Joe Kelley facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Joe Kelley
Kelley with the Cincinnati Reds in 1903
Left fielder / Manager
Born: (1871-12-09)December 9, 1871 Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died: August 14, 1943(1943-08-14) (aged 71) Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Batted: Right Threw: Right
debut
July 27, 1891, for the Boston Beaneaters
Last appearance
October 8, 1908, for the Boston Doves
MLB statistics
Batting average	.317
Hits	2,220
Home runs	65
Runs batted in	1,194
Stolen bases	443
Managerial record	338–321
Winning %	.512
Teams
As player Boston Beaneaters (1891) Pittsburgh Pirates (1892) Baltimore Orioles (NL) (1892–1898) Brooklyn Superbas (1899–1901) Baltimore Orioles (AL) (1902) Cincinnati Reds (1902–1906) Boston Doves (1908) As manager Cincinnati Reds (1902–1905) Boston Doves (1908)
Career highlights and awards
NL stolen base leader (1896)
Baseball Hall of Fame
Induction	1971
Election Method	Veterans Committee

Joseph James Kelley (born December 9, 1871 – died August 14, 1943) was an American left fielder in Major League Baseball (MLB). He was a star player for the Baltimore Orioles in the 1890s. Joe Kelley was a key player on the Orioles, alongside John McGraw, Willie Keeler, and Hughie Jennings. People called him the "Kingpin of the Orioles" because he was so important to the team.

During his MLB career, Kelley played for many teams. He was in the National League (NL) with the Boston Beaneaters (1891), Pittsburgh Pirates (1892), Baltimore Orioles (1892–1898), and Brooklyn Superbas (1899–1901). Later, he joined the new American League to play for the Baltimore Orioles (1902). He then went back to the NL with the Cincinnati Reds (1902–1906) and Boston Doves (1908). Kelley also managed the Reds (1902–1905) and Doves (1908) while still playing. After his major league career, he played in minor leagues and later coached for the Brooklyn Robins (1926). He also worked as a scout for the New York Yankees (1915–1916).

Joe Kelley was known as an excellent batter and a fast base runner. He was also a great leader on the field. In his seventeen years in MLB, Kelley had a .317 batting average. He hit over .300 for eleven seasons in a row! In 1896, he stole 87 bases, which was the most in MLB that year. He often ranked among the top ten players in batting average, home runs, runs batted in (RBI), and stolen bases. He was the team captain for both the Orioles and the Superbas. Because of his amazing career, Joe Kelley was chosen for the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1971.

Early Life & Baseball Beginnings

Growing Up in Massachusetts

Joseph James Kelley was born on December 9, 1871, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. His parents, Patrick and Ann Kelly, had moved to the United States from Ireland. Joe had five brothers and sisters. His father worked as a marble cutter.

School & Early Sports

As a child, Kelley went to a local school and St. Thomas Aquinas College in Cambridge. He was a star pitcher on his school's baseball team. He also worked for a piano company and a company that made arms. He even practiced with the Harvard Crimson, which is the college baseball team for Harvard University. He also played semi-professional baseball for the Lowell Arms Company team.

Professional Baseball Career

Starting in the Minor Leagues

Joe Kelley started his professional baseball career in 1891, when he was 19 years old. He played for the Lowell Indians in the New England League (NEL). When he wasn't pitching, the manager played him as an infielder. Kelley had a good pitching record of 10 wins and 3 losses. He also led the NEL with a .323 batting average.

Joining the Boston Beaneaters

The Lowell team stopped playing in July 1891. Just three days later, Kelley signed with the Boston Beaneaters in the National League (NL). He made his major league debut in August 1891. He played in twelve games played and batted .244. After that season, the Beaneaters let him go.

Playing for Omaha and Pittsburgh

Kelley started the 1892 season with the Omaha Omahogs in the Western League. He turned down a bigger salary from another team to play there. With Omaha, Kelley batted .316 and stole 19 bases in 58 games. On July 2, 1892, the Pittsburgh Pirates in the NL bought Kelley's contract from Omaha.

Becoming an Orioles Star (1892–1898)

Ned Hanlon, the new manager of the Baltimore Orioles, really wanted Joe Kelley. In September 1892, Hanlon traded another player to the Pirates to get Kelley. Hanlon said he had been watching Kelley for a long time.

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

Hanlon helped Kelley learn to play center field. In 1893, Kelley batted .305, scored 120 runs, and stole 33 bases. He was one of the best players in the league. The Orioles were a very strong team, winning the NL championship in 1894, 1895, and 1896. In 1894, Kelley moved to left field. That year, he batted an amazing .393! He also had 111 runs batted in (RBI), 199 hits, and scored 165 runs. He was second in the league for runs scored and had many doubles.

The Orioles teams of this time, led by John McGraw, were known for being very smart and sometimes tricky to win games. For example, Joe Kelley would sometimes hide baseballs in the outfield. If a ball was hit far, he would grab the closest hidden ball instead of running to find the real one! In 1895, Kelley hit ten home runs, which was a record for the team at the time. He also had 134 RBI and 54 stolen bases. He continued to be one of the top players in the league in 1896 and 1897.

By 1898, Kelley was earning a good salary and a bonus for being the team captain. After the 1898 season, the Brooklyn Superbas bought the Orioles team. Many of the Orioles' best players, including Kelley, moved to Brooklyn. Kelley wanted to manage a team and stay close to Baltimore, but it didn't work out.

Playing for the Brooklyn Superbas (1899–1901)

In Brooklyn, Joe Kelley became the team captain for the Superbas. The Superbas won the NL championship in 1899 and 1900. Kelley was a key player, leading the team with a .319 batting average in 1900. He also ranked high in RBI and home runs. In 1901, Kelley moved to play first base.

Brief Time with Baltimore Orioles (AL) (1902)

After the 1901 season, there were rumors that Kelley would leave the Superbas. He decided to return to Baltimore to play for the new Baltimore Orioles in the American League (AL). This was a new league that was competing with the NL. Kelley's father-in-law was even a part-owner of the AL Orioles.

Kelley was named the Orioles' captain and received some ownership in the team. The Orioles' player-manager, John McGraw, left the team in July 1902. Kelley and another player, Wilbert Robinson, took over as interim managers. The team faced money problems. Kelley sold his shares in the team. The best players on the Orioles, including Kelley, were then released from their contracts. This allowed them to sign with teams in the National League. Kelley signed with the Cincinnati Reds.

Cincinnati Reds Player & Manager (1902–1906)

The Superbas tried to complain that Kelley still belonged to them, but other NL owners wanted him to play in their league. Kelley joined the Cincinnati Reds on July 31, 1902. Soon after, the Reds' manager resigned, and Joe Kelley took over as manager. He managed the Reds from 1902 to 1905. He continued to play for the Reds until 1906. In 1906, he batted .228, and the Reds released him.

Playing for Toronto Maple Leafs

In 1907, Kelley signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the minor leagues. He earned a very high salary for a minor league player at that time. Kelley batted .322 for the Maple Leafs and helped them win their league championship.

Final Season with Boston Doves (1908)

In 1908, the Boston Doves in the NL signed Kelley to a two-year contract. Kelley announced he would play left field. However, Kelley had disagreements with the Doves' owner. The owner wanted to fine a player, but Kelley refused. Because of this, the owner fired Kelley in December 1908. Kelley took legal action, saying the owner was firing him to save money. They eventually settled the case, and Kelley was free from his contract.

Later Career in Baseball

Kelley returned to the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1909 and played with them until 1910. He then managed the Maple Leafs from 1912 to 1914, winning another championship in 1912.

After 1914, the Maple Leafs released Kelley. The New York Yankees thought about hiring him as their manager. Instead, Kelley became a scout for the Yankees in 1915 and 1916. Later, his former teammate Wilbert Robinson, who was managing the Brooklyn Robins, hired Kelley to join his coaching staff for the 1926 MLB season. Kelley was not kept on as a coach after that season.

Joe Kelley's Legacy

Joe Kelley was an amazing player. He had 11 seasons in a row where his batting average was over .300. He was also a very fast base runner, stealing a career-high 87 bases in 1896. He ended his MLB career with a .317 batting average, 65 home runs, 1,421 runs, 1,194 RBI, and 443 stolen bases in 1,853 games. His 194 triples rank him ninth all-time in baseball history! He also tied an MLB record by getting nine hits in a doubleheader (two games in one day).

Kelley was also known as a great leader on the field. As an MLB manager, he had a record of 338 wins and 321 losses.

Joe Kelley was considered for the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1964 but was not chosen then. Finally, in 1971, he was voted into the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee, recognizing his incredible career.

Personal Life

Joe Kelley married Margaret Mahon on October 26, 1897. His teammate Willie Keeler was his best man, and John McGraw and Hughie Jennings were also in the wedding. Joe Kelley is buried at New Cathedral Cemetery.

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