WAY IT WAS: Edward Konetchy 'Koney,' 1908
La Crosse Public Library Known by various nicknames, Edward John Konetchy was born in La Crosse in 1885 and as a young man worked for the Funke Can...
La Crosse Public Library Known by various nicknames, Edward John Konetchy was born in La Crosse in 1885 and as a young man worked for the Funke Candy Co. earning one of his monikers as 'The Candy Kid,' but he was best known in the major leagues as 'Koney.' In 1907 St. Louis manager John McCloskey plucked Koney from La Crosse and persuaded him to join the Cardinals baseball team mid-year. Koney was an excellent first baseman and had a solid hitting average. La Crosse fans adored him so much that he was presented with $150 diamond ring the night of his last game.