Marty Keough
Encyclopedia
Richard Martin Keough is a former outfielder
in Major League Baseball
who played from through for the Boston Red Sox
(1956–60), Cleveland Indians
(1960), Washington Senators
(1961), Cincinnati Reds
(1962–65), Atlanta Braves
(1966) and Chicago Cubs
(1966). In 1968, he played in Japan for the Nankai Hawks
.
Keough was a multi-sport star at Pomona High School
. He was named the CIF Southern Section
football player of the year in 1951 after leading the school to its only football championship. Months later, he was awarded the Southern Section's baseball co-player of the year, sharing the honor with Bill Richardson of Citrus High School. In 1952 he was named by the LA Examiner as overall Southern California Prep "Athlete of the Year".
"Keough batted and threw left-handed. Coming from a baseball family, he is the older brother of Joe Keough
and father of Matt Keough
. Matt also played in Japan, making them one of the few American father-son duos to both play there.
Keough survived more than a decade in the majors without ever winning a fulltime job. Mainly a defensive replacement in the outfield, he owned a decent throwing arm and showed some power at the plate, but never hit consistently enough to earn regular playing time. He debuted with the Boston Red Sox in 1956, sharing outfield work with Ted Williams
, Jim Piersall and Jackie Jensen
, between others, until the 1960 midseason when he was traded to the Cleveland Indians. At the end of the season, he was selected by the new Washington Senators
in the expansion draft. His most productive season came in 1961 with the Senators, when he posted career numbers in hits
(97), doubles
(18), triples
(9), home run
s (9), runs
(57), RBI
(34), stolen base
s (12), and games played
(135). In 1962, he hit a career-high .278 for the Cincinnati Reds. He also played with the Atlanta Braves and Chicago Cubs.
In an 11-season career, Keough was a .242 hitter with 43 home runs and 176 RBI in 841 games.
He has remained in the game as a scout since the end of his playing days, and is a longtime member of the scouting staff of the St. Louis Cardinals
.
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
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 played from through for 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"...
(1956–60), Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
(1960), 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...
(1961), 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....
(1962–65), Atlanta Braves
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....
(1966) and 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...
(1966). In 1968, he played in Japan for the Nankai Hawks
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
The are a Japanese baseball team based in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture. The team was bought on January 28, 2005 by the SoftBank Corporation.The team was formerly known as the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks. In 1988, Daiei bought the team from Osaka's Nankai Electric Railway Co., and its headquarters were...
.
Keough was a multi-sport star at Pomona High School
Pomona High School (Pomona, California)
Pomona High School is a high school operated by the Pomona Unified School District in California, located in North Pomona at 475 Bangor St. In 2002 and 2003, the Pomona High School football team won the Valle Vista League championship...
. He was named the CIF Southern Section
CIF Southern Section
C.I.F. Southern Section is the largest of the ten sections that comprise the California Interscholastic Federation . Its membership includes most public and private high schools in Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Mono and Inyo counties, as...
football player of the year in 1951 after leading the school to its only football championship. Months later, he was awarded the Southern Section's baseball co-player of the year, sharing the honor with Bill Richardson of Citrus High School. In 1952 he was named by the LA Examiner as overall Southern California Prep "Athlete of the Year".
"Keough batted and threw left-handed. Coming from a baseball family, he is the older brother of Joe Keough
Joe Keough
Joseph William Keough is a former right fielder in Major League Baseball who played from 1968 through 1973 for the Oakland Athletics , Kansas City Royals and Chicago White Sox . Keough batted and threw left-handed...
and father of Matt Keough
Matt Keough
Matthew Lon Keough Drafted by the Oakland A's out of Corona del Mar High School in 1973. Keough is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played from through for the Oakland Athletics , New York Yankees , St. Louis Cardinals , Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros...
. Matt also played in Japan, making them one of the few American father-son duos to both play there.
Keough survived more than a decade in the majors without ever winning a fulltime job. Mainly a defensive replacement in the outfield, he owned a decent throwing arm and showed some power at the plate, but never hit consistently enough to earn regular playing time. He debuted with the Boston Red Sox in 1956, sharing outfield work with Ted Williams
Ted Williams
Theodore Samuel "Ted" Williams was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played his entire 21-year Major League Baseball career as the left fielder for the Boston Red Sox...
, Jim Piersall and Jackie Jensen
Jackie Jensen
Jack Eugene Jensen was an American right fielder in Major League Baseball who played for three American League teams from 1950 to 1961, most notably the Boston Red Sox...
, between others, until the 1960 midseason when he was traded to the Cleveland Indians. At the end of the season, he was selected by the new 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...
in the expansion draft. His most productive season came in 1961 with the Senators, when he posted career numbers in hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
(97), doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
(18), triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
(9), 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 (9), runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
(57), 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...
(34), stolen base
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...
s (12), and games played
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
(135). In 1962, he hit a career-high .278 for the Cincinnati Reds. He also played with the Atlanta Braves and Chicago Cubs.
In an 11-season career, Keough was a .242 hitter with 43 home runs and 176 RBI in 841 games.
He has remained in the game as a scout since the end of his playing days, and is a longtime member of the scouting staff of the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
.
See also
External links
- Career statistics at Baseball Almanac, Baseball Reference, and Retrosheet
- Baseball Library