Bill Kelly (first baseman)
Encyclopedia
William Henry Kelly was an American
first baseman
and scout
in Major League Baseball
, and a star power-hitter, umpire
and manager
in minor league baseball
. The native of Syracuse, New York
, threw and batted right-handed, stood 6' (183 cm) tall and weighed 190 pounds (86 kg) as a player.
Kelly played only 32 games at the major league level for the Philadelphia Athletics
and the Philadelphia Phillies
, hitting
only .179 in 84 at bats with no home runs and five runs batted in. But in between, he led the top-level International League
in RBI for three consecutive seasons (1924-26) while he played for the Buffalo Bisons
, racking up 155, 125 and 151 RBI in that span. He also led the IL in homers in 1924 (with 28) and 1926 (with 44). As a minor leaguer from 1921-31, Kelly batted .308 and slugged 207 home runs.
In 1932, he began his umpiring career in the higher minors, eventually working in all three top-level minor leagues through 1941. After World War II
, he moved into the dugout
as a manager in the Chicago Cubs
farm system, piloting top-level farm teams with the Los Angeles Angels
of the Pacific Coast League
(1947-50) and the Springfield Cubs
of the International League
(1951-52). His 1947 Angels won the regular-season and playoff PCL titles. After hanging up his uniform in 1954, Kelly scouted for the Cubs, Phillies and New York Mets
through and his retirement.
Kelly died in his home city of Syracuse at the age of 91. He was elected to the International League Hall of Fame in .
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
and scout
Scout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
, and a star power-hitter, umpire
Umpire (baseball)
In baseball, the umpire is the person charged with officiating the game, including beginning and ending the game, enforcing the rules of the game and the grounds, making judgment calls on plays, and handling the disciplinary actions. The term is often shortened to the colloquial form ump...
and manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
in minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
. The native of Syracuse, New York
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
, threw and batted right-handed, stood 6' (183 cm) tall and weighed 190 pounds (86 kg) as a player.
Kelly played only 32 games at the major league level for the Philadelphia Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
and the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
, hitting
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
only .179 in 84 at bats with no home runs and five runs batted in. But in between, he led the top-level International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
in RBI for three consecutive seasons (1924-26) while he played for the Buffalo Bisons
Buffalo Bisons
The Buffalo Bisons are a minor league baseball team based in Buffalo, New York. They currently play in the International League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets...
, racking up 155, 125 and 151 RBI in that span. He also led the IL in homers in 1924 (with 28) and 1926 (with 44). As a minor leaguer from 1921-31, Kelly batted .308 and slugged 207 home runs.
In 1932, he began his umpiring career in the higher minors, eventually working in all three top-level minor leagues through 1941. After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he moved into the dugout
Dugout (baseball)
In baseball, the dugout is a team's bench area and is located in foul territory between home plate and either first or third base. There are two dugouts, one for the home team and one for the visiting team. In general, the dugout is occupied by all players not prescribed to be on the field at that...
as a manager in the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
farm system, piloting top-level farm teams with the Los Angeles Angels
Los Angeles Angels (PCL)
The Los Angeles Angels were a team based in Los Angeles, California that played in the Pacific Coast League from 1903 through 1957, after which they transferred to Spokane, Washington to become the Spokane Indians. Los Angeles would later become the host city to a Major League Baseball team, the...
of the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
(1947-50) and the Springfield Cubs
Springfield Cubs
The Springfield Cubs, based in Springfield, Massachusetts, was an American minor league baseball franchise that served as a farm club of the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball from 1948-53...
of the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
(1951-52). His 1947 Angels won the regular-season and playoff PCL titles. After hanging up his uniform in 1954, Kelly scouted for the Cubs, Phillies and New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
through and his retirement.
Kelly died in his home city of Syracuse at the age of 91. He was elected to the International League Hall of Fame in .