Joe Kelley

For other people with a similar name, see Joe Kelly.
Joe Kelley

Kelley with the Cincinnati Reds
Outfielder/Manager
Born: (1871-12-09)December 9, 1871
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Died: August 14, 1943(1943-08-14) (aged 71)
Baltimore, Maryland
Batted: Right Threw: Right 
MLB debut
July 27, 1891 for the Boston Beaneaters
Last MLB appearance
October 8, 1908 for the Boston Doves
Career statistics
Batting average     .317
Home runs     65
Runs batted in     1194
Stolen bases     443
Teams

As Player

As Manager
Career highlights and awards
  • 6× National League pennant winner (1891, 1894–1896, 1899–1900)
Member of the National
Empty Star.svgEmpty Star.svgEmpty Star.svgBaseball Hall of Fame Empty Star.svgEmpty Star.svgEmpty Star.svg
Induction     1971
Election Method     Veterans Committee

Joseph James Kelley (December 9, 1871 – August 14, 1943) was an American left fielder in Major League Baseball (MLB) who starred in the outfield of the Baltimore Orioles teams of the 1890s. Making up the nucleus of the Orioles along with John McGraw, Willie Keeler, and Hughie Jennings, Kelley received the nickname "Kingpin of the Orioles".[1] He was elected a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee in 1971.

In his MLB career, Kelley played in the National League (NL) for the Boston Beaneaters (1891), Pittsburgh Pirates (1892), Baltimore Orioles (1892–1898), and Brooklyn Superbas (1899–1901), before he jumped to the upstart American League to play for the Baltimore Orioles (1902). He returned to the NL with Cincinnati Reds (1902–1906) and Boston Doves (1908). He managed the Cincinnati Reds (1902–1905) and Boston Doves (1908), coached the Brooklyn Robins (1926), and scouted for the New York Yankees (1915–1916).

Early life

Kelley was born Joseph James Kelly to Patrick Kelly and Ann Kelly (née Carney) in Cambridge, Massachusetts on December 9, 1871.[2] Kelley's parents emigrated to the United States from Ireland, and he had five siblings. According to the 1880 United States Census, Patrick worked as a marble cutter.[3]

As a child, Kelley was educated at a parochial grammar school and St. Thomas Aquinas College in Cambridge, where he starred for the school's baseball team as a pitcher. He worked for a local piano manufacturer and the John P. Lowell Arms Company. He practiced with the Harvard Crimson baseball team, the college baseball team of Harvard University, and played semi-professional baseball for the Lowell Arms Company.[3][4]

Career

Early career

Kelley made his professional debut with the Lowell Indians of the New England League (NEL) in 1891, at age 19. During games he did not pitch, Lowell's manager put him in the lineup as an infielder.[3][5] Kelley had a 10–3 win-loss record and a NEL-leading .323 batting average with Lowell.[3]

Lowell folded in July.[6] Three days later, Kelley signed with the Boston Beaneaters of the National League (NL).[7]

Major League Baseball

Kelley made his NL debut in August 1891 with the Beaneaters. After batting .244 in twelve games played, the Beaneaters released Kelley after the season.[3]

Kelley began the 1892 season with the Omaha Omahogs of the Class–A Western League, turning down a $1,200 salary ($31,040 in current dollar terms) from the Oakland Oaks of the Pacific Coast League. With Omaha, Kelley batted .316 with 19 stolen bases in 58 games.[3] The Pittsburgh Pirates of the NL purchased Kelley's contract from Omaha for $500 ($12,933 in current dollar terms) on July 2, 1892. Ned Hanlon succeeded George Van Haltren as manager during the season. Van Haltren, who remained a player for the Orioles, openly criticized Hanlon, and the new manager traded Van Haltren to the Pirates for Kelley and $2,000 ($51,733 in current dollar terms) in September 1892.[3] Hanlon mentioned that he "had [his] eye on Kelley for a long time."[8]

Kelley (sitting, left) with Baltimore Orioles teammates Hughie Jennings (sitting, right), Willie Keeler (standing, left), and John McGraw (standing, right)

Hanlon taught Kelley how to play center field.[8] During the 1893 season, Kelley batted .305, with 120 runs scored, and stole 33 bases.[8] In 1894, Kelley moved to left field with the acquisition of Steve Brodie, who played center.[8] He batted .393 with 111 runs batted in (RBI) and 165 runs scored that season. Combined with 107 walks, Kelley posted a .502 on base percentage (OBP). His ten home runs in 1895 were a franchise record.[9] The Orioles won the NL pennant in 1894, 1895, and 1896. These Orioles teams were known to break the rules in order to win, including tampering with their bats and the playing field.[10] In 1897, Kelley agreed to serve as the coach of the Georgetown Hoyas, the college baseball team of Georgetown University.[11]

By 1898, Kelley earned an annual salary of $2,500 ($69,840 in current dollar terms), plus a $200 ($5,587 in current dollar terms) bonus for serving as team captain.[3] Due to insolvency, the Brooklyn Superbas purchased the Orioles after the 1898 season and transferred Kelley, Hanlon, Joe McGinnity, Hughie Jennings and Willie Keeler.[12] Wanting an opportunity to manage, and to remain near Baltimore, Kelley requested a transfer to the Washington Senators, but Washington did not have enough talent to send to Brooklyn to make a trade.[12] With John McGraw remaining in Baltimore, Hanlon named Kelley team captain.[12] The Superbas won the NL pennant in 1899 and 1900. Hanlon led the team with a .319 batting average in 1900.[12][13] Kelley moved back to the infield, becoming the regular first baseman in 1901.[13]

After the 1901 season, Kelley denied reports that he would jump from the Superbas to the Detroit Tigers of the American League (AL), the former Western League which had decided to compete with the NL by creating franchises in east coast cities that housed NL franchises.[14] However, the opportunity to return to Baltimore proved irresistible to Kelley, and after the AL's successful 1901 season, he jumped from the Superbas to the Baltimore Orioles AL.[13][15] Kelley's father-in-law, John Mahon, was president and principal share holder of the AL's Orioles.[16]

Kelley was named Orioles' captain and received some stock in the team.[13] McGraw, player-manager of the Orioles, resigned from the team to take over as manager of the New York Giants on July 7, 1902. In his absence, Kelley and Wilbert Robinson took over in the interim.[17] Under indefinite suspension by Ban Johnson by July 1902 for fighting with umpires,[3] Kelley entertained the idea of leaving the Orioles with McGraw, who was becoming frustrated with Johnson, and had begun negotiating to join the New York Giants of the NL.[18] With the team in financial straits,[19] Kelley sold his shares of the Orioles to Mahon, who had purchased McGraw's shares when he left for New York, becoming principal shareholder of the Orioles.[3] Mahon then sold controlling interest in the Orioles to Andrew Freedman, principal owner of the Giants, and John T. Brush, principal owner of the Cincinnati Reds, on July 17.[3] In the day they owned the franchise, they released the best players on the Orioles from their contracts so that they could be signed by National League teams: Kelley and Cy Seymour signed with the Reds, while McGinnity, Roger Bresnahan, Dan McGann, and Jack Cronin signed with the Giants.[20][21] Johnson, along with Orioles minority owners, took control of the Orioles franchise, which had to forfeit their game that day as they did not have enough players.[3] Kelly stated that the Orioles owed $12,000 ($322,338 in current dollar terms), and that selling his shares was the only way Mahon could pay the team's debts.[3]

The Superbas lodged a complaint against the Reds, claiming that Kelley was still under their control, seeking compensation from the Reds.[22][23] However, the other NL owners saw the situation as a coup for their league, and compelled Hanlon to drop his complaint.[24] Kelley did not immediately report to Cincinnati, instead traveling to Boston to attempt to convince members of the Boston Americans to join him in the NL.[24] Kelley joined the Reds on July 31.[19]

With rumors that Kelley was negotiating to become the Reds' manager, incumbent manager Bid McPhee resigned, and Kelley succeeded him as manager.[24] Kelley served as manager of the Reds from 1902 until 1905. He was dismissed as manager after the 1905 season, and replaced by Hanlon.[25] He remained as a Reds player for the 1906 season. He batted .228 during the 1906 season, and the Reds released him.[25]

Kelley's 1909 American Tobacco Company baseball card

Kelley signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs of the Class–AA International League (IL) in 1907, receiving a $5,000 salary ($124,714 in current dollar terms), the highest for a minor league player to date.[3] Kelley batted .322 for the Maple Leafs as a part-time player, spending time in left field and first base.[25] The Maple Leafs won the IL pennant that season.[3]

With Fred Tenney set to leave the Boston Doves of the NL for the Giants,[26] the Doves claimed Kelley from the Maple Leafs,[25][27] signing Kelley to a two year contract[28] with an annual salary of $5,500 ($142,267 in current dollar terms).[3] Kelley announced that he would play left field.[29] Kelley feuded with Doves' owner George Dovey, as Dovey wanted George Browne fined for "indifferent play", which Kelley refused to do.[30] Dovey fired Kelley in December 1908.[25] Kelley threatened legal action against Dovey, stating in the press that Dovey was releasing him to cut salary.[30][31] Kelley and Dovey settled their case.[32]

Later career

Maple Leafs president James McCafferey secured Kelley's return to the club in 1909.[28][33] He played with the Maple Leafs through 1910, managing the Maple Leafs from 1912 to 1914, winning a second pennant in 1912.[3]

After the 1914 season, the Maple Leafs released Kelley. The New York Yankees considered hiring Kelley as their manager after the 1914 season.[34] Kelley scouted for the Yankees in 1915 and 1916.[3][35] Former teammate Wilbert Robinson, then manager of the Brooklyn Robins, hired Kelley and McGinnity to join his coaching staff for the 1926 MLB season.[3] Kelley and McGinnity were not retained after the season.[36]

As a player, Kelley had 11 consecutive .300-plus seasons during his MLB career. Kelley was also known as a good base runner and stole a career-high 87 bases in 1896. He retired with a career .317 batting, .402 OBP, 65 home runs (including a career high 10 in 1895), 1,421 runs, 1,194 RBI and 443 stolen bases in 1,853 career games. Additionally, he was known as a great leader.[37] He compiled a 338–321 win–loss record as a MLB manager. Kelley set a MLB record with nine hits in a doubleheader.[38]

Hall of Fame induction

Kelley was considered by the Veterans Committee for induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1964,[38] but was not selected. He was voted into the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee in 1971.[39]

Personal life

Kelley married Margaret Mahon on October 26, 1897. Keller served as Kelley's best man, and McGraw and Jennings served as groomsmen.[40]

See also

References

Bibliography
In-line citations
  1. ^ "Joe Kelley, 'Kingpin' Of Orioles, Dead". The Sun. August 15, 1943. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/baltsun/access/1871392302.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Aug+15%2C+1943&author=&pub=The+Sun+%281837-1985%29&desc=JOE+KELLEY%2C+%27KINGPIN%27+OF+ORIOLES%2C+DEAD&pqatl=google. Retrieved April 8, 2012.  (Subscription required)
  2. ^ Fleitz, p. 121
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Keenan, Jimmy. "Joe Kelley". Society for American Baseball Research. http://sabr.org/bioproj/person/17b00755. Retrieved March 24, 2012. 
  4. ^ Fleitz, p. 122
  5. ^ "Baseball Captains of Industry: Considerable Kelley, Whose First Name was Joe". The Carroll Herald. June 5, 1912. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OAkoAAAAIBAJ&sjid=EwUGAAAAIBAJ&pg=3773,4205882&dq=joe-kelley+omaha&hl=en. Retrieved April 8, 2012. 
  6. ^ "Lowell BB History". The Lowell Sun. July 23, 2008. http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=LOWB&p_theme=lowb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=122211F12DDB8468&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM. Retrieved April 8, 2012.  (Subscription required)
  7. ^ "Lowell BB History". The Lowell Sun. July 27, 2007. http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=LOWB&p_theme=lowb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=11AAC2415A560CD8&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM. Retrieved April 8, 2012.  (Subscription required)
  8. ^ a b c d Fleitz, p. 124
  9. ^ Fleitz, p. 128
  10. ^ Klingaman, Mike (June 5, 2003). "Cheats in cleats make fair play slippery business; Bat corkers, spin doctors owe debt to 1896 Orioles, other tricksters of trade". The Baltimore Sun. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/baltsun/access/344132921.html?dids=344132921:344132921&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jun+05%2C+2003&author=Mike+Klingaman&pub=The+Sun&desc=Cheats+in+cleats+make+fair+play+slippery+business+%3B+Bat+corkers%2C+spin+doctors+owe+debt+to+1896+Orioles%2C+other+tricksters+of+trade&pqatl=google. Retrieved April 8, 2012.  (Subscription required)
  11. ^ "Yanigans Swamped, Baltimore Colts Snowed Under by the Regulars, Joe Kelley Reaches Macon". The Morning Herald: p. 9. March 27, 1897. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=wDxFAAAAIBAJ&sjid=hrsMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5715,3635878&dq=joe-kelley+georgetown&hl=en. Retrieved April 8, 2012. 
  12. ^ a b c d Fleitz, p. 130
  13. ^ a b c d Fleitz, p. 131
  14. ^ "No Trust in Baseball — Clubs Vote Down John T. Brush's Scheme by 5 Votes to 1. League a Perpetual Body: Election of Officers Postponed for Some Unknown Reason — Hanlon to Stay With Brooklyn". The New York Times. December 12, 1901. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0B10FF3E5B11738DDDAB0994DA415B818CF1D3. Retrieved April 8, 2012. 
  15. ^ "Baseball Player in Demand". The New York Times.. December 23, 1901. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F20716F83C5F12738DDDAA0A94DA415B818CF1D3. Retrieved April 8, 2012. 
  16. ^ "Baltimore's New Baseball President" (pdf). The New York Times. February 18, 1902. http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=F60E1EF83E5412738DDDA10994DA405B828CF1D3. Retrieved April 8, 2012. 
  17. ^ "M'Graw for New York — Baltimore Baseball Player Will Manage the Local 'Team. $20,000 the Consideration: National League in the Deal to Get This Player Away from the American League". The New York Times. July 8, 1902. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F70A16F6385412738DDDA10894DF405B828CF1D3. Retrieved April 8, 2012. 
  18. ^ "McGraw Accuses Ban Johnson". The New York Times. July 3, 1903. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F40F12F6355F1B738DDDAA0894DF405B828CF1D3. Retrieved April 8, 2012. 
  19. ^ a b "Kelley Predicts Exodus to the National League". The Pittsburgh Press. July 31, 1902. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=pP8aAAAAIBAJ&sjid=m0gEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3096,2862270&dq=joe-kelley&hl=en. Retrieved April 8, 2012. 
  20. ^ "Clean Sweep of Baltimore Club: National Leaguers Graft the Star Players". Baltimore American: p. 1. July 17, 1902. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=L8hdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=kl4NAAAAIBAJ&pg=2808,3737042&dq=joe-kelley+baseball&hl=en. Retrieved April 8, 2012. 
  21. ^ Dewey, Donald; Acocella, Nicholas (2005). Total Ballclubs: The Ultimate Book of Baseball Teams. Sportclassic Books. p. 37. ISBN 1-894963-37-7. 
  22. ^ "Pretty Tough on Brooklyn: National Leaguers Rule That They May Freely Raid Ranks of American League". Baltimore American. August 13, 1902. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8yZCAAAAIBAJ&sjid=97gMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6039,653617&dq=joe-kelley&hl=en. Retrieved April 8, 2012. 
  23. ^ "Ebbitts Says it is a Finish Fight: Says Nationals Ask For and Give No Quarter to Men of American League". Baltimore American. July 24, 1902. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=NshdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=kl4NAAAAIBAJ&pg=5200,4938725&dq=joe-kelley+baseball&hl=en. Retrieved April 8, 2012. 
  24. ^ a b c Fleitz, p. 133
  25. ^ a b c d e Fleitz, p. 134
  26. ^ "Baseball Owners Meet at Waldorf — Deals for Players Excite More Interest Than Annual Conclave. Tenney May Come Here. Joe Kelley Almost Sure to Manage Boston Team — Dan McGann is Talked of for Cincinnati". The New York Times. December 11, 1907. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB0A13FA3C5C15738DDDA80994DA415B878CF1D3. Retrieved April 7, 2012. 
  27. ^ "Jimmy Casey is Wanted to Succeed Joe Kelley: Brooklyn Third Baseman May Be Manager of the Toronto Club". The Pittsburgh Press. November 14, 1907. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=khobAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CEkEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3803,3264976&dq=joe-kelley&hl=en. Retrieved April 8, 2012. 
  28. ^ a b "New Manager of Doves; Kelley to Be Given Release". The Sunday Tribune. November 25, 1908. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8yFjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=qGINAAAAIBAJ&pg=2540,2540544&dq=joe-kelley+baseball&hl=en. Retrieved April 8, 2012. 
  29. ^ "Joe Kelley in Left Garden: Beaumont in Center and Brown in Right for Boston Nationals". The Pittsburgh Press. January 15, 1908. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lAkbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vkgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4549,2808156&dq=joe-kelley+baseball&hl=en. Retrieved April 8, 2012. 
  30. ^ a b "Joe Kelley Pans the Boston Owner: Declares that Dovey Merely Wants to Get Rid of Him to Reduce Club's Expenses". The Pittsburgh Press. November 30, 1908. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2AobAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0UgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1720,6721600&dq=joe-kelley&hl=en. Retrieved April 8, 2012. 
  31. ^ "Joe Kelley Appeals His Case". Chicago Tribune. December 30, 1908. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/409445841.html?dids=409445841:409445841&FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:AI&type=historic&date=Dec+30%2C+1908&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=JOE+KELLEY+APPEALS+HIS+CASE.&pqatl=google. Retrieved April 8, 2012.  (Subscription required)
  32. ^ "Kelley and Dovey Settle Difficulties". The Meriden Daily Journal. January 15, 1909. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KhhJAAAAIBAJ&sjid=cAINAAAAIBAJ&pg=2405,883872&dq=joe-kelley&hl=en. Retrieved April 8, 2012. 
  33. ^ "EASTERN LEAGUE BOARD MEETS HERE; Directors Discuss Plans for Season and Announce the Umpire Staff. YALE HAS BIG SCHEDULE Three Games with the Giants -- Roger Bresnahan to Get Loving Cup -- Yankees' Revised Dates". The New York Times. January 28, 1909. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F00C16FD3E5A12738DDDA10A94D9405B898CF1D3. Retrieved April 8, 2012. 
  34. ^ "Magee Named Manager". The Sun. December 19, 1914. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/baltsun/access/1761541022.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Dec+19%2C+1914&author=&pub=The+Sun+%281837-1985%29&desc=MAGEE+NAMED+MANAGER&pqatl=google. Retrieved April 8, 2012.  (Subscription required)
  35. ^ "Giants Get Day's Rest in Knoxville; Resume Northward Trek with Red Sox--Chance of BarrowHuggins Deal Less Bright". The New York Times: p. 18. April 5, 1920. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB0D15F63A55157A93C7A9178FD85F448285F9. Retrieved April 8, 2012. 
  36. ^ Harrison, James R. (December 15, 1926). "National Leaguers Move For Peace — Committee Chosen to Confer With Landis mid Similar American League Group. Resin Ball is Endorsed: Robins Release Kelley and McGinnity — Trading Dull -- Magnates Go to Chicago Today". The New York Times: p. 23. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F00E15FE3C591B7A93C7A81789D95F428285F9. Retrieved April 8, 2012.  (Subscription required)
  37. ^ "Baseball Gossip". The Pittsburgh Press. August 4, 1902. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qP8aAAAAIBAJ&sjid=m0gEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3569,3640171&dq=joe-kelley+baseball&hl=en. Retrieved April 8, 2012. 
  38. ^ a b "Veterans Committee Votes: Oldtimers in Line for Hall". The Telegraph-Herald. January 29, 1964. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UnBFAAAAIBAJ&sjid=hrwMAAAAIBAJ&pg=7152,3453849&dq=joe-kelley+baseball&hl=en. Retrieved April 8, 2012. 
  39. ^ "Remember Rube? ... Chick Hafey? Seven Oldies Make it to Cooperstown". Reading Eagle. Associated Press. February 1, 1971. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8AUrAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HpgFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3742,277311&dq=joe-kelley&hl=en. Retrieved April 8, 2012. 
  40. ^ Fleitz, p. 129

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Joe Kelley
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Billy Hamilton 		National League Stolen Base Champion
1886		 Succeeded by
Bill Lange
Sporting positions
Preceded by
Frank Bancroft 		Cincinnati Reds Manager
1902–1905		 Succeeded by
Ned Hanlon
Preceded by
Fred Tenney 		Boston Doves Managers
1908		 Succeeded by
Frank Bowerman
Boston Red Stockings (1871–1882)
Boston Beaneaters (1883–1906)
Boston Doves (1907–1910)
Boston Rustlers (1911)
Boston Braves (1912–1935)
Boston Bees (1936–1940)
Boston Braves (1941–1952)
Milwaukee Braves (1953–1965)
Atlanta Braves (1966–present)
BBWAA Vote
  • none
Veterans Committee
Negro League Committee
J. G. Taylor Spink Award