Today's Birthday: Bob Strampe

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Photo Credits: Topps Co. via Trading Card Database

Source: Baseball Reference

NY-Penn League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball, the New York-Penn League, or any of its teams.

News from the PONY League on June 12, 1953

League officials decide not to extend season despite several rainouts early in the season.

Source: Lancaster (Pennsylvania) Intelligencer via Newspapers.com

NY-Penn League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball, the New York-Penn League, or any of its teams.

News from the PONY League on June 11, 1946

The Bradford Blue Wings win both games of a doubleheader over the Batavia Clippers before 1,065 fans.

Source: Bradford Evening Star and Daily Record via Newspapers.com

NY-Penn League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball, the New York-Penn League, or any of its teams.

Today's Birthday: Alex Konikowski

Credit: Society for American Baseball Research

Former PONY (New York-Penn) League prospect Alex Konikowski was born on this date in 1928. He played for two seasons in the PONY League with the Erie Sailors (1944-45).

Konikowski pitched for the New York Giants during three seasons (1948, '51 & '54), finishing his major league career with a 2-3 win/loss record and a 6.93 ERA in 35 games.

After his baseball career was over, he worked as a plumber and died on September 27, 1997 at the age of 69.

Source: Baseball Reference

NY-Penn League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball, the New York-Penn League, or any of its teams.

News from the PONY (New York-Penn) League on June 5, 1939

The Batavia Clippers and Jamestown Pirates split a doubleheader yesterday before 1,000 fans.

Source: Rochester Democrat and Chronicle via Newspapers.com

NY-Penn League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball, the New York-Penn League, or any of its teams.

Today's Birthday: Frank Verdi

Credits: The Wiz via Trading Card Database

Former PONY prospect (1946 Wellsville Yankees) and New York-Penn League manager (1966 Binghamton Triplets and 1967 Oneonta Yankees) Frank Verdi was born on this date in 1926.

Verdi appeared in one game for the New York Yankees in 1953.

Source: Baseball Reference

NY-Penn League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball, the New York-Penn League, or any of its teams.

Today's Birthday: Hal Smith

Note: This was first posted on June 1, 2019. How time flies when you are having fun.

Credits: Topps Co. via Trading Cards Database

Former PONY (New York-Penn League) prospect Hal Smith was born on this date in 1931, in Barling, Arkansas. He was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1949 and played in 79 games in the PONY League for the 1950 Hamilton Cardinals.

Smith went on to play six seasons in the majors with the St. Louis Cardinals 1956-61 and was a National League All-Star in 1957 and 1959. He played in four games while coaching for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1965.

Smith died on April 12, 2014, in Fort Smith, Arkansas at the age of 82.

Source: Baseball Reference

NY-Penn League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball, the New York-Penn League, or any of its teams.