1954 Back-O'-The-Card: Jim Konstanty and Bob Kuzava

JIM KONSTANTY

"Jim Konstanty of the Phillies is a right-handed relief specialist, a control pitcher with a knack of smothering a rally. He's hardly a rookie at 33 after two previous big league trials. Jim returned to Cincinnati from the Navy in 1946 and was sent to the Braves.

Manager Eddie Sawyer recommended his purchase from Toronto. In six rescue jobs last year his earned run average was less than one run per nine innings- Jim won one, lost none. He is known in baseball as a cool customer.

Big Jim wears glasses. He's married and lives in Worcester, New York."

-1949 Philadelphia Bulletin Athletics-Phillies

"Considered the Phillies' ace relief pitcher, Jim is a graduate of Syracuse University with a B.S. degree. He began in baseball with Springfield of the Eastern League in 1941. He hit the majors with the Cincinnati Reds at the end of 1944, then spent a year in the armed forces.

Jim was traded to the Braves in April 1946 and sent to Toronto after a few games. He was brought up by the Phillies in 1948."

-1950 Bowman No. 226

"Jim set a modern major league mark for pitchers in 1950 by appearing in 74 games and set another mark by finishing 62. He won 16 and lost 7 and saved many games for the young Philadephia pitching staff not shown in his own record. Jim's earned run average was 2.66. He was voted the National League's Most Valuable Player.

[Appearing] in three World Series games, Jim drew a starting in one and dropped a heartbreaker."

-1951 Bowman No. 27 (Bowman Gum, Inc.)

"Big Jim was the National League's Most Valuable Player in 1950. Strictly a relief pitcher, he won 16 games, had a 2.66 earned run average and set a new record by pitching in 74 games. In 1951, the Syracuse University graduate finished 45 games- tops for a National League pitcher.
A war veteran, Jim pitched for the Reds in 1944, the Braves in 1946 and went down to the minors until 1948 when the Phils brought him up to stay."

-1952 Topps No. 108

"Jim is a relief pitcher par excellence. He worked in 42 games for the Phillies in 1952, winning 5 and losing 3.
1950 was his big year, which was climaxed when he was named the National League's Most Valuable Player. Jim worked in 74 games that year, most in the league, winning 16 and losing 7 and saving many others. His 74 games pitched established a new major league record."

-1953 Bowman No. 58

BOB KUZAVA
"Blond Bob is known for his relief jobs in two World Series. In 1951 he retired the Giants with the bases loaded in the ninth inning. In '52, the Dodgers had loaded the bases in the 7th- but Bob came in and led the Yankees to victory! Effective as a starter and reliever, he lost a no-hitter with one out in the 9th against Chicago in 1953 when a sub lined a double to left.
He came up to the majors to stick in 1949 with the White Sox and compiled a 10-6 record. In 1951, when the Senators traded him to the Yankees, Bob won 11 and lost 7.
At Charleston in 1942, he had a 21-6 mark."

-1954 Topps No. 230

1954 Back-O'-The-Card: Yankees Minor Leaguers

BOB CAIN (Kansas City Blues)

"The New York Giants signed Bob in 1943 and sent him to Bristol, Tenn., a Giant farm. He spent the next two years in military service.

On his return to baseball, he played four years in the New York farm system. The White Sox obtained him in mid-1949. The Sox sent him to Memphis for further seasoning, then called him up to the Windy City."

-1950 Bowman No. 236

"As a rookie with the 1950 White Sox, Bob appeared in 34 games. He won 9, lost 12 and had a 3.93 ERA.
Bob signed a contract with the Giants after receiving offers from eight major league clubs. He entered military service shortly afterward.
With Manchester of the New England League in 1946, he won 13 while losing 4. The White Sox bought his contract in September 1949.
Bob was traded to the Detroit Tigers in May of 1951."

-1951 Bowman No. 197 (Bowman Gum, Inc.)

"After appearing in four games for the White Sox in 1951, Bob was traded to the Tigers. He got into a total of 39 games. He won 12 and lost a like number and pitched 175 2/3 innings. Bob gave up 160 hits, walked 95 [1.45 WHIP] and struck out 61.
He was traded to the Browns in a seven-player deal on February 14, 1952."

-1952 Bowman No. 19

"Bob went from the White Sox to the Tigers in May of 1951 and then came to the Browns in February of '52.
He had offers from eight teams before signing with the Giants for the 1943 season, shortly before going into military service. Bob was in the Giants' system until September of '49 when the White Sox bought his contract.
In 34 games for the White Sox in 1950, Bob had a 9-12 record and a 3.93 ERA. He played first and the outfield besides pitching in his first year.
During the winter, Bob does electrical work."

-1952 Topps No. 349

"Bob is a good young lefty who had his best major league season in 1952, pitching for a weak-hitting team.
He began in baseball in 1943, then spent the next two years in military service. He returned in 1946 but didn't get to the majors until the end of the 1949 season with the White Sox.
Bob remained with Chicago until traded to Detroit in May 1951. He went to the Browns in February 1952."

-1953 Bowman No. 56

"Bob had the best won-and-lost record of his American League career in 1952, when he tied Satchell Paige for most victories on the Browns' pitching staff.
Bob broke in with a 12-5 mark at Bristol in 1943, and turned in his best minor league record in 1946 when he posted a 13-4 mark for Manchester. He came up to the majors with the White Sox at the end of the '49 season, went to the Tigers in May of '51 and joined the Browns in February of '52."

-1953 Topps No. 266

"The Athletics acquired Bob from the then St. Louis Browns. A wily worker, he appeared in 32 games for the Brownies in 1953, winning four and losing ten, a record that could have easily been reversed with a better team behind him. He started 13 of the games in which he appeared.
Bob began in baseball in the Giants organization. He first came to the majors with the Chicago White Sox, then went to the Detroit Tigers."

-1954 Bowman No. 195

"Eight big league clubs tried to sign Bob in 1943. Breaking in with Bristol with a 12-5 record in '43, he posted 13 victories in '46 for Manchester.
Coming up with the White Sox in '49, Bob won nine games in '50 and 12 in '51, when he split the season between Chicago and Detroit. Traded to St. Louis in '52, he won 12 of 22 decisions that year and pitched a 1-hitter against Cleveland- the opposing pitcher also allowed only one hit, but Bob won 1-0! Bob came to the A's in 1954 via a winter trade."

-1954 Topps No. 61

DICK KOKOS (Kansas City Blues)

"Dick spent the 1947 season with Wilkes-Barre and the season he had marked him for the majors. He appeared in 139 games, scored 115 runs and had 164 hits for a batting average of .324. He had 28 doubles, 12 triples and 12 homers for a total of 252 total bases.

Last season with the Browns, he played in 71 games and wound up with a good batting average of .298."

-1949 Bowman No. 31

"Dick was in 143 games last year, hitting .261 and driving in 77 runs. His record included 23 homers and 28 doubles.

In 1948, he was in 71 games and hit .298. He spent 1947 with Wilkes-Barre where he was in 139 games, scored 115 runs and piled up 164 hits for a total of 252 bases.

Definitely among the league's outfield prospects."

-1950 Bowman No. 50

"Dick batted .261 in 143 games in 1950. He hit 18 home runs. After the 1950 season, he was inducted into the Army.
In 1949, he was in exactly the number of games as in 1950 and his batting average was exactly the same. He drove in 77 runs and had 28 doubles and 23 homers among his hits.
Dick had a .298 average in 71 games in 1948. With Wilkes-Barre in 1947, he hit .324 and scored 115 runs."

-1951 Bowman No. 68

"Dick returned to baseball with the St. Louis Browns in 1953 after spending some time in military service. He got into 107 games with the Brownies, batting .241. He had 12 doubles and 13 home runs and batted in 38 runs, scoring 41.
He began in organized ball with Batavia in the PONY League in 1945. In 1949 with the Browns, his first full season in the majors, he led American League outfielders in double plays. In '49 and '50 he hit .261 each year for St. Louis."

-1954 Bowman, No. 57

"A power hitter, Dick returned to the majors in 1953 after two years of military service.
Before he went into the Army, he spent two and a half seasons with the Browns, clouting 23 homers in 1949 and 18 in 1950. In '49 Dick led American League outfielders in double plays.
Starting with Batavia in 1945, Dick hit .324 for Wilkes-Barre in '47 and .315 in '48 at Toledo.
Dick played only softball as a youngster in high school. A friend suggested he play baseball and Dick starred for a Chicago semi-pro club. A Cleveland scout saw him during a game and signed him to an Indian contract."

-1954 Topps No. 106

KEN SILVESTRI (Kansas City Blues)

"Ken Silvestri, the Phillies' bullpen catcher, has had few chances this season to back up his reputation as a brainy and aggressive receiver who 'takes charge of the game.' He was drafted from Newark on a recommendation as the 'best catcher in the minors.' Ken is a switch-hitter, and a tough one in a pinch.

Up before with the White Sox and Yankees, his careeer was interrupted by four full years of war service- late 1941 through '45. When injuries embarrassed [sic] the Phillies in an early season double-header, he played second base and shortstop, changing over with Eddie Miller for left- and right-handed hitters."

-1949 Philadelphia Bulletin Athletics-Phillies

"Ken caught 11 games in 1950 and hit .250. But Ken's great value to the Phils is through his work in helping to train the young pitchers.
He hit the majors with the White Sox in 1939 but finished the season with St. Paul. Back with the Sox in 1940, Ken was traded to the Yankees at the end of the campaign. In military service for the next four seasons, he played for the Yanks and their farm clubs on his return. Ken then went to the Phillies in 1949."

-1951 Bowman No. 256 (Bowman Gum, Inc.)

"Ken does an important job as the Phillies' bullpen catcher. He got into only four games last year, had two hits and batted in a run.
He started in baseball in 1936 and first played in the majors with the White Sox in 1939. Ken was traded to the Yankees, then drafted by the Phillies from Newark in November 1948."

-1952 Bowman No. 200

JACK GRAHAM (Modesto Reds)

"Last season Jack was in 137 games for the St. Louis Browns. He had a low batting average (.238), but his hits counted. He was credited with 24 doubles, 24 homers and 79 runs batted in.

Jack was in the Army Air Force, 1943-45. He holds a private pilot's license. Jack is now playing in the minors for further seasoning and may be back again in the majors."

-1950 Bowman No. 145

1954 Back-O'-The-Card: Bob Grim

"Bob adds versatility to the Yankees' pitching staff in 1954 with his ability as both a starter and reliever.
He entered pro ball with eight victories at Butler of the Mid-Atlantic League in 1948. Bob won in double figures for the first time in his career with 10 victories at Norfolk in 1950. He compiled a 16-5 record with 118 strikeouts at Binghamton in 1951. He spent the 1952 and 1953 seasons in military service.
The Yankees envision him as a 20-game winner and Rookie of the Year candidate this season."

-1954 Topps No. 252

1954 Back-O'-The-Card: Tom Gorman and Ralph Branca

TOM GORMAN
"In 1952, Tom was just about to be sent to the minors. However, he was given one more chance and was sent in against the Washington Senators in relief. He pitched nine innings of no-hit, no-run ball and saved his job in the majors. He's been a top relief pitcher for the Yankees ever since.
In 1951 with Beaumont of the Texas League, Tom set a record of 42 consecutive scoreless innings. It was this which earned him a trial with the Yankees."

-1954 Bowman, No. 17

RALPH BRANCA

"Ralph was signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers and made his debut in organized baseball with their Olean farm team in 1943. He started the 1944 season with the Dodgers and dropped two decisions. He finished the season with Montreal and spent the first half of the next year at St. Paul and then was brought up by the Dodgers.

1947 was Ralph's best year and he wound up with a record of 21-12. Last season he won 14 and lost 9."

-1949 Bowman No. 194

"Ralph hung up a 13-5 record in 1949, striking out 109 men in 187 innings pitched. He had his best record in 1947 (21-12).

He broke into organized baseball with Olean in the PONY League. He began 1944 with Brooklyn, but finished with Montreal. He began 1945 with St. Paul but moved up to Brooklyn where he's been ever since.

Ralph has been in theatricals."

-1950 Bowman No. 59

"Ralph had an off-season in 1950. He won only 7 games while losing 9, but there may be a different story this season.

The big right-hander's first complete season with the Dodgers was 1946. His best record (21-12) was in 1947. In 1949, Ralph won 13, lost 5. His minor league experience includes St. Paul and Montreal.
Ralph possesses a good baritone voice which he has been known to lift in song."

-1951 Bowman No. 56 (Bowman Gum, Inc.)

"Compiling a record of 13-12 in 1951, Big Ralph threw the pitch which Bobby Thomson hit for the Giants' pennant-winning home run. Experts agree that nothing was wrong with the pitch, but Bobby reached up and connected.
Ralph first came into the majors in 1944."

-1952 Bowman No. 96

"A big leaguer since the middle of the 1944 season, Big Ralph had his best year in 1947, winning 21 and posting a 2.67 earned run average. Despite arm trouble in '48 and '49 he had 14-9 and 13-5 marks. In 1950, the former New York University basketball and baseball star won 7 and lost 9.
In pro ball since 1943, Ralph rates the Pirates as his favorite opponents, having a 17-6 lifetime record against them. Named on the Major League All-Star team in 1947, he has 14 shutouts to his credit."

-1952 Topps No. 274

"Ralph was bothered by a sore arm for most of 1952 and appeared in only 16 games.
He has been in Brooklyn since 1944. His biggest season was in 1947 when he won 21 games and lost 12.
Ralph began in baseball in 1943 with the Dodgers' Olean farm team. He appeared in 21 games for the Dodgers in 1944, then finished the season with Montreal. He began 1945 with St. Paul, then joined the Dodgers."

-1953 Bowman No. 52