his father from the airport and told him “if you want to be my dad, come and get me. If not, I’ll fly back to California and I won’t bother you again.”

Thankfully, Mr. Barbone picked up his son at the airport and Bones got to meet his stepmom, two half-sisters, and to the possible surprise of some, they all hit it off rather quickly.

Later on, Barbone’s father divorced, got sick and needed a heart transplant.

In typical Tony Barbone fashion, he welcomed his dad to California and into his Glendora home.

His father learned how to be his dad again and attended more APU baseball games in that one year watching his son coach than he had seen in Tony’s entire playing career.

The most satisfying part for Barbone, though, was watching his dad become a solid and loving grandpa to his daughters, Jennifer and Ashley.

His mom would also move back to California and they remained in each other’s lives until her passing.

When did Barbone’s true happiness begin?

Bones met a girl named Beth in 1980, and four years later, she became his wife.

The first date, though, almost didn’t happen, because Beth’s friend, who set the pair up, let her know that Barbone was a teacher.

It wasn’t that she doesn’t respect teachers, it was that Beth knows that educators are grossly underpaid and wasn’t sure if this was a lifestyle she was ready to embrace.

But Tony and Beth went to a Dodgers game as a first date and hit it off immediately.

A couple weeks went by, and Beth called Tony and invited him to an Angels game.

The tickets were terrible, but the company Bones kept was the best.

They would marry on July 28th in 1984, which also happened to be the opening day of the Olympic games in Los Angeles.

The two greatest gifts in Beth and Tony’s life were the addition of daughter’s Jennifer and Ashley.

Jennifer graduated from Glendora High in 1997, and is now 41.

She and her husband, Eric Tanzillo, have two children.

Cora is six, and her little brother, Calvin, will be five next month.

Ashley, 35, was a 2003 GHS grad, and she has two children of her own with husband, Anthony Mercado.

Camden is five and little sister Mia is just two.

Barbone acknowledged in a three-hour phone conversation that “you don’t know what true love is until you become a grandparent.”

He went from being a strict parent to a grandpa, who happily spoils his beloved Cora, Calvin, Mia and Camden rotten.

How did Tony Barbone go from just being a baseball coach to ‘Bones the Legend?’

While Barbone spent time coaching for the Expos and others in minor league ball, it was his time at APU that made him one of the most respected and successful baseball coaches in San Gabriel Valley history.

His record at APU of 516-261 overall and 250-98 in GSAC games made him the Cougars and GSAC’s winningest baseball coach when he retired in 2002.

In spite of being there just four years, his imprint at Concordia was deep as well.

Former South Hills, Concordia, Oregon State and MLB star, Daniel Robertson, credits his time at Concordia with Barbone as the launching pad for both his career and life.

Barbone emphasized on more than one occasion that his career wouldn’t be nearly the success it became without the contributions, guidance, patience and wisdom of his very good friend, Skip Claprood, who won 772 games and 17 conference titles during his remarkable 30-year career with the Owls.

They were so close that Tony and Beth got married in Claprood’s backyard in 1984.

The baseball and life lessons that Barbone’s players heard daily continue to impact their own lives to this day.

His ‘99’ mantra is probably the most used slogan by his former players and coaches that went on to lead their own programs.

It means to play the ninth inning nine times, which was Barbone’s way of saying that each of the first eight innings are just as important as the ninth and final frame.

His players said Barbone taught them a number of important traits, but his lessons in taking accountability for one’s actions and learning to embrace a tireless work ethic were most profound.

Bones is also, by all accounts, a master motivator.

And he always seemed to find a trigger in each young man, which allowed Barbone to get the most out of his athletes.

To a man, each of the people we talked to or received video clips from said that Barbone always pushed them to be better students, husbands, fathers and people.

When recruiting players, Barbone never promised a kid he’d bat third or play shortstop or sign a pro deal, but what he did say to their parents was, “I guarantee that in four years, your son will walk across the stage with a college degree.”

And 94-percent of his players did just that, leaving the school with a priceless education.

Ironically enough, Bones had doubts in his first year at APU that this kind of success was a certainty.

The Cougars were 4-16 and Barbone got in his car and drove up Glendora Mountain Road.

He parked, got out, and just talked to God.

“I felt like I was letting my family down,” he said.

Long story short, APU would rally after that come-to-God moment and earned a share of the conference title.

Along with the impact he had on his players, Barbone was generous in giving many of them a chance to coach with him at APU.

His list of current coaches includes these names and more:

Ruben Niebla (Cleveland Indians assistant pitching coach), Pat McGee (Pasadena City College), Scott Winterburn ( University of La Verne), Mike Regan (San Dimas High), Mike Salazar (Rio Hondo College), John Knott (Mt. SAC), Chris Stevens (Hancock College), Steve Allyn (PCC assistant coach) and George Barnes (APU pitching coach).

Tony would be the first to tell you he wasn’t liked by everyone and he wasn’t easy to get along with.

This was a fact that his players and coaches good-naturedly confirmed.

But each of these men said it was Tony’s tough love that helped them reach the heights of success on and more importantly off a baseball field.

What is Tony’s state of mind during this battle with a brain tumor, what has the response and support from the baseball world meant to his spirit, and what are his thoughts on his success as a coach and the sacrifices made by his wife and kids?

Said Tony Barbone: “I am beyond humbled by this show of love. I’m not sure I deserve this, but I couldn’t be more grateful to everyone that has stepped up and reached out to me. I do have faith in God and it helps comfort me, but as a pragmatist, I’m also scared. I worry for my family, because nothing means more to me than family.

I couldn’t get better care than I have at City of Hope and I want them to know what great people they are. I will continue to fight this and it helps to have so many people behind me.

I get far too much credit for my success. My resume looks good, because of great players that made it to first base and turned left. My job was to make sure that once they left the baseball field, they walked forward (in life). I have so many people to thank, but Skip has meant more to my coaching career than anyone and Cliff Hamlow played such an important role in my life when I got to APU. He has impacted my life far greater than he knows, and while he always showed love, if I did something wrong, oh, he would let you know about it.

My wife Beth is everything to me. She is my best recruit and I feel guilty being away from home as much as I was during my coaching career. She runs her own successful company and yet every Saturday, she and my daughters would bring a picnic basket with sandwiches and cheer on APU. She’s stoic and strong and doesn’t let me get away with much. She’s tough, just like our daughters and she’s why my daughters are successful. I apologize to her for things I did along the way and she forgives me. She gave me a little trophy one Christmas and on it, it says, “my coach of the year forever,” with a silver ball in a silver glove, and it’s my favorite Christmas gift of all time.

Along with my wife Beth, Jen and Ashley make me so proud to be their dad. Far more important than their success, I am most proud that they are great wives, moms, daughters and people. I give all the credit to my wife and my girls for how well they turned out. I wish I spent more time with them and it has made me feel guilty, but they’ve always supported my career, and I can’t thank them enough for that. I always wanted to give them a great life growing up, because I didn’t have one.”

You won’t hear Barbone complain about this, but his former players and coaches have made it abundantly clear during interviews that ‘Bones’ belongs in the APU Hall of Fame.

Barbone has already been inducted into the San Gabriel Valley Coaches and Azusa High School Hall of Fame.

Tony has made plenty of mistakes along the way and has tested and bruised some relationships, but one of the things his daughter Jen is most proud of is, “often times when people get older, they are set in their ways and aren’t willing to change. My dad has evolved year by year into a better dad, husband and into the best grandpa on the planet.”

Barbone’s success and his impact undoubtedly reaches Hall of Fame status.

Former Bonita High and current Mt. SAC baseball coach John Knott told a story that best emphasizes Barbone’s goodness as a human being.

“Bones made sure that as players we didn’t just high-five the star of our team or the guy that just hit a home run. He made sure we showed the same respect and appreciation to the guys on the bench and the people who did the stats at our games, so we knew and they knew they were just as important.”

APU great and Hall of Famer Cliff Hamlow said in a Saturday night phone conversation, “I am hopeful that sometime soon Tony will be inducted into the APU Hall of Fame. It will just take a little movement from both sides, but it’s something that can happen.”

To: Beth, Jennifer and Ashley, you are loved and appreciated by far more people than you know and the entire SGV and baseball world is behind you and the man named Bones during this journey.

To Cora, Calvin, Camden and Mia, you have one of the best grandpa’s ever and the only thing greater than his success and accomplishments in life is the amount of love he has for each of you.

As a surprise to Tony, we reached out to former players and coaches and have the following tributes:

Quotable Section:

Former APU basketball coach & Hall of Famer, Cliff Hamlow: “Tony had a tremendous impact on his players and program. He was very loyal to them and they were loyal to Tony. He was an excellent coach, both in his preparation of his team for competition and in teaching skills to his players. He was one of our best teachers in the classroom, because he carried over the same tenacity he had in his coaching preparation to his classroom presentations. He is a very loyal friend and I love the guy. I am hopeful that someday soon Tony will be inducted into the APU Hall of Fame.”

PCC Dean of Kinesiology, Dyan Miller: “I met Tony six years ago. It was in Tahoe at an Athletic Director’s conference. I was at Las Positas College in Northern California at the time. At a golf tournament, we just happened to get paired together and spent four or five hours together and he was impressive. We hit it off right away. He said I reminded him of his daughters. It was just memorable, because it was just two colleagues sharing insights of our jobs. It was a very chill experience and I liked being able to bounce things off of him.

Two years later, the PCC job became open. The day the posting was supposed to close, people encouraged me to apply. I threw my hat in the ring. And I looked at their website and it hit me, ‘oh, that’s where Bones is at.’ I got an interview and stopped by his office by surprise. He has so much wisdom and it’s not just about sports. It’s nice to have a colleague that you trust and has your back. He is very smart. He’s loyal and supportive and not overbearing. He almost guides you without you even knowing it.He’s passionate and compassionate. I think he battles for them. There isn’t a day that goes by that he doesn’t mention his kids, grandkids and his wife. It’s all about family.”

PCC Assistant Superintendent/Senior VP, Dr. Robert Bell: “Tony was hired as our athletic director in 2013 during a time we had a lot of ups and downs and needed a strong A.D. to come in and make some changes. He’s come in and done an incredible job. He’s probably the best colleague that I’ve ever had. He works with integrity and has the best interest of our student-athletes in mind whenever a decision is made. I moved to a different job responsibility, but I keep in touch with Tony, and we’ve become very close friends.”

Tony’s youngest daughter, Ashley Mercado: “I can still remember Saturday’s as a young kid. My mom and I would pack sandwiches and snacks in a cooler and watching APU’s games. It was a tradition for us, and even though my mom worked so hard, she was always so supportive of my dad’s career. She’s also been his caregiver during these uncertain times and we’re so thankful and proud of our mom for all she’s done. My dad opens up more to my mom about his health than with Jen and I, but we know it’s dad’s way of just trying to protect us. It has been so rewarding to see how much love he shows all of his grandkids and they love him very much. What I admire most about my dad is the impact he’s had on people’s lives, and not just his family.”

Former Citrus College baseball coach & legend, Skip Claprood: “We met in the summer of 1982 and he was teaching and coaching at Azusa High School. He was introduced to me and that summer we got to know each other. I think he was in a transitional period during that time. He needed some mentoring. He came on with us in fall of the 1983 season. Back then, we played 50 games or so in the fall, including games against Division 1 opponents. I introduced him to the structure of our program and a light bulb went off in his head. That year, he led Azusa to a CIF championship at Angels Stadium over Baldwin Park and then on Saturday’s, he spent time with us at Citrus College games, and on through the playoffs.

He was the first in a line of my assistant coaches that went on. At that point, he was looking for something different. In either 84 or 85, he became an adjunct professor and SID at Citrus and assistant baseball coach. At that point, we were good friends. He did that for at least two years. In 1984, he married Beth in our backyard. We had another outstanding team in 1985 at Citrus. In 86 or 87, he got head coaching job at APU. When he went to APU, it started our flow of sending players who didn’t get D-1 offers to play at APU. Tony and I both have a coaching tree, but then there’s the Claprood-Barbone coaching tree that is a very impressive list of guys. I think what he gave his players was structure at a time that all young men need it.”

Cleveland Indians assistant pitching coach, Ruben Niebla: “Tony has been the most influental person in my life in baseball and other aspects. He’ll shoot you straight, is loving, caring and the first person that pushed me to succeed in life and baseball. What made him special is he had several angles to motivate people and he would trigger those points. Tony has one of the biggest umbrellas in Southern California baseball and that umbrella is all tied back to Tony. He taught us how to keep that umbrella. Bones, I want you to feel very proud of what you’ve done.”

University of La Verne baseball coach, Scott Winterburn: “He had such a huge impact on me. I met him when I came out of high school. Tony was our assistant coach at Citrus. He really was go-to guy for all the players. He let me play my senior year, and then helped me get my degree, credential and masters. We had weekly themes at our practices and he taught us to be accountable. Tony was also a very good player at APU, earned his degree there and left as the winningest coach in APU and GSAC history.”

Mt. San Antonio College baseball coach, John Knott: “I played and coached for Bones. He made you feel important and that everybody around us was important. He remembered what was important about your life and what you want to accomplish. I can say without a doubt that I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing without his influence. He has a passion for people, the game and always had a competitive spirit. He was an English major and his vocabulary is sharp. We had a player dealing with home issues, and a player with juvenile issues and Tony helped them improve their lives. He made us high-five our guys charting pitches and keeping stats to show that every person and role matters. He had a saying ‘99’ that meant play every inning with the passion and importance like it was the ninth inning. In the fall, our uniforms didn’t have names, and everyone was No. 99.”

Providence Christian College athletic director, Brian DeHaan: “Bones has impacted my life and career in ways I can’t even begin to explain. He’s been like a father figure and mentor to so many young men and he’s taught me the value and importance of relationships. Bones has modeled what it means to fight through the storms of life and he’s always looking for ways to add value to people’s lives. Bones, and the community he created, taught me the value of structure. I learned that details matter in everything we do, it’s all relational. He’s one of the first calls I make when I need advice and I love him very much. Bones was, and still is, a difference maker and the world is better because of the influence he continues to have today.”

Tony’s daughter, Jennifer Tanzillo: (Her reaction to Tony’s diagnosis) “I feel really bad and my first thought was that he was going to retire soon. Our mom had put in the time of being a coaches wife and they were going to finally get time to spend together. But then you circle back, and many people have had it worse. He’s been so good and so content and doesn’t want us to worry. That’s just him being protective and selfless. He’s also the best grandpa on the planet. Dad taught us humility and how to be kind, and yet not let people walk over us. He told me that ‘as long as you’re a good kid and person I’ll support you,’ and that’s been true. I’m most proud of him as a grandpa and how he handles adversity. He stuck with mom and became a really good husband and dad. I’ve been told by complete strangers how much my dad has impacted their lives and it’s a great feeling to know my dad made a difference.”

Former APU assistant coach/current Superintendent in Huntington Beach, Clint Harwick Jr: “Tony is a man of detail and dedication, who used the game of baseball to teach young men the value of hard work, managing adversity, and building comradery. He also mentored many young coaches and was proud to expand the APU coaching tree. As a devout Christian, he leads with faith and supports “his players” well beyond their playing days. I’m proud to say “I coached with Bones” and value his friendship to this day.”

Former Concordia & MLB player, Daniel Robertson: “To sit down and write about Tony Barbone is like sitting down and talking about the person that saved your life. That’s what he did for me. I don’t have a drama-filled story of one moment he pulled me from the fire of life, but rather multiple lessons since the first day I met him. As a high school kid, I was convinced that self appearance was the road to self assurance. But it was him that I learned a kid with style can still be grounded in substance. I walked onto Concordia’s campus for my visit and wasn’t blown away. But I knew I could play baseball there. I liked their field and I liked the intimacy of the campus, but let’s be honest, a kid doesn’t make a decision based on those things. They are secondary. I was interested in Concordia, because I wanted to further my baseball career. I sat down that June afternoon wanting to hear what the head baseball coach had to say. Tony’s first words that day were “I don’t care if Daniel hits .050 or .500 in the fall, he will get his chance in the spring.

And here we are seventeen years later. Sure, I went on to overachieve in college and eventually the big leagues, but that’s what stuck with me everyday of my life. You may fail or succeed, but there’s always opportunity to seize. That’s what he is doing. He is fighting everyday now. Through these 17 years, he has been with me every step of the way. When I left Concordia to go to Oregon State, he orchestrated that. His friendship with Pat Casey enabled that experience to happen for me. After I was drafted and going through the tough times in the minor leagues, he was there for me. Sometimes it was to build me up, and other times it was to keep me humble. Tony’s past as a coach in the Montreal Expos system allowed me to trust his advice every step of my professional career. Without his experience, I don’t have that calm to just keep pushing. Who knows if I was ever going to make it to the big leagues.

My rookie year for the Texas Rangers, my first series against the Angels, he was there. Watching a kid live his dream. A dream that he had a major hand in. But Tony won’t tell you that. He is too humble to take credit or acknowledge that there is a big chunk of my life he was involved in. He is the perfect imperfect human being. Sharing his journey and experience with me changed my life. And I am not the only one. He has helped hundreds of young men. I am just one story. I take a look back at my career and countless parts of my game I learned at Concordia. The very core of my identity is from what I learned at Concordia. It’s where I learned to “99.” And why I wore it on my back once I got to choose my own number in the major leagues. A daily reminder of being yourself and to believe in yourself. So when I walked my wife down the aisle and said I do, he was there. All of the big moments of my life, he has been there. Smiling and keeping me grounded. I know who I am today because of him. Again, he won’t take credit. But those reading this, I want you to know that relationships are special and so are experiences, but when you get a chance to do both with someone you love deep into your core, that is what life is all about.

As I began my coaching career, what I learned from Tony will be at the core. His patience, his acceptance, his pure love for the sport of baseball will carry on. And the next generation will be better for it. Tony’s impact does not end with me, it will be generational. My kids will benefit and when he meets them, they will know that a big part of who I am today is because of him. So when people ask me what has Tony Barbone meant to me, my soul smiles and I respond, “everything.” Because there is no Daniel Robertson without Tony Barbone. End of Story.”

Former Azusa High football coach/athletic director, Walt Gurney: “Tony was an assistant football coach for me and eventually became the head baseball coach. He led them to a CIF championship in 1983. Tony knew a lot about a lot of things, but he didn’t interfere with what I was doing and we became close. I knew he was going to be a great baseball coach. When he took over the program, he knew more about the game than I did, and I had a lot of experience in baseball. He always carried himself well and that’s one of the many reasons I have so much respect for him.”

Former Concordia athletic director, Jody Wise: “I hired him at Concordia and when he left Concordia, I hired him at Citrus. He’s always been more than an employee to me. He’s a great guy. His values and caring for his athletes and assistant coaches and people he worked with, and he’s there for everybody. His players have meant the world to him. He follows their progress and makes such an impact on people’s lives, because he has standards. He’s tough on kids. But it was teaching them life, not just baseball.”

PCC baseball coach, Pat McGee: “I always felt I was a smart player and considered myself a coach on the field. When I got to APU, Tony taught me so much more and how to teach and understand the game. He was a master motivator and got the most out of his players. Never been around a coach who could bring people together like him. Every person who went to APU had personal turmoil that he impacted.

I had quit coaching college baseball, because we were having our second child. He called me and asked who I should hire for the PCC job. He pulled me off the couch. I wasn’t interested because I knew about their (PCC’s) history. My lost job was at Mt. Sac, where we had just pounded them 35-1. A week later, we met at a PCC-Mt. Sac game. I trusted him and had been coaching for 20 years, but I never got the opportunity to be a head coach. It’s because of his belief in me that I became the head coach of a college baseball program. He wasn’t always easy to get along with at times, but it was to challenge us to be better tomorrow than we were today. I will always be grateful for all Bones has contributed in my life.”

San Dimas baseball coach, Mike Regan: “Bones had a huge impact on my life. He held me accountable and expected his teams to be detailed, disciplined and ultimately taught us the game of baseball. There are a lot of great coaches in the area that learned from Bones at APU. Even more than baseball, he taught me some tough life lessons. If you do things right and work hard, you will be rewarded. If you do the wrong things, expect bad things to happen. “It’s all relational,” was his saying, and that stuck with me the most, because it’s the truth. I am extremely thankful for everything he has done for me and I wish him the best!”

Tony’s six-year old granddaughter, Cora Tanzillo: “He is smart and funny! This is the most important thing (pointing her finger in my face) he is kind, kind, kind.”

Editors Note: To all the former players and coaches who reached out that I wasn’t able to get back to, thank you for your efforts and I’m sorry I was unable to get back to all of you. A special thanks to Pat McGee for getting these video clips of Barbone’s former players and coaches. To Ashley and Jennifer, thank you for getting vulnerable for me to put this together for your parents And mostly, thanks to Tony and Beth for sharing their story so openly, and showing what love, faith, strength and courage is all about.