Peña was signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as an amateur free agent in 1975.
Originally an outfielder, he didn't start playing as a catcher until 1977 while playing in the minor leagues.
As a catcher, Peña adopted an unorthodox squat behind the plate when there were no runners on base, extending his left leg straight out while squatting on his right leg.
He did this in order to help his pitchers keep their pitches low in the strike zone.
In 1979 while playing for the Buffalo Bisons, Peña hit for a .313 batting average along with 34 home runs and 97 runs batted in.
The following year with the Portland Beavers he posted a .323 batting average with a .367 on-base percentage before making his major league debut at the age of 23 with the Pirates on September 1, 1980.

In 1981, Peña platooned alongside Steve Nicosia, hitting for an impressive .300 batting average in 66 games and finished in sixth place in the 1981 National League Rookie of the Year Award.
In 1982, he took over as the Pirates full-time catcher and had a .340 batting average on the first of July, helping him earn a spot as a reserve for the National League team in the 1982 All-Star Game.
He finished the year with a .296 batting average.
While he committed 16 errors, he finished second among National League catchers in assists and third in putouts and caught stealing percentage.

Peña had one of his best seasons in 1983, posting career-highs with a .301 batting average and 15 home runs as the Pirates improved to finish in second place in the National League Eastern Division.
He led National League catchers with 976 putouts and finished second to Gary Carter with a .992 fielding percentage, earning him his first Gold Glove Award.
Peña also finished 12th in voting for the 1983 National League Most Valuable Player Award.

After the 1983 season, the Pirates went into a period of decline, finishing in last place for three consecutive years between 1984 and 1986.
Although his offensive statistics tapered off, Peña continued to be productive defensively during this period, leading National League catchers in assists, putouts and baserunners caught stealing in 1984 and, again leading the league in assists and baserunners caught stealing in 1985, winning two more Gold Glove Awards and two more All-Star selections in the process.
When Peña broke the 100 assists barrier in 1985, he joined Johnny Bench, Jim Sundberg and Gary Carter as the only catchers to have more than 100 assists in a season since the end of the Second World War.
In a 1986 poll of major league managers, Peña was selected as the best throwing catcher in the major leagues.

In November 1986, Peña led a team of major league All-Stars to victory over a team of Japanese All-Stars and, was chosen as the most valuable player of the American team.
Before the start of the following season, with Peña nearing the end of his contract, the Pirates made a decision to trade him rather than lose him through free agency.
On April 1, 1987, Peña was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for Andy Van Slyke and Mike LaValliere.

Three games into his Cardinals' career, he suffered a broken left thumb in a game against his former team, the Pirates.
He missed more than a month and returned to post a career-low batting average of .214.
Nevertheless, the Cardinals won the National League Eastern Division crown with Peña rebounding to post a .381 batting average in the 1987 National League Championship Series as, the Cardinals defeated the San Francisco Giants.
In the 1987 World Series against the Minnesota Twins he produced 9 hits with 4 runs batted in as the Cardinals lost in a seven-game series.

In 1988, Peña recovered with a .263 batting average along with 10 home runs and 51 runs batted in.
He also led National League catchers with a .994 fielding percentage and was second in putouts and third in assists.
In 1989 he earned his fifth All-Star selection and, once again led the league's catchers with a .997 fielding percentage, committing only 2 errors in 134 games.

In November 1989, Peña was granted free agency and signed a contract to pla
Peña was signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as an amateur free agent in 1975. Originally an outfielder, he didn't start playing as a catcher until 1977 while playing in the minor leagues. As a catcher, Peña adopted an unorthodox squat behind the plate when there were no runners on base, extending his left leg straight out while squatting on his right leg. He did this in order to help his pitchers keep their pitches low in the strike zone. In 1979 while playing for the Buffalo Bisons, Peña hit for a .313 batting average along with 34 home runs and 97 runs batted in. The following year with the Portland Beavers he posted a .323 batting average with a .367 on-base percentage before making his major league debut at the age of 23 with the Pirates on September 1, 1980.
In 1981, Peña platooned alongside Steve Nicosia, hitting for an impressive .300 batting average in 66 games and finished in sixth place in the 1981 National League Rookie of the Year Award. In 1982, he took over as the Pirates full-time catcher and had a .340 batting average on the first of July, helping him earn a spot as a reserve for the National League team in the 1982 All-Star Game. He finished the year with a .296 batting average. While he committed 16 errors, he finished second among National League catchers in assists and third in putouts and caught stealing percentage.
Peña had one of his best seasons in 1983, posting career-highs with a .301 batting average and 15 home runs as the Pirates improved to finish in second place in the National League Eastern Division. He led National League catchers with 976 putouts and finished second to Gary Carter with a .992 fielding percentage, earning him his first Gold Glove Award. Peña also finished 12th in voting for the 1983 National League Most Valuable Player Award.
After the 1983 season, the Pirates went into a period of decline, finishing in last place for three consecutive years between 1984 and 1986. Although his offensive statistics tapered off, Peña continued to be productive defensively during this period, leading National League catchers in assists, putouts and baserunners caught stealing in 1984 and, again leading the league in assists and baserunners caught stealing in 1985, winning two more Gold Glove Awards and two more All-Star selections in the process. When Peña broke the 100 assists barrier in 1985, he joined Johnny Bench, Jim Sundberg and Gary Carter as the only catchers to have more than 100 assists in a season since the end of the Second World War. In a 1986 poll of major league managers, Peña was selected as the best throwing catcher in the major leagues.
In November 1986, Peña led a team of major league All-Stars to victory over a team of Japanese All-Stars and, was chosen as the most valuable player of the American team. Before the start of the following season, with Peña nearing the end of his contract, the Pirates made a decision to trade him rather than lose him through free agency. On April 1, 1987, Peña was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for Andy Van Slyke and Mike LaValliere.
Three games into his Cardinals' career, he suffered a broken left thumb in a game against his former team, the Pirates. He missed more than a month and returned to post a career-low batting average of .214. Nevertheless, the Cardinals won the National League Eastern Division crown with Peña rebounding to post a .381 batting average in the 1987 National League Championship Series as, the Cardinals defeated the San Francisco Giants. In the 1987 World Series against the Minnesota Twins he produced 9 hits with 4 runs batted in as the Cardinals lost in a seven-game series.
In 1988, Peña recovered with a .263 batting average along with 10 home runs and 51 runs batted in. He also led National League catchers with a .994 fielding percentage and was second in putouts and third in assists. In 1989 he earned his fifth All-Star selection and, once again led the league's catchers with a .997 fielding percentage, committing only 2 errors in 134 games.
In November 1989, Peña was granted free agency and signed a contract to pla
Tony Peña