Joe Keough
Encyclopedia
Joseph William Keough is a former right fielder
in Major League Baseball
who played from 1968
through 1973
for the Oakland Athletics
(1968), Kansas City Royals
(1969-72) and Chicago White Sox
(1973). Keough batted and threw left-handed. Coming from a baseball family, he is the younger brother of Marty Keough
and uncle of Matt Keough
.
Keough had a promising debut with the Oakland Athletics at Yankee Stadium
when he hit a home run
off Lindy McDaniel
in his first major league at bat
. After being the fourth player selected by the Royals in the 1968 Major League Baseball expansion draft
, he was on the Opening Day roster when Kansas City played its first game in April of 1969. Keough delivered a pinch-hit single in the bottom of the 12th inning of that inaugural contest, giving KC a 4-3 victory over the Minnesota Twins
.
The following year, he worked his way into the everyday lineup, compiling a .322 average by late June. A severely broken leg sustained on June 28 ended his 1970 season. He returned in 1971, posting career highs with 110 games played
, 34 runs
, 87 hits
, 14 doubles
, and 30 runs batted in.
He was traded in the winter of 1972 to the White Sox for outfielder Jim Lyttle
and appeared in five games for Chicago in 1973.
In a six-season career, Keough was a .246 hitter with nine home runs and 81 RBI in 332 games.
Right fielder
A right fielder, abbreviated RF, is the outfielder in baseball or softball who plays defense in right field. Right field is the area of the outfield to the right 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 played from 1968
1968 in baseball
-The Year of the Pitcher:In Major League Baseball, the trend throughout the 1960s was of increased pitching dominance, caused by enforcing a larger strike zone beginning in 1963...
through 1973
1973 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Oakland Athletics over New York Mets ; Reggie Jackson, MVP*All-Star Game, July 24 at Royals Stadium: National League, 7–1; Bobby Bonds, MVP-Other champions:...
for the Oakland 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....
(1968), Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
(1969-72) and Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
(1973). Keough batted and threw left-handed. Coming from a baseball family, he is the younger brother of Marty Keough
Marty Keough
Richard Martin Keough is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball who played from through for the Boston Red Sox , Cleveland Indians , Washington Senators , Cincinnati Reds , Atlanta Braves and Chicago Cubs...
and uncle 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...
.
Keough had a promising debut with the Oakland Athletics at Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium was a stadium located in The Bronx in New York City, New York. It was the home ballpark of the New York Yankees from 1923 to 1973 and from 1976 to 2008. The stadium hosted 6,581 Yankees regular season home games during its 85-year history. It was also the former home of the New York...
when he hit a 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...
off Lindy McDaniel
Lindy McDaniel
Lyndall Dale McDaniel, known as Lindy is a right-handed former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who had a 21-year career from 1955 to 1975. During McDaniel's career he witnessed approximately 3,500 major league games , had more than 300 teammates, and played under eight different managers...
in his first major league at bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
. After being the fourth player selected by the Royals in the 1968 Major League Baseball expansion draft
1968 Major League Baseball expansion draft
The 1968 Major League Baseball expansion draft was conducted to stock up the rosters of four expansion teams in Major League Baseball which would begin play in the 1969 season....
, he was on the Opening Day roster when Kansas City played its first game in April of 1969. Keough delivered a pinch-hit single in the bottom of the 12th inning of that inaugural contest, giving KC a 4-3 victory over 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...
.
The following year, he worked his way into the everyday lineup, compiling a .322 average by late June. A severely broken leg sustained on June 28 ended his 1970 season. He returned in 1971, posting career highs with 110 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,...
, 34 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...
, 87 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....
, 14 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....
, and 30 runs batted in.
He was traded in the winter of 1972 to the White Sox for outfielder Jim Lyttle
Jim Lyttle
James Lawrence Lyttle Jr. is a former major league baseball player from Hamilton, Ohio. He played as an outfielder for the New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox, Montreal Expos, and Los Angeles Dodgers...
and appeared in five games for Chicago in 1973.
In a six-season career, Keough was a .246 hitter with nine home runs and 81 RBI in 332 games.
See also
- Home run in first major league at bat