Michael "King" Kelly (1945)


Date of Birth: 12/31/1857
Date of Death: 11/8/1894
Birthplace: Troy, New York

Michael "King" Kelly started playing amateur baseball at the age of 15. From 1875 through 1877, he played semi-pro baseball. He signed with the Cincinnati Reds in 1878.

Cincinnati Reds

When Kelly joined the Reds in 1878, he was an outfielder and backup catcher, playing in 60 games. The following season he played in just 77 games with the Reds.

Chicago White Stockings/Cubs

In December, 1879, Kelly signed with the Chicago White Stockings of the National League (modern day Cubs). He batted .291 with 100 hits, 17 doubles, and 60 RBIs in 84 games in 1880.

Kelly led the NL in doubles in 1881 with 27 and in 1882 with 37. He batted .323 with 114 hits in 1881, and .305 with 115 hits in 1882. He had 55 RBIs each season.

Kelly struggled in 1883, batting just .255 with 109 hits, 28 doubles, and 61 RBIs in 109 games. The next year, he led the NL in batting average with .354. He finished the 1884 season with 160 hits, 28 doubles, and a career high 95 RBIs in 108 games. His batting average fell down to .288 in 1885.

In 1886, his last season with the White Stockings, Kelly led the NL in batting average and on-base percentage. He had career highs in hits (175), batting average (.388), and on-base percentage (.483). He also had a career high in walks with 83.

Boston Beaneaters/Braves

The White Stockings sold Kelly's contract to the Boston Beaneaters/Braves in February, 1887. He had a good first season with Boston, finishing with a .322 batting average in 116 games. He had 156 hits, 34 doubles, and a career high 84 stolen bases.

In 1888, Kelly was made player-manager for the Beaneaters. That season, he batted .318 with 140 hits, 22 doubles, and 56 stolen bases in 107 games. The following season, he led the NL in doubles. He finished the 1889 season with 149 hits, a career high 41 doubles, 68 stolen bases, and a .294 batting average in 125 games.

Final Years as a Player

In 1890, Kelly left the Beaneaters to be player-manager of the Boston Reds of the newly formed Players' League. After the league folded in 1891, Kelly became player-manager of the Cincinnati Kelly's Killers of the American Association. He played in 82 games with the team and then moved back to the Boston Reds for four games.

Kelly returned to the Beaneaters in 1891, playing in 16 games with them that season and in 78 games in 1892. The following year his contract was transferred to the New York Giants and Kelly played in 20 games with them before retiring from major league baseball.

MLB Records

  • Led the NL in doubles (3 times)
  • Led the NL in batting average (2 times)
  • Led the NL in on-base percentage (2 times)

Career Statistics

Kelly played in over 100 games in each of 7 seasons (1884-1889, 1891). His statistics during that time include:

  • 3 seasons with over 150 hits, with a high of 175 in 1886
  • 3 seasons with over 30 doubles, with a high of 41 in 1889
  • 5 seasons with over 50 stolen bases, with a high of 84 in 1887
  • 4 seasons with a batting average over .300, with a high of .388 in 1886

Career batting statistics for Kelly include:

  • 1,455 games played
  • 1,813 hits
  • 359 doubles
  • 102 triples
  • 368 stolen bases
  • .308 batting average
  • .368 on-base percentage
  • .806 OPS

Post Playing Career

Kelly played in the minor leagues in 1894, but he died of pneumonia in November of that year at the age of 36.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Michael "King" Kelly
ESPN - Michael "King" Kelly
Baseball Reference - Michael "King" Kelly

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