Tom Kelley (baseball) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tom Kelley |
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: January 5, 1944 Manchester, Connecticut, U.S. |
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| Died: September 25, 2015 (aged 71) Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| May 5, 1964, for the Cleveland Indians | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| May 20, 1973, for the Atlanta Braves | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 20–22 | ||
| Earned run average | 3.75 | ||
| Strikeouts | 234 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Thomas Henry Kelley (born January 5, 1944 – died September 25, 2015) was a talented American pitcher in Major League Baseball. He played for two famous teams: the Cleveland Indians and the Atlanta Braves. Tom played in parts of seven seasons between 1964 and 1973. He was 6 feet tall and weighed 185 pounds. Kelley batted and threw the baseball with his right hand. He was born in Manchester, Connecticut.
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Tom Kelley's Baseball Career
Starting in the Minor Leagues
Tom Kelley began his baseball journey when the Cleveland Indians signed him in 1963. He was an amateur free agent, meaning he wasn't drafted. The next year, he played for the Double-A Charleston Indians. He had a good record of 9 wins and 9 losses. His earned run average (ERA) was 3.17, which is pretty good for a pitcher.
Because he did so well, the Cleveland Indians called him up to the major leagues. He played in six games as a relief pitcher, coming into the game after the starting pitcher.
Rising Through the Ranks
In 1965, Kelley had an amazing season with the Triple-A Portland Beavers. This team was part of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League. He won 16 games and only lost 3. His ERA was even better at 2.38. He started 26 games that season.
One of his biggest achievements was throwing a no-hitter against the Spokane Indians on May 29. A no-hitter means the opposing team didn't get any hits during the entire game. After this great performance, he returned to the Cleveland Indians. He won 2 games and lost 1, with a 2.40 ERA in four starts.
Playing in the Major Leagues
Tom Kelley spent all of the 1966 season with the Cleveland Indians. He had a record of 4 wins and 8 losses, with an ERA of 4.34. He played in 31 games, starting 7 of them. After this season, he had shoulder surgery. This surgery kept him out of the major leagues for three years. He played in the Minor Leagues during this time.
In 1971, Tom Kelley made a comeback with the Atlanta Braves. He pitched in 28 games for the Braves, starting 20 of them. He had a strong season, winning 9 games and losing 5. His ERA was a solid 2.96. He also pitched five complete games. A complete game is when a pitcher pitches the entire game without anyone else taking over.
He was part of a strong pitching team that included famous players like Phil Niekro. During this season, he also saw his legendary teammate Hank Aaron hit his 600th career home run. After 1971, he spent four more years in Triple-A with the Braves and New York Mets organizations. He then retired from baseball in 1976.
Overall Baseball Stats
Over his seven-year career, Tom Kelley played in 104 games. He started 45 of those games. His overall record was 20 wins and 22 losses. His ERA was 3.75. He had 16 complete games and one shutout. A shutout means the opposing team scored zero runs while he was pitching. He also had 234 strikeouts. A strikeout is when a batter gets three strikes and is out. He walked 207 batters in 408 innings.
Life After Baseball
After his time in baseball, Tom Kelley worked for United Parcel Service (UPS). He worked there for 15 years and retired as a center manager. In 1987, he was honored for his achievements. He was inducted into the Manchester Sports Hall of Fame.
About Tom Kelley's Life
Tom Kelley lived in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for a long time. He passed away there in 2015. He was 71 years old when he died.
