Johnny Antonelli: A Baseball Memoir

One of only 17 major-league players never to have spent a single day in the minors, Johnny was a highly coveted phenom who signed a bonus baby contract with the Boston Braves for $52,000 a few days after graduating from Rochester's Jefferson High School in 1948. It wasn't until six years later when he was traded to the New York Giants after a couple of inauspicious seasons with the Braves and a two-year stint in the Army that the stylish, left-hander began realizing the potential the scouts had seen in him. In a seven-year stretch from 1953-59 Antonelli was among baseball s best hurlers, compiling a 114-89 record, 22 shutouts and nine saves. He was named to the National League All-Star squad five times, won 20 games twice and paced the senior circuit in shutouts two times.