1950 World Series Game 1 - October 4Yankees 1, Phillies 0
Relief ace and 1950 National League MVP Jim Konstanty started Game 1, as Robin Roberts had started three of the Phillies last five regular season games. (I imagine this would be comparable to Brad Lidge starting Game 1 of the 2009 World Series. Could you picture that?) Without starting a game, Konstanty compiled a 16-7 record and a 2.66 ERA in 1950, while saving 22 games.
In Game 1 at Philadelphia's Shibe Park, Konstanty pitched eight strong innings, allowing just a lone 4th inning run to the Yankees. Yankees starting pitcher Vic Raschi (21-8 in the regular season) allowed just two 5th inning singles to Puddin' Head Jones and Andy Seminick, and that was the extent of the Phillies offense for the day.
Other Game 1 notes: Game time was 1pm, and no one was exhausted at work the next day. (Unlike what will most likely be the case this coming Thursday morning.) The Phillies were without star starting pitcher Curt Simmons for this series. Simmons was called into active U.S. military duty on September 10th. He used his 10-day pass from the Army to attend the World Series games as a spectator only.
They were without reliever/starter Bubba Church as well
ReplyDeleteThose '51 Bowmans were great!
ReplyDeleteKonstanty was another great member of the 1950 Phillies. Usually I'm against giving the MVP to a reliever, but Konstanty deserved it. Roberts was another deserving candidate since the Cy Young Award wasn't around yet.
Bubba Church was lost for the rest of the season due to a line drive off the bat of the Big Klu. I had to look it up . . .
ReplyDeleteMatt - I love these '51s. Back when baseball cards were baseball cards.
I live in a house that is rumored to have been Jim's previous residence. Can anyone provide me any information about his home in Philadelphia and if it was on Magee St
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