Joe Kelley
Kelley with the Cincinnati Reds in 1903
Left fielder / Manager
Born: (1871-12-09)December 9, 1871
Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died: August 14, 1943(1943-08-14) (aged 71)
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
July 27, 1891, for the Boston Beaneaters
Last MLB appearance
October 8, 1908, for the Boston Doves
MLB statistics
Batting average.317
Hits2,220
Home runs65
Runs batted in1,194
Stolen bases443
Managerial record338–321
Winning %.512
Teams
As player

As manager

Career highlights and awards
Member of the National
Baseball Hall of Fame
Induction1971
Election methodVeterans Committee

Joseph James Kelley (December 9, 1871 – August 14, 1943) was an American left fielder in Major League Baseball (MLB) who starred in the outfield of the Baltimore Orioles teams of the 1890s. Making up the nucleus of the Orioles along with John McGraw, Willie Keeler, and Hughie Jennings, Kelley received the nickname "Kingpin of the Orioles".[1]

In his MLB career, Kelley played in the National League (NL) for the Boston Beaneaters (1891), Pittsburgh Pirates (1892), Baltimore Orioles (1892–1898), and Brooklyn Superbas (1899–1901), before he jumped to the upstart American League to play for the Baltimore Orioles (1902). He returned to the NL with Cincinnati Reds (1902–1906) and Boston Doves (1908). Kelley served as player-manager of the Reds (1902–1905) and Doves (1908). After extending his career in the minor leagues, he coached the Brooklyn Robins (1926), and scouted for the New York Yankees (1915–1916).

Kelley was regarded as an excellent batter, a good base runner, and a great leader. Over his seventeen-season MLB career, Kelley had a .317 batting average, and batted over .300 in eleven consecutive seasons. Kelley stole a career-high 87 bases in the 1896 season, which led MLB. He finished in the league's top ten in categories such as batting average, home runs, runs batted in (RBI), and stolen bases numerous times. He served as team captain of the Orioles and the Superbas. In recognition of his career achievements, Kelley was elected a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee in 1971.

Early life

Kelley was born to Patrick Kelly and Ann Kelly (née Carney) in Cambridge, Massachusetts on December 9, 1871.[2] Kelley's parents emigrated to the United States from Ireland, and he had five siblings. According to the 1880 United States Census, Patrick worked as a marble cutter.[3]

As a child, Kelley was educated at a parochial grammar school and St. Thomas Aquinas College in Cambridge, where he starred for the school's baseball team as a pitcher. He worked for a local piano manufacturer and the John P. Lowell Arms Company. He practiced with the Harvard Crimson, the college baseball team of Harvard University, and played semi-professional baseball for the Lowell Arms Company.[3][4]

Career

Early career: Minor leagues and Boston Beaneaters (1891)

Kelley made his professional debut with the Lowell Indians of the New England League (NEL) in 1891, at age 19. During games he did not pitch, Lowell's manager put him in the lineup as an infielder.[3][5] Kelley had a 10–3 win–loss record and a NEL-leading .323 batting average with Lowell.[3]

Lowell folded in July.[6] Three days later, Kelley signed with the Boston Beaneaters of the National League (NL).[7] Kelley made his major league debut in August 1891 with the Beaneaters. After batting .244 in twelve games played, the Beaneaters released Kelley after the season.[3] Kelley began the 1892 season with the Omaha Omahogs of the Class–A Western League, turning down a $1,200 salary ($39,084 in current dollar terms) from the Oakland Oaks of the Pacific Coast League. With Omaha, Kelley batted .316 with 19 stolen bases in 58 games.[3]

Pittsburgh Pirates and NL's Baltimore Orioles (1892–1898)

The Pittsburgh Pirates of the NL purchased Kelley's contract from Omaha for $500 ($16,285 in current dollar terms) on July 2, 1892. Ned Hanlon, new manager of the Baltimore Orioles, traded George Van Haltren to the Pirates for Kelley and $2,000 ($65,141 in current dollar terms) in September 1892.[3] Hanlon had succeeded Van Haltren as Orioles' manager during the season; remaining with the Orioles as a player, Van Haltren openly criticized Hanlon. Hanlon mentioned that he "had [his] eye on Kelley for a long time."[8]

Kelley (sitting, left) with Baltimore Orioles teammates Hughie Jennings (sitting, right), Willie Keeler (standing, left), and John McGraw (standing, right)

Hanlon taught Kelley how to play center field.[8] During the 1893 season, Kelley batted .305, with 120 runs scored, and stole 33 bases.[8] He finished ninth in the NL with a .476 slugging percentage (SLG), and tied Eddie Burke for ninth in home runs with 9.[9] The Orioles won the NL pennant in 1894, 1895, and 1896. Kelley moved to left field in 1894 with the acquisition of Steve Brodie, who played center.[8] That year, he batted .393 with 111 runs batted in (RBI), 199 hits, and 165 runs scored, tying teammate Willie Keeler for second in runs and finishing sixth in batting average and eighth in hits.[10] Combined with 107 walks, which were tied for second most in the NL with Cupid Childs and behind only Billy Hamilton, Kelley posted a .502 on-base percentage (OBP), finishing second in the NL to Hamilton, and hit 48 doubles, good for second in the NL, behind only Hugh Duffy.[10] His .602 SLG was the fourth best in the NL.[10]

These Orioles teams, led by John McGraw, were known to break the rules in order to win, including tampering with their bats and the playing field.[11] Kelley hid baseballs in the outfield, using the closest hidden ball instead of finding the ball batted into the outfield.[12] Kelley hit ten home runs in 1895, a then-franchise record,[13] tying him for fifth in the NL with five other players. He also tied Brodie for second with 134 RBI, finished fourth with 54 stolen bases, fifth with a .546 SLG, and sixth with a .456 OBP.[14] In 1896, Kelley finished seventh in the NL in batting average (.364), fourth in runs scored (148), fourth in SLG (.543), fifth in OBP (.469), ninth in hits (189), and tied Gene DeMontreville for eighth in home runs (8).[15]

In 1897, Kelley agreed to serve as the coach of the Georgetown Hoyas, the college baseball team of Georgetown University.[16] That year, he finished fifth in the NL in batting average (.362) and RBI (118), seventh in OBP (.447), and eighth in SLG (.489).[17]

By 1898, Kelley earned an annual salary of $2,500 ($87,940 in current dollar terms), plus a $200 ($7,035 in current dollar terms) bonus for serving as team captain.[3] He finished third in the league with 110 RBI and ninth with a .438 SLG.[18] Due to insolvency, the Brooklyn Superbas purchased the Orioles after the 1898 season and transferred Kelley, Hanlon, Keeler, Joe McGinnity, and Hughie Jennings to Brooklyn.[19] Wanting an opportunity to manage, and to remain near Baltimore, Kelley requested a transfer to the Washington Senators, but Washington did not have enough talent to send to Brooklyn to make a trade.[19]

Brooklyn Superbas and AL's Baltimore Orioles (1899–1902)

With McGraw remaining in Baltimore, Hanlon named Kelley team captain.[19] The Superbas won the NL pennant in 1899 and 1900, as Kelley finished tenth in RBI (93), OBP (.410), and tied several players for tenth in home runs (6) in 1899[20] and led the team with a .319 batting average in 1900,[19][21] while finishing fourth in the league in SLG (.485), tying Hickman for seventh in RBI (91), and tying Jimmy Collins and Buck Freeman for tenth in home runs (6).[22]

Kelley moved back to the infield, becoming the regular first baseman in 1901.[21] After the 1901 season, Kelley denied reports that he would jump from the Superbas to the Detroit Tigers of the American League (AL), the former Western League which had decided to compete with the NL by creating franchises in east coast cities that housed NL franchises.[23] However, the opportunity to return to Baltimore proved irresistible to Kelley, and after the AL's successful 1901 season, he jumped from the Superbas to the Baltimore Orioles AL.[21][24] Kelley's father-in-law, John Mahon, was president and principal share holder of the AL's Orioles.[25]

Kelley's 1909 American Tobacco Company baseball card

Kelley was named Orioles' captain and received some stock in the team.[21] McGraw, player-manager of the Orioles, resigned from the team to take over as manager of the New York Giants on July 7, 1902. In his absence, Kelley and Wilbert Robinson took over in the interim.[26] Under indefinite suspension by Ban Johnson by July 1902 for fighting with umpires,[3] Kelley entertained the idea of leaving the Orioles with McGraw, who was becoming frustrated with Johnson, and had begun negotiating to join the New York Giants of the NL.[27] With the team in financial straits,[28] Kelley sold his shares of the Orioles to Mahon, who had purchased McGraw's shares when he left for New York, becoming principal shareholder of the Orioles.[3] Mahon then sold controlling interest in the Orioles to Andrew Freedman, principal owner of the Giants, and John T. Brush, principal owner of the Cincinnati Reds, on July 17.[3] On the day they owned the franchise, they released the best players on the Orioles from their contracts so that they could be signed by National League teams: Kelley and Cy Seymour signed with the Reds, while McGinnity, Roger Bresnahan, Dan McGann, and Jack Cronin signed with the Giants.[29][30] Johnson, along with Orioles minority owners, took control of the Orioles franchise, which had to forfeit their game that day as they did not have enough players.[3] Kelley stated that the Orioles owed $12,000 ($405,877 in current dollar terms), and that selling his shares was the only way Mahon could pay the team's debts.[3]

Cincinnati Reds, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Boston Doves (1902–1908)

The Superbas lodged a complaint against the Reds, claiming that Kelley was still under their control, seeking compensation from the Reds.[31][32] However, the other NL owners saw the situation as a coup for their league, and compelled Hanlon to drop his complaint.[33] Kelley did not immediately report to Cincinnati, instead traveling to Boston to attempt to convince members of the Boston Americans to join him in the NL.[33] Kelley joined the Reds on July 31.[28]

With rumors that Kelley was negotiating to become the Reds' manager, incumbent manager Bid McPhee resigned, and Kelley succeeded him.[33] Kelley served as manager of the Reds from 1902 until 1905. In 1903, Kelley finished ninth in the NL in OBP (.402).[34] He was dismissed as manager after the 1905 season, and replaced by Hanlon.[35] He remained as a Reds player for the 1906 season. He batted .228 during the 1906 season, and the Reds released him.[35]

Kelley signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs of the Class–AA International League (IL) in 1907, receiving a $5,000 salary ($157,036 in current dollar terms), the highest for a minor league player to date.[3] Kelley batted .322 for the Maple Leafs as a part-time player, spending time in left field and first base.[35] The Maple Leafs won the IL pennant that season.[3]

With Fred Tenney set to leave the Boston Doves of the NL for the Giants,[36] the Doves claimed Kelley from the Maple Leafs,[35][37] signing Kelley to a two-year contract[38] with an annual salary of $5,500 ($179,137 in current dollar terms).[3] Kelley announced that he would play left field.[39] Kelley feuded with Doves' owner George Dovey, as Dovey wanted George Browne fined for "indifferent play", which Kelley refused to do.[40] Dovey fired Kelley in December 1908.[35] Kelley threatened legal action against Dovey, stating in the press that Dovey was releasing him to cut salary.[40][41] Kelley and Dovey settled their case, freeing Kelley from the second year of his Doves contract.[42]

Later career (1909–1926)

Maple Leafs president James McCafferey secured Kelley's return to the club in 1909.[38][43] He played with the Maple Leafs through 1910, managing the Maple Leafs from 1912 to 1914, winning a second pennant in 1912.[3]

After the 1914 season, the Maple Leafs released Kelley. The New York Yankees considered hiring Kelley as their manager after the 1914 season.[44] Kelley scouted for the Yankees in 1915 and 1916.[3][45] Former teammate Wilbert Robinson, then manager of the Brooklyn Robins, hired Kelley and McGinnity to join his coaching staff for the 1926 MLB season.[3] Kelley and McGinnity were not retained after the season.[46]

Legacy

Joe had no prominent weakness. He was fast on the bases, could hit the ball hard and was as graceful an outfielder as one would care to see. He covered an immense amount of ground and had that necessary faculty, so prominent in Speaker and others, of being able to place himself where the batter would be likely to hit the ball.

– John McGraw[2]

As a player, Kelley had 11 consecutive .300-plus seasons during his MLB career. Kelley was also known as a good base runner and stole a career-high 87 bases in 1896. He retired with a career .317 batting, .402 OBP, 65 home runs, 1,421 runs, 1,194 RBI and 443 stolen bases in 1,853 career games. His 194 triples ranks him ninth all-time.[47] Kelley tied Fred Carroll's MLB record with nine hits in a doubleheader,[48][49] which he presently shares with eight other players.[50]

Additionally, he was known as a great leader.[51] He compiled a 338–321 win–loss record as an MLB manager.

Kelley was considered by the Veterans Committee for induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1964,[48] but was not selected. He was voted into the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee in 1971.[52]

Personal life

Kelley married Margaret Mahon on October 26, 1897. Keeler served as Kelley's best man, and McGraw and Jennings served as groomsmen.[53] Kelley is buried at New Cathedral Cemetery.[54]

See also

References

Bibliography

  • Fleitz, David L. (2007). More ghosts in the gallery: Another sixteen little-known greats at Cooperstown. McFarland & Company. ISBN 978-0-7864-3133-5. Retrieved March 24, 2012.

In-line citations

  1. ↑ "Joe Kelley, 'Kingpin' Of Orioles, Dead". The Sun. August 15, 1943. Retrieved April 8, 2012.(subscription required)
  2. 1 2 Fleitz, p. 121
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Keenan, Jimmy. "Joe Kelley". Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved March 24, 2012.
  4. ↑ Fleitz, p. 122
  5. ↑ "Baseball Captains of Industry: Considerable Kelley, Whose First Name was Joe". The Carroll Herald. June 5, 1912. Retrieved April 8, 2012.
  6. ↑ "Lowell BB History". The Lowell Sun. July 23, 2008. Retrieved April 8, 2012. (subscription required)
  7. ↑ "Lowell BB History". The Lowell Sun. July 27, 2007. Retrieved April 8, 2012. (subscription required)
  8. 1 2 3 4 Fleitz, p. 124
  9. ↑ "1893 National League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 24, 2012.
  10. 1 2 3 "1894 National League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2012.
  11. ↑ Klingaman, Mike (June 5, 2003). "Cheats in cleats make fair play slippery business; Bat corkers, spin doctors owe debt to 1896 Orioles, other tricksters of trade". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved April 8, 2012. (subscription required)
  12. ↑ Cornfeld, Rick (February 2, 1971). "The Hall of Fame ... the great and merely good". The Michigan Daily. p. 7. Retrieved July 7, 2012.
  13. ↑ Fleitz, p. 128
  14. ↑ "1895 National League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2012.
  15. ↑ "1896 National League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2012.
  16. ↑ "Yanigans Swamped, Baltimore Colts Snowed Under by the Regulars, Joe Kelley Reaches Macon". The Morning Herald. March 27, 1897. p. 9. Retrieved April 8, 2012.
  17. ↑ "1897 National League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2012.
  18. ↑ "1898 National League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2012.
  19. 1 2 3 4 Fleitz, p. 130
  20. ↑ "1899 National League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2012.
  21. 1 2 3 4 Fleitz, p. 131
  22. ↑ "1900 National League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 24, 2012.
  23. ↑ "No Trust in Baseball — Clubs Vote Down John T. Brush's Scheme by 5 Votes to 1. League a Perpetual Body: Election of Officers Postponed for Some Unknown Reason — Hanlon to Stay With Brooklyn". The New York Times. December 12, 1901. Retrieved April 8, 2012.
  24. ↑ "Baseball Player in Demand". The New York Times. December 23, 1901. Retrieved April 8, 2012.
  25. ↑ "Baltimore's New Baseball President" (PDF). The New York Times. February 18, 1902. Retrieved April 8, 2012.
  26. ↑ "M'Graw for New York — Baltimore Baseball Player Will Manage the Local 'Team. $20,000 the Consideration: National League in the Deal to Get This Player Away from the American League". The New York Times. July 8, 1902. Retrieved April 8, 2012.
  27. ↑ "McGraw Accuses Ban Johnson". The New York Times. July 3, 1903. Retrieved April 8, 2012.
  28. 1 2 "Kelley Predicts Exodus to the National League". The Pittsburgh Press. July 31, 1902. Retrieved April 8, 2012.
  29. ↑ "Clean Sweep of Baltimore Club: National Leaguers Graft the Star Players". Baltimore American. July 17, 1902. p. 1. Retrieved April 8, 2012.
  30. ↑ Dewey, Donald; Acocella, Nicholas (2005). Total Ballclubs: The Ultimate Book of Baseball Teams. Sportclassic Books. p. 37. ISBN 1-894963-37-7.
  31. ↑ "Pretty Tough on Brooklyn: National Leaguers Rule That They May Freely Raid Ranks of American League". Baltimore American. August 13, 1902. Retrieved April 8, 2012.
  32. ↑ "Ebbitts Says it is a Finish Fight: Says Nationals Ask For and Give No Quarter to Men of American League". Baltimore American. July 24, 1902. Retrieved April 8, 2012.
  33. 1 2 3 Fleitz, p. 133
  34. ↑ "1903 National League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2012.
  35. 1 2 3 4 5 Fleitz, p. 134
  36. ↑ "Baseball Owners Meet at Waldorf — Deals for Players Excite More Interest Than Annual Conclave. Tenney May Come Here. Joe Kelley Almost Sure to Manage Boston Team — Dan McGann is Talked of for Cincinnati". The New York Times. December 11, 1907. Retrieved April 7, 2012.
  37. ↑ "Jimmy Casey is Wanted to Succeed Joe Kelley: Brooklyn Third Baseman May Be Manager of the Toronto Club". The Pittsburgh Press. November 14, 1907. Retrieved April 8, 2012.
  38. 1 2 "New Manager of Doves; Kelley to Be Given Release". The Sunday Tribune. November 25, 1908. Retrieved April 8, 2012.
  39. ↑ "Joe Kelley in Left Garden: Beaumont in Center and Brown in Right for Boston Nationals". The Pittsburgh Press. January 15, 1908. Retrieved April 8, 2012.
  40. 1 2 "Joe Kelley Pans the Boston Owner: Declares that Dovey Merely Wants to Get Rid of Him to Reduce Club's Expenses". The Pittsburgh Press. November 30, 1908. Retrieved April 8, 2012.
  41. ↑ "Joe Kelley Appeals His Case". Chicago Tribune. December 30, 1908. Retrieved April 8, 2012. (subscription required)
  42. ↑ "Kelley and Dovey Settle Difficulties". The Meriden Daily Journal. January 15, 1909. Retrieved April 8, 2012.
  43. ↑ "EASTERN LEAGUE BOARD MEETS HERE; Directors Discuss Plans for Season and Announce the Umpire Staff. YALE HAS BIG SCHEDULE Three Games with the Giants – Roger Bresnahan to Get Loving Cup – Yankees' Revised Dates". The New York Times. January 28, 1909. Retrieved April 8, 2012.
  44. ↑ "Magee Named Manager". The Sun. December 19, 1914. Retrieved April 8, 2012. (subscription required)
  45. ↑ "Giants Get Day's Rest in Knoxville; Resume Northward Trek with Red Sox—Chance of BarrowHuggins Deal Less Bright". The New York Times. April 5, 1920. p. 18. Retrieved April 8, 2012.
  46. ↑ Harrison, James R. (December 15, 1926). "National Leaguers Move For Peace — Committee Chosen to Confer With Landis mid Similar American League Group. Resin Ball is Endorsed: Robins Release Kelley and McGinnity — Trading Dull – Magnates Go to Chicago Today". The New York Times. p. 23. Retrieved April 8, 2012. (subscription required)
  47. ↑ "Career Leaders & Records for Triples". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2012.
  48. 1 2 "Veterans Committee Votes: Oldtimers in Line for Hall". The Telegraph-Herald. January 29, 1964. Retrieved April 8, 2012.
  49. ↑ "Lee Thomas Ties Major Hit Record". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Kansas City, Missouri. Associated Press. September 6, 1961. p. 8. Retrieved June 21, 2012.
  50. ↑ Schuckman, Matt (March 11, 2012). "Spring Training Trivia: Double duty". Quincy Herald-Whig. Retrieved June 22, 2012.
  51. ↑ "Baseball Gossip". The Pittsburgh Press. August 4, 1902. Retrieved April 8, 2012.
  52. ↑ "Remember Rube? ... Chick Hafey? Seven Oldies Make it to Cooperstown". Reading Eagle. Associated Press. February 1, 1971. Retrieved April 8, 2012.
  53. ↑ Fleitz, p. 129
  54. ↑ "Our History". newcathedralcemetery.org. NEW CATHEDRAL CEMETERY. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
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