George Kell (1983)


Date of Birth: 8/23/1922
Date of Death: 3/24/2009
Birthplace: Swifton, Arkansas
College: Arkansas State University

George Kell played baseball at Arkansas State University. He signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1940. After two years in the minors, the Dodgers released him prior to the 1942 season. He joined the Interstate League and played with them in 1942 and 1943. The Philadelphia Athletics purchased his contract in September, 1943.

Philadelphia Athletics

Kell joined the Philadelphia Athletics for one game in 1943. The next year, his first full season in the major leagues, he batted .268 with 138 hits, 15 doubles, and 44 RBIs in 139 games. In 1945, he batted .272 with 154 hits, 30 doubles, and 56 RBIs. He played well defensively, leading all AL third basemen in assists with 345 and in putouts with 186.

Detroit Tigers

In 1946, the Athletics traded Kell to the Detroit Tigers on May 18th. He finished the seasons with 168 hits, 25 doubles, 52 RBIs, and a .322 batting average in 26 games with the Athletics and 105 games with the Tigers. He again led AL third basemen in assists with 267 and in putouts with 141.

Kell batted .320 in 152 games in 1947. He had 188 hits, 29 doubles, and 93 RBIs. He walked 61 times and struck out only 16 times. He once more led AL third basemen in assists with 333. He played in only 92 games in 1948, and he batted .304 with 112 hits, 24 doubles, and 44 RBIs.

Kell won the American League batting title in 1949. That season he batted a career high .343 with 179 hits, 38 doubles, 59 RBIs, and 13 strikeouts to 71 walks in 134 games.

Kell led the AL in hits in both 1950 and 1951. In 1950, he had career highs in games played (157), hits (218), doubles (56), and RBIs (101). He batted .340 that year. The following season, he batted .319 in 147 games. He finished the 1951 season with 191 hits, 36 doubles, and 59 RBIs. He walked 61 times and struck out 18 times. Defensively, he led AL third basemen in assists with 310.

Boston Red Sox

Kell was traded to the Boston Red Sox on June 3, 1952. He finished the season with 133 hits, 23 doubles, 57 RBIs, and a .311 batting average in 39 games with the Tigers and 75 games with the Red Sox.

In 1953, Kell played in 134 games. He had 141 hits, 41 doubles, 73 RBIs, and a .307 batting average.

Chicago White Sox

The Red Sox traded Kell to the Chicago White Sox on May 23, 1954. He finished that season with 90 hits, 58 RBIs, and a .276 batting average in 26 games with Boston and 71 games with the White Sox.

Kell batted .312 in 128 games in 1955. He had 134 hits, 24 doubles, and 81 RBIs.

Baltimore Orioles

Kell was traded to the Baltimore Orioles on May 21, 1956. That season, he had 115 hits, 22 doubles, 48 RBIs, and a .271 batting average in 21 games with the White Sox and 102 games with the Orioles.

In 1957, his final season as a major league player, Kell batted .297 with 92 hits in 99 games.

MLB Records

  • Led AL in hits (2 times)
  • Led AL in doubles (2 times)

Career Statistics

Statistics for Kell in 14 seasons (1944-1957) in the major leagues include:

  • 6 seasons with over 150 hits, with a high of 218 in 1950
  • 5 seasons with 30 or more doubles, with a high of 56 in 1950
  • 9 seasons with a batting average over .300, with a high of .343 in 1949

Career batting statistics for Kell include:

  • 1,795 games played
  • 2,054 hits
  • 385 doubles
  • 870 RBIs
  • 287 strikeouts to 621 walks
  • .306 batting average
  • .367 on-base percentage
  • .781 OPS

Career fielding statistics for Kell as a third baseman include:

  • 1,692 games played
  • 3,303 assists
  • 306 double plays
  • 1,825 putouts
  • 166 errors
  • .969 fielding percentage

Post Playing Career

After leaving major league baseball as a player, Kell had a second successful career as a TV and radio broadcaster. He started with broadcasting for the Baltimore Orioles in 1957, and the following year he became a broadcaster with CBS-TV. From 1959 through 1996, he worked as a broadcaster for the Detroit Tigers.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - George Kell
ESPN - George Kell
Baseball Reference - George Kell

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