Books and articles about Joe Kelley

A turn-of-the-century star, Kelley was an outfielder for the Baltimore Orioles dynasty in the 1890s, and a player-manager in the first decade of the 20th century. A 19-year-old rookie for Boston and Pittsburgh in 1891, Kelley bounced to Baltimore by the end of 1892 and was starting in center field in 1893. Switched to left in 1894, Kelley had his best season as the Orioles won the first of four consecutive league championships. He hit .393 with 167 runs scored, the second-best run total in NL history, but also only the second-best that season, as Philadelphia's Billy Hamilton scored an amazing 196 times. Kelley went a perfect 9-for-9 in a September 3 doubleheader that year, including a ML-record-tying four doubles in one game. From 1895 to 1897, his average never dipped below .364.

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After the 1898 season, Kelley moved to the Brooklyn Dodgers along with manager Ned Hanlon and Orioles stars Dan McGann, Hughie Jennings, Willie Keeler, Jim Hughes, and Doc McJames. The Dodgers won pennants in 1899 and 1900. Kelley moved to first base in 1901 and returned to the Orioles, now in the fledgling AL, in 1902. With the club headed for a last-place finish, he left in mid-season to become Cincinnati's player-manager. By 1906, Kelley's average had crashed to .228 and the Reds let him go, but he resurfaced for a final season, managing the Braves to a sixth-place finish in 1908 while batting .259. The Veterans Committee elected him to the Hall of Fame in 1971. (AJA)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » May 30, 1893: Jake Beckley successfully pulls the "ancient" hidden-ball trick on Baltimore Oriole Joe Kelley, as Pittsburgh wins 9–1. He hides the ball under a corner of first base. » February 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 is nicknamed the Superbas. » September 23, 1901: Brooklyn ties their highest score ever (May 20, 1896) in blasting the Reds, 25-6. These are the most runs they will score this century. Jimmy Sheckard and Joe Kelley both connect for grand slams, with Kelley adding a 2nd homer. Jim Hughes collects four hits and a win. » July 8, 1902: John McGraw, accused by Ban Johnson of trying to wreck the Baltimore and Washington clubs, negotiates his release from the Orioles and officially signs to manage the Giants at $11,000 a year, although he'd already secretly signed a contract several days earlier brought to Baltimore by Giants secretary Fred M. Knowles. McGraw says, "I wish to state that I shall not tamper with any of the Baltimore club's players." But conspiring with National League owners Brush and Andrew Freedman, McGraw swings the sale of the Orioles their way, enabling them to release Orioles Dan McGann, Roger Bresnahan, Joe McGinnity, and Jack Cronin for signing by the Giants. Joe Kelley and Cy Seymour go to Brush's Cincinnati Reds. » July 16, 1902: Giants owner Andrew Freedman announces he has purchased controlling interest in the Baltimore club and releases Dan McGann, Roger Bresnahan, Joe McGinnity, and Jack Cronin to sign with New York. Mike Donlin, Joe Kelley and Cy Seymour go to the Reds, where Kelley will take over as manager. » June 13, 1903: At League Park, Joe Kelley's first-inning triple is the lone hit off Christy Mathewson, who whitewashes the Reds, 4-0. Noodles Hahn takes the loss. » June 17, 1906: In another test of Sunday baseball in Brooklyn, Superbas prexy Charles Ebbets comes up with a twist--patrons will pay after the game is played. 'Nice try' say the police who arrest Ebbets, manager Ned Hanlon, the visiting Reds' manager Joe Kelley, and starting P Mal Eason. The case is dismissed as no admission was charged. In addition to the visit to the police precinct, the Reds whip Brooklyn, 3-0. » January 31, 1971: The Hall of Fame Special Veterans Committee selects seven men for enshrinement: former players Jake Beckley, Joe Kelley, Harry Hooper, Rube Marquard, Chick Hafey, Dave Bancroft, and executive George Weiss.