Books and articles about Jim Konstanty

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An all-around athlete from Syracuse University, Konstanty had brief trials with the Reds and Braves before finally developing a palmball and sticking with the Phillies in 1949, at age thiry-two. In 1950 he led Philadelphia to the pennant with 16 wins and 22 saves (both NL highs) in a then-record 74 appearances, all NL highs. He was the first relief pitcher to win the MVP award. After having relieved in 133 straight games for the Phillies, he started Game One of the 1950 WS and lost to the Yankees 1-0. Konstanty dropped a league-high 10 out of the bullpen in 1951, started 19 games in 1953, and saved 11 for the 1955 pennant-winning Yankees, but he never again approached the success of his MVP season. (AL)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » June 24, 1950: The Phils top the Cubs 5–4 on two-run homers by Granny Hamner and Andy Seminick. Jim Konstanty, in relief of Russ Meyer, hurls four hitless innings to save the win. The Whiz Kids trail the Dodgers by a game. » July 1, 1950: Behind unbeaten rookie Bob Miller, the first-place Phils trip the Dodgers, 6–4. Jim Konstanty makes his 30th relief appearance to help Miller win his 7th straight. Mike Goliat and Willie Jones homer to pace an 11-hit attack. By winning their second straight game from Brooklyn, the Whiz Kids move .002 ahead of St. Louis and a game and a half ahead of Brooklyn. » September 20, 1950: Thrashing the Cubs 9–6 at Philadelphia, the Phils open a seven 1/2 game lead, their biggest so far. Jim Konstanty, appearing for the 68th time, wins his 16th. Boston and Brooklyn are tied for second place with 79-61 records: The Phils are at 87-54. » September 26, 1950: Phils' relief ace Jim Konstanty makes his 71st appearance, a major-league record, in the Phils' 8–7 win over the Braves in front of 1,987 Boston fans. » September 30, 1950: Before 23,879 at Ebbets Field, Brooklyn pulls within one game of the lead, as Erv Palica wins 7–3 over the Phillies. The Brooks rout rookie Bob Miller and then Duke Snider and Roy Campanella pound homers off Jim Konstanty. It is the Phillies fifth loss in a row, their eighth in 10 games. The red-hot Dodgers have now won 13 of their last 16 games. For the second year in a row, the pennant race will come down to the last game. If the Dodgers win tomorrow, the race will end in a three-way tie. » October 4, 1950: Relief ace Jim Konstanty of the Phils starts and loses to Vic Raschi and the Yankees in Philadelphia 1–0 in Game one of the World Series. Bobby Brown doubles and comes around on two long flies to score the lone run. » November 2, 1950: The baseball writers select Phillies relief P Jim Konstanty as the National League's MVP. » July 1, 1951: Philadelphia’s Russ Meyer and Jim Konstanty hold Brooklyn to one hit but lose anyway 2–0. Pee Wee Reese's 2-run triple follows two walks in the third and accounts for all the hits and runs. » June 4, 1956: The Cards pick up relief P Jim Konstanty, who was released by the Yankees.