The most decorated player in Gustavus baseball history, Tony Konicek was a feared hitter and versatile fielder with a tremendous amount of raw skill. Konicek is the only player in program history to earn All-America honors twice, Midwest Region Player of the Year twice, and MIAC Player of the Year twice.
The Rochester, Minn. native started his collegiate career with a bang, batting .433 with eight home runs and 54 RBI during his freshman season, setting the tone for a Hall of Fame career. Konicek produced three seasons with a batting average above .430 and graduated as the single-season record holder in at-bats (171), hits (74), and runs batted in (55). Konicek’s junior and senior seasons featured batting averages above .450 with more than 50 hits, 25 extra-base hits, and slugging percentages over .800. During those two seasons, Konicek earned ABCA First Team All-America, NCBWA Midwest Region Position Player of the Year, and MIAC Player of the Year honors. He also earned D3baseball.com Second Team All-America recognition in 2007 and was the Gustavus Male Athlete of the Year for the 2006-07 academic year.
Konicek still holds program records for career batting average (.440), hits (228), triples (12), RBI (178), and runs (135). He ranks second in doubles (53), and home runs (31), is third in at-bats (518), and seventh in games played (148). During his four-year career, the Gusties won 99 games, highlighted by a program record 29 victories in 2004. Konicek’s outstanding career earned him a spot on the D3baseball.com 2000’s All-Decade First Team.
In addition to his phenomenal hitting skills, Konicek was also adept in the field playing outfield his first three seasons before moving to third base his senior season. He compiled a career fielding percentage of . 949.
After graduating in 2007 with a major in business management, Konicek has been the director of operations for two business units within Taylor Corporation. Tony lives in Mankato, Minn. with his wife Cayla and their children, Louis and Callie.
