Red Killefer
Encyclopedia
Wade Hampton "Red" Killefer (April 13, 1885 – September 4, 1958) was an outfielder
and second baseman
in Major League Baseball
who played seven seasons with the Detroit Tigers
(1907–1909), Washington Senators
(1909–1910), Cincinnati Reds
(1914–1916), and New York Giants
(1916).
Born in Bloomingdale, Michigan
, Killefer attended the University of Michigan
from 1904-1907 before joining the Detroit Tigers in September 1907. Killefer led the American League
and the National League
in being hit by the pitch
in 1910 (16) and 1915 (19). Killefer batted
.248 with 3 home runs in 467 career games. Though he played on the Tigers' American League pennant winning teams in 1907 and 1908, Killefer did not play in either World Series
. On August 13, 1909, the Tigers traded Killefer and Germany Schaefer
to the Washington Senators for Jim Delahanty
.
On July 20, 1916, Killefer was traded by the Reds with Buck Herzog
to the New York Giants for three future Hall of Famers: Christy Mathewson
, Edd Roush
, and Bill McKechnie
. After the trade, Killefer had only 1 at bat for the Giants before retiring.
In 467 major league games, Killefer was a versatile player who logged time at every position except pitcher: 135 games as a center fielder, 135 games as a left fielder, 129 games as a second baseman, 27 games as a right fielder, 11 games as a third baseman, 8 games as a shortstop, 3 games as a catcher, and 2 games as a first baseman.
After his playing career ended, Killefer was a minor league manager for 25 years from 1917-1941. His managerial career included stints with the following teams:
Killefer's brother, Bill Killefer
, was a major league catcher from 1909-1921 with the St. Louis Browns
, Philadelphia Phillies
, and Chicago Cubs
.
Killefer died in Los Angeles at age 73 in 1958.
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...
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...
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 seven seasons with the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
(1907–1909), Washington Senators
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...
(1909–1910), 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....
(1914–1916), and 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....
(1916).
Born in Bloomingdale, Michigan
Bloomingdale, Michigan
Bloomingdale is a village in Van Buren County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 528 at the 2000 census. The village is located within Bloomingdale Township and is the township seat....
, Killefer attended the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
from 1904-1907 before joining the Detroit Tigers in September 1907. Killefer led the 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...
and the 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...
in being hit by the pitch
Hit by pitch
In baseball, hit by pitch , or hit batsman , is a batter or his equipment being hit in some part of his body by a pitch from the pitcher.-Official rule:...
in 1910 (16) and 1915 (19). Killefer batted
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 :...
.248 with 3 home runs in 467 career games. Though he played on the Tigers' American League pennant winning teams in 1907 and 1908, Killefer did not play in either 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...
. On August 13, 1909, the Tigers traded Killefer and Germany Schaefer
Germany Schaefer
Herman A. "Germany" Schaefer was a second baseman in Major League Baseball who played fifteen seasons with the Chicago Cubs, Detroit Tigers, Washington Senators, Newark Pepper, New York Yankees, and Cleveland Indians....
to the Washington Senators for Jim Delahanty
Jim Delahanty
James Christopher Delahanty was a second baseman in Major League Baseball. He played thirteen seasons with eight clubs: the Chicago Orphans , New York Giants , Boston Beaneaters , Cincinnati Reds , St. Louis Browns , Washington Senators , Detroit Tigers , and Brooklyn Tip-Tops...
.
On July 20, 1916, Killefer was traded by the Reds with Buck Herzog
Buck Herzog
Charles Lincoln "Buck" Herzog was an American infielder and manager in Major League Baseball who played for four National League clubs between 1908 and 1920. He played for the New York Giants, the Boston Braves, the Cincinnati Reds, and the Chicago Cubs...
to the New York Giants for three future Hall of Famers: Christy Mathewson
Christy Mathewson
Christopher "Christy" Mathewson , nicknamed "Big Six", "The Christian Gentleman", or "Matty", was an American Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He played his entire career in what is known as the dead-ball era...
, 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....
, and Bill McKechnie
Bill McKechnie
William Boyd McKechnie was an American third baseman, manager and coach in Major League Baseball. He was the first manager to win World Series titles with two different teams , and remains one of only two managers to win pennants with three teams, also capturing the National League title in 1928...
. After the trade, Killefer had only 1 at bat for the Giants before retiring.
In 467 major league games, Killefer was a versatile player who logged time at every position except pitcher: 135 games as a center fielder, 135 games as a left fielder, 129 games as a second baseman, 27 games as a right fielder, 11 games as a third baseman, 8 games as a shortstop, 3 games as a catcher, and 2 games as a first baseman.
After his playing career ended, Killefer was a minor league manager for 25 years from 1917-1941. His managerial career included stints with the following teams:
- Los Angeles AngelsLos Angeles Angels (PCL)The Los Angeles Angels were a team based in Los Angeles, California that played in the Pacific Coast League from 1903 through 1957, after which they transferred to Spokane, Washington to become the Spokane Indians. Los Angeles would later become the host city to a Major League Baseball team, the...
in the Pacific Coast LeaguePacific Coast LeagueThe 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...
from 1917-1922. He led the Angels to 2nd place finishes in his first 3 years with the team and finally to a PCL championship in 1921. - Seattle Indians in the Pacific Coast LeaguePacific Coast LeagueThe 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...
from 1923-1927. He won a PCL championship with them in 1924. - Mission RedsMission RedsThe Mission Reds were a minor league baseball team located in San Francisco, California, that played in the Pacific Coast League from 1926 through 1937.-Original Missions:...
in the PCL from 1928-1930. - Indianapolis IndiansIndianapolis IndiansThe Indianapolis Indians are a minor league baseball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates major-league club. The Indians play at Victory Field, located in downtown Indianapolis...
in the American AssociationAmerican Association (20th century)The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
from 1933–1937 and 1941. - Hollywood StarsHollywood StarsThe Hollywood Stars were a minor league baseball team that played in the Pacific Coast League during the early and mid 20th century. They were the arch-rivals of the other Los Angeles based PCL team, the Los Angeles Angels.-Hollywood Stars :...
of the Pacific Coast LeaguePacific Coast LeagueThe 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 1938 and 1939.
Killefer's brother, Bill Killefer
Bill Killefer
William Killefer , was an American professional baseball player, coach and manager who had a 48-year career in Major League Baseball. Killefer, who was nicknamed "Reindeer Bill" due to his speed afoot, played as a catcher for the St. Louis Browns, Philadelphia Phillies, and Chicago Cubs...
, was a major league catcher from 1909-1921 with the St. Louis Browns
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
, 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...
, 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...
.
Killefer died in Los Angeles at age 73 in 1958.