John Kennedy (baseball, born 1941)
Encyclopedia
John Edward Kennedy is an American
former Major League Baseball
third baseman
, shortstop
and second baseman
. He played from 1965-1974 for the Washington Senators
, Los Angeles Dodgers
, New York Yankees
, Seattle Pilots
, Milwaukee Brewers
, and Boston Red Sox
.
in his first major league at bat (on September 5, 1962, against Dick Stigman
of the Minnesota Twins
), and garnered headlines because both his name and birthdate, May 29, were shared with the President of the United States
at the time, John Fitzergald Kennedy
, who was born 24 years earlier.
His only season as a full-time regular was with the 1964 Washington Senators
under manager Gil Hodges
, primarily as a third baseman
, but also playing at shortstop
and second base
. Kennedy hit .230 with seven home run
s and 35 runs batted in. After the 1964 season, he was traded with pitcher Claude Osteen
and cash to the Los Angeles Dodgers
for five players, including outfielder Frank Howard. With the Dodgers, Kennedy would be part of history when he replaced Jim Gilliam
at third base in the eighth inning of Sandy Koufax
's perfect game
on September 9, . The New York Yankees
acquired Kennedy in a trade after the 1966 season, then sold him to the expansion Seattle Pilots
after the 1968 season. Kennedy retired in 1974 after four and a half seasons with the Boston Red Sox
.
as "Spaceman." According to Lee, the Red Sox had just beaten the Orioles in a 1972 game to take over first place in the American League East. Lee was the winning pitcher that day, having pitched 8 2/3 innings of relief. As the media clamored around Lee's locker for their postgame interviews, Kennedy (whose locker was next to Lee's) heard a reference to a man having landed on the moon that day. Kennedy reportedly said, "We don't need to see that. We have our own spaceman right over there."
throughout most of their five years as an independent team.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former 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...
third baseman
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
, shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
and second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
. He played from 1965-1974 for the Washington Senators
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
, Los Angeles Dodgers
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...
, New York Yankees
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...
, Seattle Pilots
Seattle Pilots
The Seattle Pilots were an American professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington for one season, . The Pilots played home games at Sick's Stadium and were a member of the West Division of Major League Baseball's American League...
, Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
, and Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
.
Major League career
Kennedy spent twelve seasons in the major leagues. He hit a home runHome 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...
in his first major league at bat (on September 5, 1962, against Dick Stigman
Dick Stigman
Richard Lewis Stigman is a former professional baseball player who played pitcher in the Major Leagues from 1960-1966. He graduated from Sebeka High School in Sebeka, Minnesota. Dick was signed as an amateur free agent by the Cleveland Indians in . He would play for the Minnesota Twins, Cleveland...
of the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
), and garnered headlines because both his name and birthdate, May 29, were shared with the President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
at the time, John Fitzergald Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
, who was born 24 years earlier.
His only season as a full-time regular was with the 1964 Washington Senators
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
under manager Gil Hodges
Gil Hodges
Gilbert Ray Hodges was an American Major League Baseball first baseman and manager. During an 18-year baseball career, he played in 1943 and from 1947–63, spending most of his career with the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers...
, primarily as a third baseman
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
, but also playing at shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
and second base
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
. Kennedy hit .230 with seven 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 and 35 runs batted in. After the 1964 season, he was traded with pitcher Claude Osteen
Claude Osteen
Claude Wilson Osteen , nicknamed "Gomer" because of his resemblance to Gomer Pyle, is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He pitched for six different teams: the Cincinnati Redlegs/Reds , Washington Senators , Los Angeles Dodgers , Houston Astros , St...
and cash to the Los Angeles Dodgers
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...
for five players, including outfielder Frank Howard. With the Dodgers, Kennedy would be part of history when he replaced Jim Gilliam
Jim Gilliam
James William Gilliam was an American second and third baseman and coach in Negro League and Major League Baseball who spent his entire major league career with the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers. He was named the National League Rookie of the Year, and was a key member of ten NL championship...
at third base in the eighth inning of Sandy Koufax
Sandy Koufax
Sanford "Sandy" Koufax is a former left-handed baseball pitcher who played his entire 12-year Major League Baseball career for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers...
's perfect game
Perfect game
A perfect game is defined by Major League Baseball as a game in which a pitcher pitches a victory that lasts a minimum of nine innings and in which no opposing player reaches base. Thus, the pitcher cannot allow any hits, walks, hit batsmen, or any opposing player to reach base safely for any...
on September 9, . The New York Yankees
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...
acquired Kennedy in a trade after the 1966 season, then sold him to the expansion Seattle Pilots
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
after the 1968 season. Kennedy retired in 1974 after four and a half seasons with the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
.
The Spaceman
Kennedy was supposedly the first to refer to teammate Bill LeeBill Lee (left-handed pitcher)
William Francis Lee III , nicknamed "Spaceman", is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher. He played for the Boston Red Sox from - and the Montreal Expos from -...
as "Spaceman." According to Lee, the Red Sox had just beaten the Orioles in a 1972 game to take over first place in the American League East. Lee was the winning pitcher that day, having pitched 8 2/3 innings of relief. As the media clamored around Lee's locker for their postgame interviews, Kennedy (whose locker was next to Lee's) heard a reference to a man having landed on the moon that day. Kennedy reportedly said, "We don't need to see that. We have our own spaceman right over there."
Activity after retirement
Kennedy has scouted, managed, and coached in the minor leagues since leaving Major League Baseball. He managed the North Shore SpiritNorth Shore Spirit
The North Shore Spirit was a minor-league baseball team based in Lynn, Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007. The Spirit played in the Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball , an independent league that is not affiliated with Major League Baseball or with the Minor League Baseball...
throughout most of their five years as an independent team.