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George Kelly (baseball player)
Encyclopedia
George Lange Kelly nicknamed "Long George" and "High Pockets", was a Major League Baseball
(MLB) first baseman
. He played most of his MLB career for the New York Giants
(1915–1917, 1919–1926), but also played for the Pittsburgh Pirates
(1917), Cincinnati Reds
(1927–1930), Chicago Cubs
(1930), and Brooklyn Dodgers
(1932). Kelly was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1973.
of the Class-B Northwestern League
in 1914 and 1915. During the 1915 season
, he was purchased by the New York Giants
from Victoria for $1,200 (equal to today). The Giants were rebuilding their team, and they saw Kelly as a possible replacement for Fred Merkle
. However, he played sparingly for the Giants in his first MLB seasons, appearing in only 17 games in 1915 and 49 games in 1916
. He was selected off waivers by the Pittsburgh Pirates
on July 25, 1917 to back up Honus Wagner
, but did not hit sufficiently. The Pirates waived Kelly, and he was reclaimed by the Giants from the Pirates on August 4, 1917. The Giants optioned Kelly to the Rochester Hustlers
of the Class-AA International League
, where he played the rest of the 1917 season. Kelly did not play professionally in 1918 due to his military service. The Giants sold Kelly to Rochester before the 1919 season to acquire Earl Smith
.
Finding success in Rochester, Kelly was purchased by the Giants in 1919 when Hal Chase
was suspended. He became a regular in the Giants line-up in , when he had a league-leading 94 runs batted in (RBIs). He led the league in assists
and putouts in 1920 and 1921; his 1,759 putouts in 1920 remains a league record. Kelly batted in 100 or more runs for four consecutive seasons and hit for a batting average
of .300 or higher six consecutive seasons. He opened the 1921 season with at least one hit
and one RBI in eight consecutive games, a record that stood until it was broken by Jorge Cantú
in 2010. The Giants appeared in the World Series
in 1921
, 1922
, 1923
, and 1924
, winning in 1921 and 1922. Kelly set a National League
record with seven home run
s in six consecutive games in 1924, which has since been matched by Graig Nettles
, Walker Cooper
, and Willie Mays
.
In the final series of the 1924 season, the Giants were playing the Philadelphia Phillies
at the Polo Grounds
and battling for the pennant with the Brooklyn Dodgers
. Jimmy O'Connell
offered Phillies shortstop Heinie Sand
$500 to intentionally lose the games
. Sand rejected the bribe and reported it to Phillies manager Art Fletcher
. It eventually led to the lifetime suspension of O'Connell and Giants coach Crazy Dolan by Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis
. O'Connell implicated Kelly, Frankie Frisch
, and Ross Youngs
as co-conspirators. However, Commissioner Landis cleared Kelly, Frisch and Youngs of any wrongdoing.
That following offseason, Kelly, Sam Bohne
and other Major League Baseball
(MLB) players agreed to play professional basketball
with O'Connell. National League
(NL) president John Heydler
insisted that anyone who played with O'Connell could be suspended. The Giants were also displeased with Kelly's arrangement, as they were concerned about the chance he could injure himself in non-baseball activity. However, Kelly had not played in any games at that point. He was removed from the roster and thus avoided suspension by MLB.
Kelly, naturally a first baseman, saw regular time as a second baseman
in 1925 when Frisch injured his hand, while backup Bill Terry
began playing first base. With the emergence of Terry, who requested a trade so that he could receive more playing time, and Giants manager
John McGraw
desiring an improvement in the outfield
, Kelly was traded to the Cincinnati Reds
prior to the season for Edd Roush
. The Reds traded Roush due to a contract dispute. With Wally Pipp
at first base for the Reds, Kelly was slated to play center field.
Kelly was released by the Reds on July 10, 1930, and signed by the minor-league Minneapolis Millers
of the Class-AA American Association
. The Millers traded Kelly to the Chicago Cubs
for a player to be named later
(Chick Tolson
and Mal Moss
late in the 1930 season to fill in for the injured Charlie Grimm
. Kelly he was released by the Cubs in February 1931. He returned to the Millers for the 1931 season
, and participated in a tour of Japan along with Frisch, Lou Gehrig
, Mickey Cochrane
, Al Simmons
, Lefty Grove
, and Rabbit Maranville
, among others.
In April 1932, the Millers traded Kelly to the Brooklyn Dodgers
for Pea Ridge Day
. With the Dodgers, he filled in for the injured Del Bissonette
. Kelly played his final MLB game on July 27, 1932. He returned to the International League to finish the 1932 season with the Jersey City Skeeters
, and played the 1933 season for the Oakland Oaks
of the Pacific Coast League
before retiring.
Kelly also had a reputation as a clutch hitter
. McGraw said there was no player he preferred to have bat in a big situation. Waite Hoyt
considered him dangerous in clutch situations.
, a player must receive at least 75% of the vote from the Baseball Writers Association of America
(BBWAA) or the Veterans Committee
. Kelly was on the BBWAA ballot seven times, falling significantly short of the required 75% each time: 1947
(garnering one vote, 0.6%), 1948
(garnering two votes, 1.7%), 1949
(garnering one vote, 0.7%), 1956
(garnering two votes, 1.0%), 1958
(garnering two votes, 0.8%), 1960
(garnering five votes, 1.9%), and 1962
(garnering two votes, 0.6%). However, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1973
by the Veterans Committee
. At the time of Kelly's election, the writers' ballot was voted on by approximately 400 writers, while the Veterans Committee had a membership of twelve.
The selection of Kelly was controversial. According to the BBWAA, the Veterans Committee was not selective enough in choosing members. Charges of cronyism were levied against the Veterans Committee. When Kelly was elected, the Veterans Committee included two of his former teammates, Bill Terry
and Frisch, who also shepherded the selections of Giants teammates Jesse Haines
in 1970
, Dave Bancroft
and Chick Hafey
in 1971
, Youngs in 1972
and Jim Bottomley
in 1974
. This led to the Veterans Committee having its powers reduced in subsequent years. Baseball historian Bill James
, while ranking Kelly as the 65th greatest first baseman of all-time, also cites Kelly as "the worst player in the Hall of Fame".
for the Cincinnati Reds
, managed by former teammate Chuck Dressen
, from 1935 to 1937. Former teammate Casey Stengel
hired Kelly to coach the Boston Braves
from 1938 to 1943. He returned to the Reds' coaching staff in 1947 and 1948. He coached the Oakland Oaks
of the Pacific Coast League
in 1949. In 1954, Kelly managed the independent Wenatchee Chiefs
in the Western International League
.
, living in Millbrae, California
following his playing career. Kelly's brother, Ren Kelly
, uncle, Bill Lange
, and cousin, Rich Chiles
, also played in MLB.
Kelly died on October 13, 1984 in Burlingame, California
. He is interred at the Holy Cross Cemetery
in Colma, California
.
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...
(MLB) 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...
. He played most of his MLB career for the New York Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
(1915–1917, 1919–1926), but also played for the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
(1917), 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....
(1927–1930), 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...
(1930), and Brooklyn 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...
(1932). Kelly was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1973.
Career
Kelly began his professional career for the Victoria BeesVictoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
of the Class-B Northwestern League
Northwestern League (1905–1917)
The Northwestern League was a professional, minor baseball league that lasted from 1905 to 1917. It was represented by teams based in Washington, Montana, Oregon and British Columbia.-Teams:21 teams played in the league throughout its existence...
in 1914 and 1915. During the 1915 season
1915 in baseball
-Champions:*World Series: Boston Red Sox over Philadelphia Phillies Inter-league playoff: Boston declined challenge by Chicago Inter-league playoff: Philadelphia declined challenge by Chicago -Statistical leaders:...
, he was purchased by the New York Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
from Victoria for $1,200 (equal to today). The Giants were rebuilding their team, and they saw Kelly as a possible replacement for Fred Merkle
Fred Merkle
Frederick Charles Merkle , also known as "Bonehead" Merkle, was an American first baseman in Major League Baseball...
. However, he played sparingly for the Giants in his first MLB seasons, appearing in only 17 games in 1915 and 49 games in 1916
1916 in baseball
left|thumb|300px|[[Woodrow Wilson]] throws out the ball on opening day.-Champions:*World Series: Boston Red Sox over Brooklyn Robins -MLB statistical leaders:-American League final standings:-National League final standings:-Events:...
. He was selected off waivers by the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
on July 25, 1917 to back up Honus Wagner
Honus Wagner
-Louisville Colonels:Recognizing his talent, Barrow recommended Wagner to the Louisville Colonels. After some hesitation about his awkward figure, Wagner was signed by the Colonels, where he hit .338 in 61 games....
, but did not hit sufficiently. The Pirates waived Kelly, and he was reclaimed by the Giants from the Pirates on August 4, 1917. The Giants optioned Kelly to the Rochester Hustlers
Rochester Red Wings
The Rochester Red Wings are a minor league baseball team based in Rochester, New York. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins major-league club. The Red Wings play in Frontier Field, located in downtown Rochester.The Red Wings were an...
of the Class-AA 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...
, where he played the rest of the 1917 season. Kelly did not play professionally in 1918 due to his military service. The Giants sold Kelly to Rochester before the 1919 season to acquire Earl Smith
Earl Smith (catcher)
Earl Sutton Smith , was a professional baseball player who played catcher in the Major Leagues from -. He would play for the Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Giants, Boston Braves, and St. Louis Cardinals.-External links:...
.
Finding success in Rochester, Kelly was purchased by the Giants in 1919 when Hal Chase
Hal Chase
Harold Homer Chase , nicknamed "Prince Hal", was a first baseman in Major League Baseball, widely viewed as the best fielder at his position...
was suspended. He became a regular in the Giants line-up in , when he had a league-leading 94 runs batted in (RBIs). He led the league in assists
Assist (baseball)
In baseball, an assist is a defensive statistic, baseball being one of the few sports in which the defensive team controls the ball. An assist is awarded to every defensive player who fields or touches the ball prior to the recording of a putout, even if the contact was unintentional...
and putouts in 1920 and 1921; his 1,759 putouts in 1920 remains a league record. Kelly batted in 100 or more runs for four consecutive seasons and hit for a batting average
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 :...
of .300 or higher six consecutive seasons. He opened the 1921 season with at least one hit
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....
and one RBI in eight consecutive games, a record that stood until it was broken by Jorge Cantú
Jorge Cantú
Jorge Luís Cantú Guzmán is an American professional baseball first baseman.Cantú bats and throws right-handed. He was born in McAllen, Texas, went to Sharyland High School, but was raised and makes his home in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico.-Tampa Bay Devil Rays:Cantú was spotted by a scout while...
in 2010. The Giants appeared in the World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
in 1921
1921 World Series
In the 1921 World Series, the New York Giants beat the New York Yankees five games to three. This was the last of the experimental best-five-of-nine series....
, 1922
1922 World Series
In the 1922 World Series, the New York Giants beat the New York Yankees in five games...
, 1923
1923 World Series
In the 1923 World Series, the New York Yankees beat the New York Giants in six games. This would be the first of the Yankees' 27 World Series championships...
, and 1924
1924 World Series
In the 1924 World Series, the Washington Senators beat the New York Giants in seven games. The Giants became the first team to play in four consecutive World Series, winning in 1921–1922 and losing in 1923–1924. Their long-time manager, John McGraw, made his ninth and final World Series appearance...
, winning in 1921 and 1922. Kelly set a National League
National 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...
record 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 in six consecutive games in 1924, which has since been matched by Graig Nettles
Graig Nettles
Graig Nettles , nicknamed "Puff", is a former Major League Baseball third baseman. During a 22-year baseball career, he played for the Minnesota Twins , Cleveland Indians , New York Yankees , San Diego Padres , Atlanta Braves and Montreal Expos .Nettles was one of the best...
, Walker Cooper
Walker Cooper
William Walker Cooper was an American professional baseball player. He was a catcher in Major League Baseball who played for six National League teams from 1940 to 1957...
, and Willie Mays
Willie Mays
Willie Howard Mays, Jr. is a retired American professional baseball player who played the majority of his major league career with the New York and San Francisco Giants before finishing with the New York Mets. Nicknamed The Say Hey Kid, Mays was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979, his...
.
In the final series of the 1924 season, the Giants were playing 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...
at the Polo Grounds
Polo Grounds
The Polo Grounds was the name given to four different stadiums in Upper Manhattan, New York City, used by many professional teams in both baseball and American football from 1880 until 1963...
and battling for the pennant with the Brooklyn 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...
. Jimmy O'Connell
Jimmy O'Connell
James Joseph O'Connell was an outfielder in Major League Baseball.-Biography:O'Connell was born in Sacramento, California. He started his professional baseball career in the Pacific Coast League at the age of 18...
offered Phillies shortstop Heinie Sand
Heinie Sand
John Henry "Heinie" Sand was an American shortstop in Major League Baseball who played from 1923 to 1928 with the Philadelphia Phillies. He debuted on April 17, and played his final game on September 30, . In 1925, he had a .364 on base percentage and 55 runs batted in and was 18th in the voting...
$500 to intentionally lose the games
Match fixing
In organised sports, match fixing, game fixing, race fixing, or sports fixing occurs as a match is played to a completely or partially pre-determined result, violating the rules of the game and often the law. Where the sporting competition in question is a race then the incident is referred to as...
. Sand rejected the bribe and reported it to Phillies manager Art Fletcher
Art Fletcher
Arthur Fletcher was an American shortstop, manager and coach in Major League Baseball. Fletcher was associated with two New York City baseball dynasties: the Giants of John McGraw as a player; and the Yankees of Miller Huggins and Joe McCarthy as a coach.Born in Collinsville, Illinois, Fletcher...
. It eventually led to the lifetime suspension of O'Connell and Giants coach Crazy Dolan by Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis
Kenesaw Mountain Landis
Kenesaw Mountain Landis was an American jurist who served as a federal judge from 1905 to 1922 and as the first Commissioner of Baseball from 1920 until his death...
. O'Connell implicated Kelly, Frankie Frisch
Frankie Frisch
Francis “Frankie” Frisch , nicknamed the "Fordham Flash" or "The Old Flash", was a German American Major League Baseball player of the early twentieth century....
, and Ross Youngs
Ross Youngs
Ross Middlebrook Youngs was a Major League Baseball outfielder best known for his superb defense and consistent hitting....
as co-conspirators. However, Commissioner Landis cleared Kelly, Frisch and Youngs of any wrongdoing.
That following offseason, Kelly, Sam Bohne
Sam Bohne
Samuel Arthur Bohne , is a former professional baseball player who played second base from 1916-26.Bohne was Jewish.-External links:...
and other 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...
(MLB) players agreed to play professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
with O'Connell. National League
National 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...
(NL) president John Heydler
John Heydler
John Arnold Heydler was an American executive in Major League Baseball.-Biography:Born in La Fargeville, New York, he began working as a printer, eventually being employed at the U.S. Government Printing Office....
insisted that anyone who played with O'Connell could be suspended. The Giants were also displeased with Kelly's arrangement, as they were concerned about the chance he could injure himself in non-baseball activity. However, Kelly had not played in any games at that point. He was removed from the roster and thus avoided suspension by MLB.
Kelly, naturally a first baseman, saw regular time as a 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...
in 1925 when Frisch injured his hand, while backup Bill Terry
Bill Terry
William Harold Terry was a Major League Baseball first baseman and manager. Considered one of the greatest players of all time, Terry was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1954. In 1999, he ranked number 59 on The Sporting News list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players, and was a nominee...
began playing first base. With the emergence of Terry, who requested a trade so that he could receive more playing time, and Giants 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...
John McGraw
John McGraw
John McGraw may refer to:* John McGraw , , New York lumber tycoon, and one of the founding trustees of Cornell University* John McGraw , , Governor of Washington state from 1893–1897...
desiring an improvement in the outfield
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...
, Kelly was traded to 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....
prior to the season for Edd Roush
Edd Roush
Edd J. Roush was a Major League Baseball player who was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962. He played the majority of his career in center field....
. The Reds traded Roush due to a contract dispute. With Wally Pipp
Wally Pipp
Walter Clement Pipp was an American first baseman in Major League Baseball, now best remembered as the man who lost his starting role to Lou Gehrig at the beginning of Gehrig's streak of 2,130 consecutive games....
at first base for the Reds, Kelly was slated to play center field.
Kelly was released by the Reds on July 10, 1930, and signed by the minor-league Minneapolis Millers
Minneapolis Millers
The Minneapolis Millers were an American professional minor league baseball team that played in Minneapolis, Minnesota, until 1960. In the 19th century a different Minneapolis Millers were part of the Western League.The team played first in Athletic Park and later Nicollet Park.The name Minneapolis...
of the Class-AA American Association
American Association
American Association may refer to one of the following professional baseball leagues:* American Association , active from 1882 to 1891* American Association , active from 1902 to 1962 and 1969 to 1997...
. The Millers traded Kelly to 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...
for a player to be named later
Player to be named later
The concept of the "player to be named later" is most often associated with Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball trades.-Description:...
(Chick Tolson
Chick Tolson
Charles Julius "Chick" Tolson , was a professional baseball player who played first base in the Major Leagues over parts of five seasons from 1925–1930, for the Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians....
and Mal Moss
Mal Moss
Charles Malcolm Moss was a pitcher in Major League Baseball, appearing in twelve games for the Chicago Cubs in 1930.-External links:...
late in the 1930 season to fill in for the injured Charlie Grimm
Charlie Grimm
Charles John Grimm , nicknamed "Jolly Cholly", was a first baseman and manager in Major League Baseball best known for his years with the Chicago Cubs; he was also a sometime radio broadcaster, and a popular goodwill ambassador for baseball...
. Kelly he was released by the Cubs in February 1931. He returned to the Millers for the 1931 season
1931 in baseball
-Champions:*World Series: St. Louis Cardinals over Philadelphia Athletics -Awards and honors:*MLB Most Valuable Player Award** Lefty Grove, Philadelphia Athletics, P** Frankie Frisch, St...
, and participated in a tour of Japan along with Frisch, Lou Gehrig
Lou Gehrig
Henry Louis "Lou" Gehrig , nicknamed "The Iron Horse" for his durability, was an American Major League Baseball first baseman. He played his entire 17-year baseball career for the New York Yankees . Gehrig set several major league records. He holds the record for most career grand slams...
, Mickey Cochrane
Mickey Cochrane
Gordon Stanley "Mickey" Cochrane was a professional baseball player and manager. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Philadelphia Athletics and Detroit Tigers...
, Al Simmons
Al Simmons
Aloysius Harry Simmons , born Aloisius Szymanski in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was an American baseball player. He played for two decades in the major leagues as an outfielder, and had his best years as a member of Connie Mack's Philadelphia Athletics during the 1930's...
, Lefty Grove
Lefty Grove
Robert Moses "Lefty" Grove was a professional baseball pitcher. After having success in the minor leagues during the early 1920s, Grove became a star in Major League Baseball with the American League's Philadelphia Athletics and Boston Red Sox, winning 300 games in his 17-year MLB career...
, and Rabbit Maranville
Rabbit Maranville
Walter James Vincent Maranville , better known as Rabbit Maranville due to his speed and small stature , was a Major League Baseball shortstop. At the time of his retirement in 1935, he had played in a record 23 seasons in the National League, a mark which wasn't broken until 1986 by Pete Rose...
, among others.
In April 1932, the Millers traded Kelly to the Brooklyn 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 Pea Ridge Day
Pea Ridge Day
Henry Clyde Day was a champion Arkansas hog-caller and right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who committed suicide after an operation to repair his throwing arm proved unsuccessful.-The "Hog-Calling Pitcher":...
. With the Dodgers, he filled in for the injured Del Bissonette
Del Bissonette
Adelphia Louis Bissonette was an American first baseman, manager and coach in Major League Baseball.Born in Winthrop, Maine, Bissonette attended Westbrook Seminary, the University of New Hampshire and Georgetown University before signing a professional baseball contract with Valleyfield-Cap de la...
. Kelly played his final MLB game on July 27, 1932. He returned to the International League to finish the 1932 season with the Jersey City Skeeters
Jersey City Skeeters
The Jersey City Skeeters were a minor league baseball team which operated in Jersey City, New Jersey. The club started in the 1860s and by 1870 joined the National Association of Base Ball Players....
, and played the 1933 season for the Oakland Oaks
Oakland Oaks (PCL)
The Oakland Oaks were a minor league baseball team in Oakland, California that played in the Pacific Coast League from 1903 through 1955, after which the club transferred to Vancouver, British Columbia...
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...
before retiring.
Player profile
Kelly was known as an excellent defensive first baseman. His positioning and footwork on hits to the outfield became the standard method for teaching future first basemen to handle relays. Frisch considered Kelly the finest first baseman he had seen.Kelly also had a reputation as a clutch hitter
Clutch hitter
A clutch hitter is a baseball player with a knack for coming up with the "big" hit. The big hit is typically a game-deciding hit, sometimes a home run, often coming with two outs...
. McGraw said there was no player he preferred to have bat in a big situation. Waite Hoyt
Waite Hoyt
Waite Charles Hoyt was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball, one of the dominant pitchers of the 1920s, and the winningest pitcher for the New York Yankees during that decade...
considered him dangerous in clutch situations.
Hall of Fame induction
To be inducted in the National Baseball Hall of FameNational Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is an American history museum and hall of fame, located at 25 Main Street in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of baseball in the United States and beyond, the display of...
, a player must receive at least 75% of the vote from the Baseball Writers Association of America
Baseball Writers Association of America
The Baseball Writers' Association of America is a professional association for baseball journalists writing for daily newspapers, magazines and qualifying Web sites. The BBWAA was founded on October 14, 1908, to improve working conditions for sportswriters in the early part of the 20th century...
(BBWAA) or the Veterans Committee
Veterans 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...
. Kelly was on the BBWAA ballot seven times, falling significantly short of the required 75% each time: 1947
Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, 1947
Elections to the Baseball Hall of Fame for 1947 followed yet another round of reform. The Baseball Writers Association of America continued to vote by mail but the Hall of Fame Committee had revised the procedures for that election and reduced its historical jurisdiction relative to the Old-Timers...
(garnering one vote, 0.6%), 1948
Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, 1948
Elections to the Baseball Hall of Fame for 1948 followed the same procedures as 1947.The Baseball Writers Association of America voted by mail to select from players retired less than 25 years, with provision for a runoff in case of no winner...
(garnering two votes, 1.7%), 1949
Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, 1949
Elections to the Baseball Hall of Fame for 1949 followed the rules in place since 1947, which had governed two successful elections of recent players. The Baseball Writers Association of America voted by mail to select from players retired less than 25 years, with provision for a runoff in case of...
(garnering one vote, 0.7%), 1956
Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, 1956
Elections to the Baseball Hall of Fame for 1956 followed a system that had been the object of criticism and reform in recent years, which would continue that summer....
(garnering two votes, 1.0%), 1958
Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, 1958
Elections to the Baseball Hall of Fame for 1958 followed a system established after the 1956 election. The Baseball Writers Association of America voted by mail to select from recent major league players and elected no one...
(garnering two votes, 0.8%), 1960
Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, 1960
Elections to Baseball Hall of Fame for 1960 followed a system established after the 1956 election. The Veterans Committee was meeting only in odd-number years . The Baseball Writers Association of America voted by mail to select from recent major league players and, same as in 1958, it elected no...
(garnering five votes, 1.9%), and 1962
Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, 1962
Elections to the Baseball Hall of Fame for 1962 followed a new system for even-number years. Since 1956 the Baseball Writers Association of America and Veterans Committee had alternated in their duties but the BBWAA, voting by mail to select from recent major league players, had elected no one for...
(garnering two votes, 0.6%). However, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1973
Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, 1973
Elections to the Baseball Hall of Fame for 1973 followed the system in place since 1971, except by adding the special election of Roberto Clemente, who died in a plane crash on New Year's Eve....
by the Veterans Committee
Veterans 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...
. At the time of Kelly's election, the writers' ballot was voted on by approximately 400 writers, while the Veterans Committee had a membership of twelve.
The selection of Kelly was controversial. According to the BBWAA, the Veterans Committee was not selective enough in choosing members. Charges of cronyism were levied against the Veterans Committee. When Kelly was elected, the Veterans Committee included two of his former teammates, Bill Terry
Bill Terry
William Harold Terry was a Major League Baseball first baseman and manager. Considered one of the greatest players of all time, Terry was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1954. In 1999, he ranked number 59 on The Sporting News list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players, and was a nominee...
and Frisch, who also shepherded the selections of Giants teammates Jesse Haines
Jesse Haines
Jesse Joseph "Pop" Haines, was a right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher and knuckleballer. He played briefly in 1918, then from 1920 to 1937.-Career:...
in 1970
Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, 1970
Elections to the Baseball Hall of Fame for 1970 followed the system of annual elections in place since 1968.The Baseball Writers Association of America voted by mail to select from recent major league players andelected Lou Boudreau....
, Dave Bancroft
Dave Bancroft
David James "Beauty" Bancroft was an American baseball player who played Major League Baseball from 1915 to 1930. He is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame....
and Chick Hafey
Chick Hafey
Charles James "Chick" Hafey was an American player in Major League Baseball. Hafey was part of two World Series championship teams as a St. Louis Cardinal, and was selected by the Veteran's Committee for the Hall of Fame in .Playing for the St...
in 1971
Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, 1971
Elections to the Baseball Hall of Fame for 1971 featured a new committee on the Negro Leagues that met in February and selected Satchel Paige. The museum planned to honor Paige and those who would follow in a special permanent exhibit outside the Hall of Fame but controversy about the nature of the...
, Youngs in 1972
Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, 1972
Elections to the Baseball Hall of Fame for 1972 followed the system established one year earlier.The Baseball Writers Association of America voted by mail to select from recent major league players and...
and Jim Bottomley
Jim Bottomley
James Leroy Bottomley was born in Oglesby, Illinois and grew up in Nokomis, Illinois. Nicknamed "Sunny Jim" because of his cheerful disposition, he was a left-handed Major League Baseball player. He also served as player-manager for the St. Louis Browns in 1937.-Career:As a first baseman for the...
in 1974
Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, 1974
Elections to the Baseball Hall of Fame for 1974 followed the system in place since 1971.The Baseball Writers Association of America voted by mail to select from recent major league players andelected two, Whitey Ford and Mickey Mantle....
. This led to the Veterans Committee having its powers reduced in subsequent years. Baseball historian Bill James
Bill James
George William “Bill” James is a baseball writer, historian, and statistician whose work has been widely influential. Since 1977, James has written more than two dozen books devoted to baseball history and statistics...
, while ranking Kelly as the 65th greatest first baseman of all-time, also cites Kelly as "the worst player in the Hall of Fame".
Coaching career
Kelly served as a coachCoach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
for 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....
, managed by former teammate Chuck Dressen
Chuck Dressen
Charles Walter Dressen , known as both "Chuck" and "Charlie," was an American third baseman, manager and coach in professional baseball during a career that lasted almost fifty years, and was best known as the manager of the powerful Brooklyn Dodgers of 1951–1953...
, from 1935 to 1937. Former teammate Casey Stengel
Casey Stengel
Charles Dillon "Casey" Stengel , nicknamed "The Old Perfessor", was an American Major League Baseball outfielder and manager. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in ....
hired Kelly to coach the Boston 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....
from 1938 to 1943. He returned to the Reds' coaching staff in 1947 and 1948. He coached the Oakland Oaks
Oakland Oaks (PCL)
The Oakland Oaks were a minor league baseball team in Oakland, California that played in the Pacific Coast League from 1903 through 1955, after which the club transferred to Vancouver, British Columbia...
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...
in 1949. In 1954, Kelly managed the independent Wenatchee Chiefs
Wenatchee Chiefs
The Wenatchee Chiefs were a minor league baseball team based in Wenatchee, Washington. The team was founded in 1937, and was a part of the Western International League from its founding until 1954, although the team did not operate in 1941 and the entire league was suspended during World War II,...
in the Western International League
Western International League
The Western International League was a mid- to higher-level circuit in American and Canadian minor league baseball. It operated in 1923, 1937-42, and 1946-54. In 1955, it changed its name to the Northwest League, and still operates today as a Short Season A loop under that name.The WIL consisted of...
.
Personal life
A native San Franciscan, Kelly remained in the San Francisco Bay AreaSan Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
, living in Millbrae, California
Millbrae, California
Millbrae is a city in San Mateo County, California, United States, just west of San Francisco Bay, with San Bruno on the north and Burlingame on the south. The population was 21,532 at the 2010 census.-History:...
following his playing career. Kelly's brother, Ren Kelly
Ren Kelly
Reynolds Joseph "Ren" Kelly was an American pitcher in Major League Baseball who played in one game for the Philadelphia Athletics on September 18, 1923...
, uncle, Bill Lange
Bill Lange
William Alexander "Bill" Lange , also known as "Little Eva", was an American Major League Baseball center fielder, who played his entire seven year career for the Chicago Colts and Orphans from to...
, and cousin, Rich Chiles
Rich Chiles
Richard Francis Chiles was an outfielder in Major League Baseball. Chiles was drafted by the Houston Astros in the second round of the 1968 Major League Baseball Draft and he played six seasons in the major leagues between 1971 and 1978.-External links:...
, also played in MLB.
Kelly died on October 13, 1984 in Burlingame, California
Burlingame, California
Burlingame is a city in San Mateo County, California. It is located on the San Francisco Peninsula and has a significant shoreline on San Francisco Bay. The city is named after diplomat Anson Burlingame. It is renowned for its many surviving examples of Victorian architecture, its affluence, and...
. He is interred at the Holy Cross Cemetery
Holy Cross Cemetery, Colma
Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in Colma, California is an American Roman Catholic cemetery operated by the Archdiocese of San Francisco. Established in 1887 on of a former potato farm, it is the oldest and largest cemetery established in Colma to serve the needs of San Francisco...
in Colma, California
Colma, California
Colma is a small incorporated town in San Mateo County, California, at the northern end of the San Francisco Peninsula in the San Francisco Bay Area. The population was 1,792 at the 2010 census. The town was founded as a necropolis in 1924....
.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball home run champions
- List of Major League Baseball runs batted in champions
External links
- George Kelly at Find a GraveFind A GraveFind a Grave is a commercial website providing free access and input to an online database of cemetery records. It was founded in 1998 as a DBA and incorporated in 2000.-History:...