Kerr was a slick, wide-ranging shortstop for the otherwise lumbering Giants of the
1940s. Although a less-than-average hitter, he led NL shortstops in assists, putouts,
and double plays in 1945, and he had a top .982 fielding average in 1946. When the
Giants hit a NL record 221 home runs in 1947, Kerr's contribution was a mere 7, though
he managed a career-high .287 batting average.
(BC)
FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
»May 21, 1944: The Giants split with the Cardinals, losing 10–3 and then winning the 2nd game 7–5. Mel Ott has a home run, triple, two doubles and a single in the two games, and puts himself in at 3B in the nitecap. Billy Jurges moves from 3B to short, replacing Buddy Kerr.
»May 2, 1946: In St. Louis, Giants manager Mel Ott informs C Clyde Kluttz at breakfast that he has been traded from New York to the Phillies. But Cards manager Eddie Dyer calls Kluttz at lunch to tell him not to pack; St. Louis has just made a trade for him. Kluttz is part of the trades that sends Vince DiMaggio from the Phils to the Giants and 2B Emil Verban from St. Louis to Philadelphia. The Giants then beat the Cards, 5–1, scoring four in the 9th. Dave Koslo tosses a 4-hitter for New York, beating Harry Brecheen. Brecheen fans three in the 3rd -- Buddy Kerr, Koslo, and Bill Rigney -- all on called strikes.
»September 25, 1946:
Handling 13 chances without an error against the
Braves in an 8-0 loss, Giants SS Buddy Kerr runs
his errorless streak to 254 chances, breaking Eddie
Miller's 1940 record.
»May 25, 1947:
In the Giants 9–3 win over the Braves, Giant Buddy Kerr bungles a hard grounder from Bob Elliott for his first error in 384 chances and 69 games, the National League record to date for SS.
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