John Antonelli
From BR Bullpen
John Lawrence Antonelli
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 5' 10½", Weight 165 lb.
- High School Memphis Catholic High School
- Debut September 16, 1944
- Final Game September 17, 1945
- Born July 15, 1915 in Memphis, TN USA
- Died April 18, 1990 in Memphis, TN USA
Biographical Information[edit]
John Antonelli started his career as a player-manager in the KITTY League in 1935, when he was not even 20 years old! He is mentioned in the song "Van Lingle Mungo" by David Frishberg, although most listeners think the reference is to his more famous quasi-namesake Johnny Antonelli. The song is clearly about ballplayers from the 1940s, a period when John was active in the major leagues, but not Johnny, who came up in the early 1950s.
After his playing days ended, he managed the Memphis Blues from 1969 to 1972, the Tidewater Tides in 1973 and 1974, and the Jackson Mets in 1975 and 1976. He was a roving instructor in the New York Mets organization following his Jackson time until 1985.
Year-By-Year Minor League Managerial Record[edit]
| Year | Team | League | Record | Finish | Organization | Playoffs | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1935 | Lexington Giants | KITTY League | 43-36 | 5th | none | ||
| 1936 | Lexington Giants | KITTY League | 3rd | none | replaced Dick Stewart | ||
| 1937 | Union City Greyhounds | KITTY League | 73-46 | 1st | St. Louis Cardinals | Lost in 1st round | |
| 1950 | Hot Springs Bathers | Cotton States League | 77-60 | 3rd | Chicago White Sox | League Champs | |
| 1970 | Memphis Blues | Texas League | 69-67 | 3rd | New York Mets | Lost League Finals | |
| 1971 | Memphis Blues | Dixie Association | 69-70 | 4th | New York Mets | ||
| 1972 | Memphis Blues | Texas League | 75-64 | 3rd | New York Mets | ||
| 1973 | Tidewater Tides | International League | 75-70 | 5th | New York Mets | Lost in 1st round | |
| 1974 | Tidewater Tides | International League | 57-82 | 7th | New York Mets | ||
| 1975 | Jackson Mets | Texas League | 65-65 | 4th | New York Mets | ||
| 1976 | Jackson Mets | Texas League | 69-66 | 4th | New York Mets |
Further Reading[edit]
- Jim Sweetman: "John Antonelli", in Bill Nowlin, ed.: Van Lingle Mungo: The Man, The Song, The Players, SABR, Phoenix, AZ, 2014, pp. 171-175. ISBN 978-1-933599-76-2
We're Social...for Statheads
Every Sports Reference Social Media Account
Site Last Updated:
Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction?
Subscribe to our Free Email Newsletter
Subscribe to Stathead Baseball: Get your first month FREE
Your All-Access Ticket to the Baseball Reference Database
Do you have a sports website? Or write about sports? We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. Find out more.