Joe Kelley
Encyclopedia
Joseph James Kelley was an American
left fielder
in Major League Baseball
who starred in the outfield of the powerful Baltimore Oriole teams of the 1890s.
in 1891 with the Boston Beaneaters
, and after a brief stint in Pittsburgh the following year, came into his own as a member of the Baltimore Orioles in 1893. In 1894 he had arguably his finest offensive season, batting
.393 with 111 RBI
and 165 runs. Combined with 107 walks
, Kelley posted a spectacular .502 on base percentage
.
Kelley continued his fine hitting throughout his career, which included stops with the Brooklyn Superbas
(1899–1901), the fledgling American League
's Baltimore Orioles
franchise (1902), the Cincinnati Reds
(1902–1906), and Boston again (1908). Aside from consistent run production and hitting (which included 11 consecutive .300-plus seasons), 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 on base percentage, 65 home run
s (including a career high 10 in 1895), 1421 runs, 1194 RBI and 443 stolen bases in 1853 career games.
Kelley also managed
from 1902 until 1905 with the Cincinnati Reds, and in 1908 with the Boston Doves. He compiled a solid, but unspectacular, 338-321 record as a major league manager. Kelley managed the Toronto Maple Leafs to the International League
pennant in 1907, and returned to manage the team from 1909 to 1914, winning a second pennant in 1912.
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
left fielder
Left fielder
In baseball, a left fielder is an outfielder who plays defense in left field. Left field is the area of the outfield to the left of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
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...
who starred in the outfield of the powerful Baltimore Oriole teams of the 1890s.
Career
Kelley broke into the National LeagueNational League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
in 1891 with the Boston Beaneaters
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
, and after a brief stint in Pittsburgh the following year, came into his own as a member of the Baltimore Orioles in 1893. In 1894 he had arguably his finest offensive season, batting
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 :...
.393 with 111 RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
and 165 runs. Combined with 107 walks
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
, Kelley posted a spectacular .502 on base percentage
On base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
.
Kelley continued his fine hitting throughout his career, which included stops with the Brooklyn Superbas
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
(1899–1901), the fledgling American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
's Baltimore Orioles
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
franchise (1902), the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
(1902–1906), and Boston again (1908). Aside from consistent run production and hitting (which included 11 consecutive .300-plus seasons), Kelley was also known as a good base runner and stole
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
a career-high 87 bases in 1896. He retired with a career .317 batting, .402 on base percentage, 65 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s (including a career high 10 in 1895), 1421 runs, 1194 RBI and 443 stolen bases in 1853 career games.
Kelley also managed
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...
from 1902 until 1905 with the Cincinnati Reds, and in 1908 with the Boston Doves. He compiled a solid, but unspectacular, 338-321 record as a major league manager. Kelley managed the Toronto Maple Leafs to 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...
pennant in 1907, and returned to manage the team from 1909 to 1914, winning a second pennant in 1912.
Hall of Fame induction
Kelley was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1971 by the Veterans CommitteeVeterans Committee
The Veterans Committee is the popular name of the National Baseball Hall of Fame Committee to Consider Managers, Umpires, Executives and Long-Retired Players, a committee of the U.S...
.
See also
- List of major league players with 2,000 hits
- List of Major League Baseball players with 100 triples
- List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 runs
- List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 RBI
- List of Major League Baseball stolen base champions
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career stolen bases
- List of Major League Baseball triples records