Bruce Konopka

Who was Bruce Konopka?

Bruno Bruce Konopka was an American professional baseball player during the 1940s. A first baseman, his four-season professional career was interrupted by service in the United States Navy in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II. However, Konopka did appear in 45 Major League games for the Philadelphia Athletics during the 1942, 1943 and 1946 seasons. He was born in Hammond, Indiana, but attended Manual High School in Denver, Colorado, and college at the University of Southern California.

Konopka batted and threw left-handed. He stood 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighed 190 pounds.

He made his Major League debut in his first pro season. In his first game, June 7 at Shibe Park, he relieved Dick Siebert at first base for the Athletics, but was held hitless in two at bats by Bob Muncrief of the St. Louis Browns. He registered his first MLB hit, a single, as a pinch hitter 16 days later. He spent most of the rest of that season with the Class B Wilmington Blue Rocks, but returned to the Athletics in September to go two-for-four against the Washington Senators on September 19. He batted only twice for the Athletics in 1943 before being called into the military.