Johnny Antonelli
Encyclopedia
John August Antonelli (born April 12, 1930) is an American former left-handed starting pitcher
who played for the Boston and Milwaukee Braves, New York and San Francisco Giants
, and Cleveland Indians
.
Antonelli received the biggest bonus in history to that point when he signed with the Braves for $52,000 in 1948. He then served in Korea and became a regular in 1953.
He was later dealt to the Giants along with several other players for Bobby Thomson
. In the 1954 season, Antonelli went 21-7, led the league in ERA
(2.30), was selected an All-Star
, and led the Giants to a pennant, facing the Cleveland Indians
in the World Series
. Antonelli started and won Game 2, then came into Game 4 as a reliever
to shut down an Indian rally, as the Giants pulled off a sweep. Antonelli pitched well for several more years, making four straight All-Star teams from 1956–59, before his retirement in 1962 after having been recently acquired by the New York Mets
. Antonelli said he was "tired of traveling" and wanted to be home with his family.
After his baseball career, Antonelli returned to Rochester and for many years ran a chain of Firestone Tire stores bearing his name.
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
who played for the Boston and Milwaukee Braves, New York and San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
, and Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
.
Antonelli received the biggest bonus in history to that point when he signed with the Braves for $52,000 in 1948. He then served in Korea and became a regular in 1953.
He was later dealt to the Giants along with several other players for Bobby Thomson
Bobby Thomson
Robert Brown "Bobby" Thomson was a Scottish-born American professional baseball player. Nicknamed "The Staten Island Scot", he was an outfielder and right-handed batter for the New York Giants , Milwaukee Braves , Chicago Cubs , Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles .His season-ending three-run...
. In the 1954 season, Antonelli went 21-7, led the league in ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
(2.30), was selected an All-Star
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
, and led the Giants to a pennant, facing the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
in the World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
. Antonelli started and won Game 2, then came into Game 4 as a reliever
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
to shut down an Indian rally, as the Giants pulled off a sweep. Antonelli pitched well for several more years, making four straight All-Star teams from 1956–59, before his retirement in 1962 after having been recently acquired by the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
. Antonelli said he was "tired of traveling" and wanted to be home with his family.
After his baseball career, Antonelli returned to Rochester and for many years ran a chain of Firestone Tire stores bearing his name.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career wins
- List of Major League Baseball ERA champions