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 Induction
Information
Elected to Hall of Fame by Veterans Committee in 1945, Player
Born: December 31, 1857, in Troy, New York
Died: November 8, 1894, in Boston, Massachusetts
ML Debut: 5/1/1878
Primary Position: Right Fielder
Bats: R Throws: R
Played For: Cincinnati Reds (1878-1879), Chicago White
Stockings (1880-1886), Boston Beaneaters (1887-1889, 1891-1892),
Boston Reds (1890-1891), Cincinnati Kelly's Killers (1891), New York
Giants (1893)
Post-Season: 1885 World Series, 1886 World Series, 1892
World Series
Bio
Not only was Mike "King" Kelly one of the premier players of his
day, he was also one of the most flamboyant. His daring baserunning
prompted fans to coin the battle cry, "Slide, Kelly, Slide," and the
catcher-outfielder sparked the Chicago Nationals to five pennants.
Manager Cap Anson credited Kelly with originating the hit-and-run
play. After capturing the batting crown in 1886, the colorful Kelly
was sold to the Boston Beaneaters for a then-record $10,000.
Quote
"His strongest advantage was that he was always ready. He could
take advantage of a misplay which others wouldn't see until
afterward."
— Fred Pfeffer
Did You Know... that Mike "King" Kelly was the author of
the first baseball autobiography, Play Ball: Stories of the Ball
Field, published in 1888? |
