Johnny Antonelli: A Baseball Memoir

by Johnny Antonelli

One of only 17 major-league players never to have spent a single day in the minors, Johnny was a highly coveted phenom who signed a bonus baby contract with the Boston Braves for $52,000 a few days after graduating from Rochester's Jefferson High School in 1948. It wasn't until six years later when he was traded to the New York Giants after a couple of inauspicious seasons with the Braves and a two-year stint in the Army that the stylish, left-hander began realizing the potential the scouts had seen in him. In a seven-year stretch from 1953-59 Antonelli was among baseball s best hurlers, compiling a 114-89 record, 22 shutouts and nine saves. He was named to the National League All-Star squad five times, won 20 games twice and paced the senior circuit in shutouts two times.

Genres: Baseball

132 pages, Paperback

First published May 8, 2012

Reviews

[Rob Neyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very quick read; in fact, too quick. Antonelli (and his co-author, who's quite good) gives a fine outline of his long life, but I wanted more stories, more character sketches, more everything. Certainly a worthy addition to anyone's collection of books about 1950s baseball.

[Jeff Weiss · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short memoir of a baseball player from the 1950's. Interesting story of another New York/San Francisco Giants pitcher who played with and against some of the best players. He gave his story filled with little anecdotes from the times

[Michael Barker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am really enjoying the story of Rochester's greatest Major League Baseball Player. He was a standout for the New York Giants and helped them win the World Series in 1954.