[Mick]

I love those stats! Hope you noted the 2 for 2 off Messersmith.

Frankly I'm surprised that Jim Konstanty wasn't honored before Ennis. MVP in '50 and would have been Cy Young if the award existed.

So, without looking up what was the connection between that era Phils and The Natural?

Totally WAGging it, but did Malamud write for the Philadelphia newspaper at the time?

Doesn't surprise me about Konstanty.  He only had the one good season, only season he was an all-star.  It was a bit like the Mike Marshall 1974 season for the Dodgers.  Konstanty won 16 games in relief and saved 22, pitching 152 innings.  His ERA was 2.66, not really world class for a reliever (he made 74 appearances that year, all in relief). Konstanty got a late start, thanks to WWII, he was 31 before he hit the big leagues for good.

[Mick]

I love those stats! Hope you noted the 2 for 2 off Messersmith.

Frankly I'm surprised that Jim Konstanty wasn't honored before Ennis. MVP in '50 and would have been Cy Young if the award existed.

So, without looking up what was the connection between that era Phils and The Natural?

Totally WAGging it, but did Malamud write for the Philadelphia newspaper at the time?

Doesn't surprise me about Konstanty.  He only had the one good season, only season he was an all-star.  It was a bit like the Mike Marshall 1974 season for the Dodgers.  Konstanty won 16 games in relief and saved 22, pitching 152 innings.  His ERA was 2.66, not really world class for a reliever (he made 74 appearances that year, all in relief). Konstanty got a late start, thanks to WWII, he was 31 before he hit the big leagues for good.