Oneonta’s All-Time All-Star….Jim Konstanty!

I was going through some of my old stuff the other day and I came upon this May, 1951 SPORT magazine:

I hadn't seen this is many years and forgot why I kept it.  So I thumbed through it.  A-ha!  There on the inside pages if a full feature article on Oneonta's own major league star Jim Konstanty.  the article is great and it tells of Jim's humble Upstate beginnings and his life in the sport.  It is titled "Jim Konstanty: The All-Time Fireman!"

There is even a sweet story of how he met his wife, Mary Burlingame.  Jim was a physical education instructor and Mary was a history teacher at St. Regis Falls High School.  The story tells how they "hung out" together, roller skating, skiing and going to movies.  It says they married on May 27, 1941 one month after Jim began his career as a pitcher.

Jim went on to star with the Reds, Phillies, Yankees, Cardinals and Braves.  His carrer stats are W-L (66-48), ERA (3.46), Strikeouts (268) and Saves (78).  In 1950 he was named the National League Most Valuable Player.  He remains the only relief pitcher to receive the MVP award.

After Jim's retirement he came to Oneonta where he was athletic director at Hartwick College from 1967-1972.  He also owned a popular sporting goods store on Main Street.  Jim died in Oneonta on June 11, 1976.  He had just turned 59 years old.

The article even had a full page photo of Jim.  It was nice coming across this 60-year old magazine again, and seeing a local name leap off the pages at me!