Books and articles about Johnny Antonelli

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One of the first "bonus babies," the tall, dark-eyed Antonelli signed with the Boston Braves for $65,000 in 1948 and pitched only in spots, mostly in relief, before leaving for military service in 1951-52. His 1954 trade to the Giants for Polo Grounds hero Bobby Thomson temporarily infuriated New Yorkers, but Antonelli silenced the critics with a 21-7 mark for Durocher's world champions. He led the NL in winning percentage (.750), ERA (2.30), and shutouts (6), and had a win and a save in the WS. He won 20 again in 1956 and 19 for the San Francisco transplants of 1959, leading the NL in shutouts again in both seasons. His 26 career shutouts constitute 21% of his ML wins. (JD)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » June 30, 1948: An 18-year-old lefthander from Rochester, NY, Johnny Antonelli, gets a $75,000 contract from the Braves. Shortly afterward, the Tigers will pay a similar sum to another teenager, catcher Frank House. » July 4, 1948: Braves rookie Johnny Antonelli, 18, makes his debut in the 8th inning of a 7–2 loss to the Phils, giving up one run on two hits. The Phils also win game two of the doubleheader. » August 31, 1950: Gil Hodges of the Brooklyn Dodgers hits 4 HRs and a single, driving in 9 runs in the Dodgers 19–3 rout of the Boston Braves in Ebbets Field. Hodges’ 17 total bases is the most since 1894. Gil's first homer is a 2-run shot off loser Warren Spahn in the second inning, adds a 2-run homer in the third off Norman Roy, another 2-run homer off Bob Hall in the sixth, and a 3-run shot off Johnny Antonelli in the eighth. Erskine is the winner of the rout. Hodges had 4 long hits on June 25 last year, the first Dodger to twice have 4 extra base hits in a game. » February 1, 1954: The Milwaukee Braves send pitchers Johnny Antonelli, Don Liddle, infielder Billy Klaus, and C Ebba St. Claire to the New York Giants for OF Bobby Thomson and C Sam Calderone. Giant fans will howl in protest at the loss of Thomson, but will quiet down when Antonelli posts a sparkling 21–7 record. » April 25, 1954: Giants pitchers Sal Maglie and Johnny Antonelli shut out the Phils in a twin bill 3–0 and 5–0. The Giants complete a 3-game sweep of the Phils with all shut outs. » May 2, 1954: Stan Musial hits five home runs in a doubleheader with the Giants in St. Louis. In attendance is 8-year-old Nate Colbert, who will be the only other player in history to accomplish this feat. The Cards win the first game 10–6 when Musial's three-run homer in the 8th off Jim Hearn. Stan's first two homers are served up by Johnny Antonelli. The Cards hit five homers in the opener, while the Giants hit three, including back-to-back blows by Wes Westrum and Whitey Lockman. In the nightcap of the doubleheader, Don Mueller goes 5-for-5, and the Giants win, 9–7, with eight runs in the 4th inning. Musial totals a since-topped record 21 bases in the two games, going 4-for-4 with a walk in game 1, and 2-for-4 with a walk in game 2. Don Mueller has six hits for New York. » May 25, 1954: At New York, the Giants explode for 11 runs in the 8th inning to overwhelm the Pirates, 21–4. The Buccos score three in the top of the 8th for a National League record for the frame. Led by Whitey Lockman's grand slam, the Giants score five in the 7th, then collect eight hits in the 8th, including two homers. Johnny Antonelli has his 6th win and hits his first ML home run. Davey Williams has a single and home run in the 8th. » July 28, 1954: Giants OF Dusty Rhodes hits three consecutive HRs at the Polo Grounds to back Johnny Antonelli's 10-0 whipping of St. Louis. It is Antonelli's 10th consecutive win. Willie Mays smacks his 36th HR, a 447 foot clout to LF. » August 30, 1954: In beating St. Louis 4-1 on four hits, Johnny Antonelli becomes the first lefty to win 20 games for the Giants since Carl Hubbell and Cliff Melton in 1937. » September 30, 1954: With lefty Johnny Antonelli going the distance, the Giants defeat Early Wynn and the Indians 3-1 in game 2. Dusty Rhodes drives in all the Giants runs with a pinch-hit single and a solo HR. The Indians' only score is a first-pitch HR by leadoff hitter Al Smith. » May 1, 1955: In the Giants 2–1 win over the Reds, the two teams toil 16 innings with combining for a record-tying 10 double plays. The only other time ten were turned was 30 years ago, when the Reds and Braves made 10 DPs in 12 innings. An alert Don Mueller start the rally in the 16th when the Reds are trying to intentionally walk him. He hits an outside 4th-ball pitch for a pop single, sending Whitey Lockman to 3B. Johnny Antonelli pitches all 16 innings for the win. » August 15, 1956: The Dodgers and Giants draw 26,385 for a night-game record at Jersey City. A Willie Mays HR is the only scoring as Johnny Antonelli shuts out the Dodgers 1-0. » September 29, 1957: With 1895 manager Jack Doyle among the 11,606 looking on, the Giants lose their last game at the Polo Grounds 9-1. Pirate P Bob Friend defeats Johnny Antonelli. » June 22, 1958: Willie Kirkland unloads a 14th inning home run to give SF a 5–4 win over the Phils. Johnny Antonelli, in relief, tosses six shutout innings for the victory. The nitecap is called after six innings with the Giants ahead 1–0. When play is resumed July 23rd, the Phils will win 3–2. » August 2, 1959: Giants 1B Willie McCovey hits the first of his 521 ML home runs, off Ron Kline, as San Francisco downs the Pirates 5–3. Johnny Antonelli wins his 15th game. » December 3, 1960: Cleveland trades OF Harvey Kuenn to San Francisco for OF Willie Kirkland and P Johnny Antonelli. » July 4, 1961: Johnny Antonelli returns to the Braves as the Indians sell the veteran back to where he started as an 18-year-old pitcher. » October 14, 1961: The Mets purchase 31-year-old P Johnny Antonelli, 1–0 with the Braves this season. Anty elects to retire rather than report. New York also purchases another lefty, Ken Mackenzie (6–4 with Louisville) from the Braves. In two days, the Mets sell Jim Marshall to the Cubs.