Anthony Michael Varvaro (b. October 31, 1984 in Staten Island, NY– d. September 11, 2022 in Jersey City, NJ) was an American professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Seattle Mariners, Atlanta Braves, and Boston Red Sox from 2010 to 2015.

Varvaro was from the West Brighton neighborhood of Staten Island, a borough of New York City, and played in Little League Baseball in West Shore. Anthony attended St. John's University, where he played college baseball for the St. John's Red Storm, and where he was a third-team All-American and two-time All-Big East pitcher. He remains among the all-time leaders in wins and strikeouts at St. John's. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice.

The Seattle Mariners selected Varvaro in the 12th round of the 2005 MLB draft. He was placed on the Mariners' 40-man roster on November 20, 2010 and after playing in the Southern League's all-star game, the Mariners promoted him on September 22, 2010, to the big league club.

On January 13, 2011, the Atlanta Braves claimed Varvaro off waivers. Anthony compiled a 2.74 ERA in the 123 appearances he made from 2013–14, as he pitched in varied situations, from long relief to right-handed specialist roles. In four years for Atlanta, he pitched to a 2.99 ERA.

On December 17, 2014, Varvaro was traded to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for minor leaguer Aaron Kurcz. He allowed five runs in 11 innings for the Red Sox and was designated for assignment by the Red Sox on April 29, 2015. He then was claimed off waivers by the Chicago Cubs on May 3. However, the Cubs discovered a torn flexor tendon in his pitching arm. As a result, Varvaro was returned to the Red Sox and required season-ending surgery, being subsequently placed on the disabled list on May 24.

Varvaro retired from baseball in June 2016 to begin police training with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. He became a Port Authority police officer in December 2016. He was assigned to the World Trade Center Command. After five years, he was transferred to the Port Authority's police academy to become an instructor.

Tragically, Anthony died in a head-on collision with a wrong-way driver in Jersey City, New Jersey, a short distance from the Holland Tunnel, early on September 11, 2022, while on his way to serve at the World Trade Center Command in commemoration of the September 11 attacks when the accident happened. He was only 37 years old.

Anthony was inducted into the Staten Island Sports Hall of Fame's Class of 2019.

Wikipedia, Staten Island Sports HoF, BR Bullpen, and Baseball Almanac