Today, you will read about the best example of a one-hit wonder in baseball history. Enjoy.
Jim Konstanty had a very good 1950 season. The reliever for the NL pennant-winning Phillies went 16-7, had an ERA of 2.66, and collected 22 saves, earning him NL MVP honors. Some of the other players in the top ten that year were Stan Musial (2nd), Ralph Kiner (5th) and Gil Hodges (8th). Jim also made the All-Star team that year.
The only thing was that 1950 was Konstanty's only good year! He never went to another All-Star Game in his 11-year career from 1944-1956 (he missed '45 and '47 because of stints in the minor leagues) and he never had more than 12 saves in a season except for 1950! His overall career record was 66-48 and his career ERA was 3.46.
And to top off Jim's career, the year he won the NL MVP, the "Whiz Kid" Phils lost the World Series to the Yanks. Actually, they got swept. Ladies and gentleman, Jim Konstanty is the ultimate baseball one-hit wonder.
Very cool read! I had no clue about him
ReplyDeleteI know. It's so weird that an MVP of a pennant-winning club could go so unnoticed for over 40 years.
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