Willie Keeler from the Chronology

Apr 6, 2006 - The Phillies lose their 3rd straight game to the Cardinals, 4-2, and Jimmy Rollins loses his 38-game hitting streak as he is held hitless in 4 ABs. Rollins hit .379 (64-for-169) during his two-season streak and fell just 7 games short of the all-time record of 45 held by Willie Keeler. "Wee Willie" got a hit in the final game of the 1896 season then posted at least one safety in 44 straight games to begin 1897. Rollins joins Vada Pinson (31 games 1965-66), Ron LeFlore (31 games 1975-76) and Hal Morris (32 games 1996-97) as the only players since 1960 with 30-gamers over two years.

Sep 17, 2004 - The Mariners beat the Athletics‚ 6-3. Ichiro Suzuki gets his 199th single of the season to break Wee Willie Keeler's old mark.

Aug 4, 1993 - OF Tony Gwynn of the Padres gets 6 hits in SD's 11-10 win over the Giants. It is the 4th time this season he has 5 or more hits in a game‚ tying a major league record set by Wee Willie Keeler in 1897‚ and equaled by Ty Cobb and Stan Musial.

Sep 20, 1988 - Wade Boggs goes 3-for-3 with 2 walks in Boston's 13-2 rout of Toronto to become the first player this century to collect 200 hits in 6 consecutive seasons. Willie Keeler had 8 straight 200-hit seasons from 1894-1901. Boggs also joins Lou Gehrig as the only players to collect 200 hits and 100 walks in 3 consecutive seasons.

Jul 31, 1978 - Pete Rose singles off Phil Niekro to extend his streak to 44 games‚ as the Reds edge the Braves 3-2. Rose ties Willie Keeler's 81-year-old NL record‚ achieved when foul balls didn't count as strikes.

Jul 2, 1941 - At Yankee Stadium‚ Joe DiMaggio extends his consecutive-game hitting streak to 45 by hitting a HR‚ his only hit of the game‚ off Boston's Dick Newsome‚ surpassing Willie Keeler's all-time record. Newsome started in place of Lefty Grove‚ who asked for the day off because of the 95 degree heat. New York wins‚ 8-4.

Jul 1, 1941 - Despite the 95 degree weather‚ 52‚832 are on hand at Yankee Stadium to watch Joe DiMaggio lead a sweep of the Red Sox‚ 7-2 and 9-2. The 2nd game is called after 5 innings. DiMaggio has 2 hits in the first game‚ off Mike Ryba‚ and one in the 2nd‚ off Jack Wilson‚ to tie Willie Keeler's ML batting streak of 44 games. The Yankees have 25 hits in the 2 games but fail to add a HR among their 15 hits in the first game. This ends their AL streak of 25 consecutive games with at least one HR. The previous record‚ set by the Tigers in 1940‚ was 17 games and the Tigers will take back the record in 1994. During the streak the Bombers have connected for 40 homers‚ 9 by DiMaggio.

Jun 12, 1939 - The greatest gathering of members and future inductees of the Baseball Hall of Fame assembles in Cooperstown‚ NY‚ for the dedication of the museum. A 6-inning game at Doubleday Field showcases lineups studded with players who will be elected in the future. Honus Wagner's lineup defeats Eddie Collins' squad‚ 4-2. Babe Ruth‚ Ty Cobb‚ Honus Wagner‚ Walter Johnson‚ Grover Alexander‚ Nap Lajoie‚ George Sisler‚ Eddie Collins‚ Tris Speaker‚ Cy Young‚ and Connie Mack accept their plaques. Cobb‚ angry at Commissioner Landis‚ shows up after the ceremony and photo taking to accept his plaque. Other inductees‚ all deceased‚ include Cap Anson‚ Charles Comiskey‚ Candy Cummings‚ Buck Ewing‚ Hoss Radbourn‚ Al Spalding and Wee Willie Keeler.

Jan 24, 1939 - George Sisler‚ Eddie Collins‚ and Willie Keeler are elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame by the BBWAA.

Oct 1, 1922 - In the Cards 7-1 win at Chicago‚ Rogers Hornsby's 3-for-5 on the last day puts him at .401‚ the first .400-hitter in the NL since Ed Delahanty in 1899. His NL-record 250 hits top Willie Keeler's 243 in 1897. Hornsby wins the Triple Crown with 152 RBIs and 42 HRs. His 102 extra-base hits will be the NL's tops until Chuck Klein's 107 in 1930.

Jul 17, 1922 - At Boston‚ Ty Cobb gets 5 hits (and a walk) in a game for the 4th time this year‚ setting an AL mark. His previous 5-hit contests were on May 7th‚ July 7th‚ and July 12th. Only Willie Keeler has done it before. The Tigers roar‚ 16-7. overcoming a 5-0 deficit after one inning.

Dec 21, 1911 - In the New York Evening Journal‚ 80's player-manager Sam Crane picks his all-time greatest list‚ in response to a list that Charles Comiskey compiled. Crane graciously faults Comiskey for not including himself‚ as well as for not going back far enough. He lists 20 in chronological order: G.Wright‚ R. Barnes‚ C. Anson‚ M. Kelly‚ C. Radbourn, F. Dunlap‚ Buck Ewing‚ J. Ward‚ C. Comiskey‚ B. Lange‚ J. McGraw‚ L. Lajoie‚ F. Clarke‚ H. Wagner‚ W. Keeler‚ J. Collins‚ C. Mathewson‚ H. Chase‚ T. Cobb‚ and E. Collins.

Aug 13, 1908 - Cy Young Day is celebrated by 20‚000 in Boston. He pitches briefly against an All-Star team that includes Jack Chesbro‚ Hal Chase‚ Willie Keeler‚ Harry Davis‚ and George Mullin. The game is interrupted several times for presentations to the great hurler‚ including a great loving cup from the AL for all his accomplishments. This is Keeler's last appearance this season‚ as he returns home to Brooklyn‚ partly in protest to Highlander manager Kid Elberfeld's surly managerial style (as stated in Jim Reiseler's book Before They Were Bombers)). Keeler quits without pay saying‚ "I cannot give you a run for your money"‚ He had been ill and muffed a flyball in left field‚ but he will return next season to play under manager George Stallings.

Sep 3, 1906 - Kid Elberfeld‚ the hot-headed Tabasco Kid‚ assaults umpire Silk O'Loughlin and is forcibly removed by police in the first game of New York's 4-3 win over the Athletics. In the 2nd game‚ New York base runner Willie Keeler collides with SS Lave Cross trying to field a ground ball‚ and 2 runs score. O'Loughlin sees no interference‚ a call so hotly disputed by A's captain Harry Davis that‚ after 8 minutes of arguing‚ the umpire forfeits the game to New York. For New York‚ it is a ML record 5th straight doubleheader sweep in consecutive days‚ and the streak puts them back atop the AL. Elberfeld will be suspended for just 8 games for his brawl with Silk.

Aug 18, 1906 - Wee Willie Keeler is struck out for only the 2nd time this season‚ both times by spitballer Ed Walsh of the White Sox‚ but Willie's Highlanders steamroll over Chicago‚ 10-0. The Sox score 9 in the 9th to break it open.

Sep 16, 1905 - The Highlanders find themselves a little short on infielders so RF Willie Keeler‚ who is lefthanded‚ plays 2B in both games against visiting Washington. The talented Keeler played two games at shortstop for New York in 1893. New York splits‚ winning 5-2 and losing 3-0.

Sep 14, 1904 - The Boston Americans‚ with a half-game lead over New York‚ send Bill Dinneen to the mound. Patsy Dougherty leads off with a single off Jack Chesbro and Willie Keeler follows with a bunt that C Lou Criger fires into the crowd to allow Patsy to score. Keeler scores a play later. Boston's only tally comes in the 9th on a 2-base error and a wild pitch. New York wins 3-1. The nitecap is called after 5 innings and a 1-1 score.

Aug 24, 1904 - The Highlanders Willie Keeler collects 2 roundtrippers against the St. Louis Browns in a 9-1 win at New York. Both drives are inside the park homers.

Jul 25, 1904 - Before 1‚522 in New York‚ vet Al Orth makes his first start for the Highlanders and matches zeroes with Chicago's Yip Owen. In the bottom of the 9th Patsy Dougherty leads off with a triple and scores on Willie Keeler's bouncer through the infield.

Jul 29, 1903 - Cy Young goes all the way as Boston loses to the Highlanders‚ 15-14. The New Yorkers had been shut out in their two previous matches in the series. Patsy Dougherty leads the Boston offense by hitting for the cycle‚ but Cy gets little defense as Boston makes 8 errors behind him. New York starter Jack Chesbro is lifted in the 6th for Harry Howell‚ while Willie Keeler has 4 hits to lead the Highlander offense. The game lasts 2 hours: 10 minutes.

Apr 24, 1902 - Brooklyn scores 5 in the 9th and wallops Philadelphia‚ 16-6. Willie Keeler scores 5 runs for a ML record 6th time.

Jun 24, 1901 - The Chicago Nationals lose 2-1 to Brooklyn when Bill Dahlen hits a sac fly to bring home Brooklyn's Wee Willie Keeler. Brooklyn C Deacon Maguire throws out 5 Chicago runners.

Aug 31, 1899 - John McGraw's 23-year-old wife dies following surgery for appendicitis. Her funeral‚ with Ned Hanlon‚ Willie Keeler‚ Joe Kelley‚ and Hughie Jennings participating as pallbearers‚ would be one of the largest in Baltimore history.

May 15, 1899 - Willie Keeler‚ one of the smallest players and best bunters‚ drives the ball past startled LF Ed Delahanty of the Phillies for an inside-the-park grand slam and an 8-5 victory for Brooklyn.

Feb 7, 1899 - Under a joint ownership arrangement‚ several Baltimore players are shifted to Brooklyn‚ and that club transfers several to the Orioles. Manager Ned Hanlon takes Willie Keeler‚ Joe Kelley‚ Hughie Jennings‚ and others with him while John McGraw and Wilbert Robinson remain in Baltimore. The powerful new Brooklyn team will‚ by 1899‚ be called the Superbas (nicknamed after a vaudeville act called Hanlon's Superbas)‚ and in the 1913-30 era the team will be known as the Robins. Baltimore will do well with leftovers‚ but the Oriole dynasty ends.

Sep 24, 1898 - In the only NL game played today‚ Willie Keeler‚ now known as "Wee Willie‚" leads an Oriole attack on Washington's Gus Weyhing with 4 hits and becomes the first player to reach 200 this season. The O's win‚ 14-3.

Sep 6, 1898 - Willie Keeler for Baltimore goes 0-for-5 against Red Donahue of Philadelphia‚ ending his 25-game hitting streak. He had an earlier 25-game string from July 2nd to 30th.

Mar 17, 1898 - Baltimore manager Ned Hanlon has a dilemma in that one-half of his playewrs agree to go to Macon‚ Georgia‚ for spring practice‚ while others‚ including Willie Keeler and Joe Kelley‚ want to stay up north. Kelley also wants his salary raised from $2‚700 to $2‚800. Pitcher Joe Corbett threatens to hold out.

Sep 4, 1897 - Baltimore beats Pittsburgh‚ 7-2‚ behind the 6-hit pitching of Jerry Nops. Willie Keeler has 3 hits and Joe Kelley has a 3-run HR over the LF stands.

Sep 3, 1897 - For the only time ever‚ two players‚ Willie Keeler and "Dirty Jack" Doyle‚ each get 6 hits in 6 at bats in Baltimore's 22-1 win over visiting St. Louis. Joe Kelley has 5 hits and 5 runs as Keeler also scores 5. The St. Louis pitchers are Frank Donohue and Coleman. Keeler will collect 5 hits in the first game on September 6th for his 4th game of five hits or more this season. St. Louis scribe Frank Housman (quoted by Ernie Lanigan in his Cyclopedia) objected to the scoring method used in Baltimore: "Down in Baltimore one day‚ Keeler sent two fly balls to Lally‚ who muffed both of them. Then he hit to Hartman and the latter fumbled and then threw wild. Then Keeler made a good single. The next morning four hits appeared to Keeler's credit in the Baltimore papers. Talk about Cleveland stuffing Burkett's average‚ why‚ they are not in it with the oyster scribes of Baltimore."

Jul 17, 1897 - Baltimore's Willie Keeler gets 5 hits and‚ for the 3rd time‚ scores 5 runs in a 20-2 rout of Chicago.

Jun 19, 1897 - Lefty Frank Killen allows 5 Baltimore hits as he pitches Pittsburgh to victory. Willie Keeler fails to get a hit for the first time in 1897 after 44 straight games‚ a ML record that will stand until DiMaggio ties it June 29‚ 1941.

Apr 22, 1897 - Willie Keeler's single and double in the Orioles' first game‚ a 10-5 victory over Boston‚ begins a streak of safe hits in 44 consecutive games.

Feb 3, 1897 - John McGraw‚ Baltimore's pugnacious 3B‚ marries Minnie R. Doyle. Hughie Jennings is best man‚ while Willie Keeler and Joe Kelley are groomsmen.

Apr 28, 1896 - At Baltimore‚ Washington whips the Orioles‚ 9-5‚ with the help of a hidden ball trick applied by 1B Ed Cartwright on Willie Keeler.

Sep 14, 1895 - In the 8th inning of the Baltimore-Brooklyn game a foul tip shatters the mask of umpire Tim Hurst‚ driving a wire into his forehead which strikes an artery. Amazingly‚ Hurst remains in the game despite the blood. Baltimore wins‚ 14-5. as Willie Keeler scores 5 runs for the second time in a month.

Aug 24, 1895 - The Orioles win their 14th straight‚ trouncing the Cincinnati Reds‚ 22-5. The streak will end tomorrow. Willie Keeler scores 5 runs for Baltimore.

Jan 1, 1894 - Happy New Year‚ Baltimore. The Brooklyn Bridegrooms trade two Hall of Famers‚ Willie Keeler and Dan Brouthers‚ to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for Billy Shindle and George Treadway.

Aug 5, 1893 - Brooklyn unveils its new cleanup hitter-5 foot 4 inches Willie Keeler-against first place Boston. Despite hitting .313 in this role for his new team‚ Keeler is released to the Binghamton‚ NY‚ team of the Eastern League on August 26th. The Beaneaters are unfazed‚ winning 6-3 and 12-5.

May 10, 1893 - Brooklyn's joy over beating the New York Giants in the bottom of the last inning‚ 7-6‚ for the 2nd straight day is partially dashed as youngster Willie Keeler fractures a bone while sliding. Keeler will miss nearly 2 months of action.

Oct 15, 1892 - In a 7-1 win at Philadelphia‚ rookie Wee Willie Keeler‚ a lefthander‚ plays 3B for the Giants and collects 3 hits in 4 trips.

Sep 30, 1892 - Willie Keeler makes his ML debut by singling and scoring for New York‚ but his efforts cannot prevent a 5-4 loss to Philadelphia.