Baseball History Podcast

Casimir James Konstanty, nicknamed “Jim”, was born March 2, 1917, Strykersville, New York. An all-around athlete from Syracuse University, Konstanty had brief trials with the Reds and Braves before finally developing a palmball and sticking with the Phillies in 1949, at age thiry-two.

Fury Gene Tenace was born October 10, 1946 in Russellton, Pennsylvania. His actual birth name is Fiore Gino Tennaci. Tenace was an underappreciated talent whose magnificent performance in the 1972 World Series displayed to the world his valuable but rarely spotlighted abilities. He reached 20 Home Runs in five of his seven seasons as a regular but throughout his career, his low batting averages were focused on. Missed was the fact that, after becoming an everyday player, he had an on-base average of .400 five times and over .390 three times.

Richard Rudolph, nicknamed “Baldy”, was born August 25, 1887 in New York, New York. Spitballer Dick Rudolph rotated in a trio that pitched the 1914 Braves from last place on July 4 to the pennant. Rudolph paced the staff with 27 wins and added two more in the World Series as the Braves swept the Athletics in four games.

Henry Emmett Manush nicknamed “Heinie,” was born July 20, 1901 in Tuscumbia, Alabama. Mastering the art of the line drive but unable to master his own temper, Heinie Manush burst onto the major league scene with the Detroit Tigers and quickly became one of the fiercest and most feared hitters in the game.